government
Trump-endorsed de la Espriella declared winner of Colombia’s presidential runoff election
By Regina Garcia Cano And Astrid Suárez, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate)
· June 24, 2026
· 3 min read
Conservative outsider Abelardo de la Espriella, a millionaire political neophyte, will be Colombia’s next president after electoral authorities on Wednesday declared him the winner of Sunday’s runoff election.The businessman and lawyer, whose ventures include a clothing line, wine and rum brands,...
Key takeaway He defeated progressive lawmaker Iván Cepeda by 1 percentage point, or more than 251,000 votes.
Why this matters in The San Antonio
The outcome of Colombia's presidential election has implications for San Antonio , given the city's significant Colombian population and its role as a hub for international trade and cultural exchange. As Abelardo de la Espriella prepares to take office, San Antonio residents with ties to Colombia will be watching closely to see how his policies, particularly his approach to combating violent crime, will impact their families and communities back home. De la Espriella's plan to build mega-prisons, modeled after those in El Salvador, may resonate with some San Antonians who are concerned about public safety, but others may be wary of the potential human rights implications. The new president's decision to join the "Shield of the Americas" coalition may also have implications for San Antonio's law enforcement and border security efforts, given the city's proximity to the US-Mexico border.
About this story
Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . The San Antonio surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: government ·
Published: June 24, 2026 ·
Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Conservative outsider Abelardo de la Espriella, a millionaire political neophyte, will be Colombia’s next president after electoral authorities on Wednesday declared him the winner of Sunday’s runoff election.The businessman and lawyer, whose ventures include a clothing line, wine and rum brands,...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 24, 2026 by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) and curated for The San Antonio readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Regina Garcia Cano And Astrid Suárez, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). To learn more about how The San Antonio selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more government coverage from The San Antonio, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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