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Iván Cepeda Wins Pacto Histórico Nomination on Surging Turnout in Colombia

The victory positions the senator for a March interparty consultation to determine a single left‑center challenger for Colombia’s May 31, 2026 presidential election.

Overview

  • Official tallies show Cepeda taking roughly 63–64% over Carolina Corcho’s about 29–30%, with participation reported at approximately 2.5–2.7 million voters by the electoral authority.
  • Daniel Quintero withdrew days before the vote but stayed on the ballot and received more than 100,000 votes, prompting legal questions about how those votes are treated.
  • President Gustavo Petro hailed the turnout and said his recent confrontation with U.S. President Donald Trump energized the coalition, according to a message posted on X.
  • Beyond selecting a presidential standard-bearer, the consultation renewed the coalition’s congressional lists, with some legislative results still being processed.
  • Cepeda, a 63-year-old senator and human-rights advocate involved in peace talks with FARC and ELN, will carry the coalition into the planned March interparty vote.