Colombia’s Presidential Race Shifts as Valencia Gains Ground

Paloma Valencia during the Gran Consulta Por Colombia election night rally in Bogota on March 8.Photographer: Nathalia Angarita/Bloomberg

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Andreina Itriago

March 22, 2026 at 4:09 PM UTC

Updated on

March 22, 2026 at 5:03 PM UTC

Colombian Senator Paloma Valencia and running mate Juan Daniel Oviedo rose to second place in a poll ahead of elections starting in May to determine who succeeds President Gustavo Petro.

The Valencia-Oviedo ticket had 22.2% support, displacing lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella who stayed at 15.4% in the National Consulting Center poll for Cambio magazine. Iván Cepeda, the candidate of Petro’s Historic Pact party, remains the frontrunner at 34.5% support.