By Carlos Escobar
Bogotá, April 9, 2026
In a presidential campaign that is moving at full throttle, one name is standing out for all the right reasons: Paloma Valencia. The latest Atlas Intel poll for Revista Semana, released today, shows the Democratic Center senator not just gaining ground, but truly taking flight. While others hold steady or inch forward, Valencia is the one accelerating with real momentum.
The numbers tell a clear story. In the first-round scenario, Iván Cepeda leads with 37.8%, followed by Abelardo de la Espriella at 27.2%. Paloma Valencia sits in third with a solid 22.9%. What matters most, however, is the trend: she has gained more than 6 percentage points in the last month alone. That jump is the largest among the top contenders and signals something significant. After her strong performance in the right-wing primaries, Valencia is consolidating support and drawing undecided voters who are looking for a serious alternative.
This is not a sudden spike. Since the March consultations, her numbers have shown consistent upward movement across multiple polls. She is capturing attention in key regions and building a coalition that feels increasingly natural for many Colombians concerned about security, institutional stability, and the fight against corruption. Her direct style and legislative experience are resonating at a time when voters appear ready for a change in tone and substance.
The real impact becomes evident when looking at the runoff scenarios. According to the same Atlas Intel study, Paloma Valencia would defeat Iván Cepeda in a second round with approximately 47.1% to 39.6%. That margin is meaningful. It shows that her growth in the first round is translating into genuine strength for the decisive stage of the election. In other words, the more visible she becomes, the stronger her position grows against the current frontrunner.
Abelardo de la Espriella remains a formidable presence, but his support has largely stabilized. Cepeda continues to lead the pack, yet the gap is no longer as comfortable as it once seemed. The race is turning into a genuine three-way contest, and Paloma Valencia is the candidate injecting the most dynamic energy into the opposition space.
With the May 31 election still more than a month away, there is plenty of time for shifts and surprises. Campaigns will intensify, debates will sharpen, and voter priorities will come into even clearer focus. What stands out today is Valencia’s trajectory. She is not simply participating—she is rising. Her ability to connect with core concerns while maintaining a message of firmness and hope is giving her campaign a clear sense of direction.
Polls, of course, are snapshots, not predictions. They come with the usual margin of error, and much will depend on how the candidates campaign in the final stretch and how effectively they mobilize their bases. Yet the consistency of Valencia’s upward curve in this and other recent surveys cannot be ignored. It points to a candidate who is gaining altitude at precisely the right moment.
Paloma Valencia is flying higher than ever. Her sustained growth is reshaping the presidential landscape and positioning her as one of the most compelling options for Colombians seeking a different path forward. The coming weeks will be decisive, but right now, the wind is clearly at her back.
Carlos Escobar is an independent political analyst based in Bogotá. The views expressed here are his own and are based on publicly available polling data from Atlas Intel for Revista Semana, April 9, 2026.
