Ecuador’s incumbent President Daniel Noboa takes lead in early returns from runoff election

Ecuador's presidential election runoff between Noboa and González shows high voter turnout and tight race.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, a conservative young millionaire, took the lead in early returns from Sunday (April 13, 2025)’s presidential runoff in the crime-weary South American country.

Election results from the National Electoral Council gave the incumbent Noboa 56.8% of the vote with about 55% of the ballots counted, while leftist attorney Luisa González had 43.2% of support in an election in which voters sought solutions to the extortions, killings and kidnappings that became part of everyday life as the country emerged from the pandemic.

Electoral authorities reported more than 80% of voter participation during Sunday’s vote.

It was the second presidential runoff election in less than two years in Ecuador. Voters chose Noboa over González in the runoff of a snap election in October 2023.

The candidates advanced to Sunday’s contest after getting the most votes in February’s first-round election. Noboa led González by about 17,000 votes.

Voters are primarily worried about the violence that transformed the country, starting in 2021 — a spike in crime tied to the trafficking of cocaine produced in neighboring Colombia and Peru.

Both candidates have promised tough-on-crime policies, better equipment for law enforcement and international help to fight drug cartels and local criminal groups.