Ecuador Election: Daniel Noboa Leads Presidential Vote, Aims for Outright Win

Ecuador’s incumbent president Daniel Noboa is leading the presidential election with 45.6% of the vote, with nearly 30% of ballot boxes counted. His closest rival, Luisa Gonzalez, has 42.9%, making the race highly competitive. Noboa, elected in 2023 to complete his predecessor’s term, has emphasized security measures, claiming a 15% drop in violent deaths, reduced prison violence, and the capture of major gang leaders through military deployments.

Despite these efforts, his 15 challengers argue that more action is needed to combat drug-related crime, with some proposing solutions that would require legislative approval or constitutional changes. Noboa asserts he is already strengthening border and port security to tackle the issue.

Noboa, the 37-year-old businessman, aims to secure an outright victory, either by surpassing 50% of the vote or achieving at least 40% with a 10-point lead over Gonzalez. A Diego Tello Estrategas exit poll shows him leading with 50.12%, while Gonzalez follows with 42.21%. However, pre-election polls suggest he may face a runoff in April, where he is favored to win.

Both candidates are urging supporters to monitor the vote count to prevent fraud. Luisa Gonzalez’s mentor, former President Rafael Correa, has also called on her backers to remain at polling stations.

As the Ecuador election unfolds, the final results will determine whether Noboa secures a decisive victory or faces another showdown with Gonzalez in April.