Colombia right wing candidate De La Espriella, leftist Cepeda poised to head to run-off

Colombian presidential candidate Abelardo De La Espriella of the political movement Defenders of the Homeland arrives to vote at a polling station during the first round of the presidential election, in Barranquilla, Colombia May 31, 2026. REUTERS/Charlie Cordero

BOGOTA, May ⁠31 (Reuters) - Colombian right wing ‌outsider Abelardo de la Espreillais poised to compete ​in a runoff ⁠in the ⁠country's presidential race againstleftist senator ⁠Ivan ‌Cepeda, data from the ⁠country's national registry office showed ​on ‌Sunday, after no candidate ⁠reached ​the more than 50% support needed to ⁠avoid a second ​round with a majority of votes counted.

De La ⁠Espriella and Cepeda were running extremely close in tallies, with the ​right wing ⁠lawyer notching 44.2% support ​and the ‌long-time senator and ​activist 41%.

(Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb)