Incumbent, leftist to face off in tight Ecuador race dominated by crime and job concerns

A cutout of Ecuador's President and presidential candidate for re-election, Daniel Noboa is displayed on the day of his closing campaign event for the upcoming presidential election, in Guayaquil, Ecuador April 10, 2025. REUTERS/Santiago Arcos/File Photo

QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuadoreans will head to the polls on Sunday to cast ballots in what is expected to be an extremely tight race for president, with both incumbent Daniel Noboa and his leftist rival Luisa Gonzalez pledging to tackle drug gangs and improve the struggling economy.

Noboa, a 37-year-old business heir, finished just 16,746 votes ahead of Gonzalez in a February first round and pollsters say either could win. Both candidates have urged their observers to guard against potential fraud.