2026 Democratic Centre presidential primaries
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December 15, 2025
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On December 15, 2025, the Democratic Centre party announced Paloma Valencia as the winner after she obtained the majority of votes in the electoral college. The selection process involved a survey conducted through a first and second poll that defined the chances of the three candidates. Delegates from the Democratic Centre, including senators, representatives, departmental deputies, and members, were responsible for selecting the presidential candidate.[1]
Valencia will test her strength in the 2026 Colombian presidential primaries, along with other candidates from various political factions, where her running mate will be chosen.
The main candidates in the Democratic Centre's 2026 presidential primaries either held important elected positions or received substantial media coverage.
| Candidate | Born | Most recent position | Department | Campaign announced | Results | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Paloma Valencia |
January 19, 1978 (age 47) Popayán, Cauca | Senator (2014–present) |
 Cauca |
August 25, 2025[2][3] | 1 003 votes | [4][5][6] | |
 María Fernanda Cabal |
August 8, 1966 (age 59) Cali, Cauca Valley | Senator (2014–present) |
 Valle del Cauca |
August 30, 2025[7][8] | 871 votes | ||
 Paola Holguín |
November 11, 1973 (age 52) Medellín, Antioquia | Senator (2014–present) |
 Antioquia |
January 31, 2024[9][10] | 367 votes | ||
Controversies
Following the death of Miguel Uribe Turbay, his father, Miguel Uribe Londoño, assumed leadership of his presidential campaign, initially receiving the support of the Democratic Center party. On December 1, the party officially announced its three candidates, omitting Uribe Londoño's name from the primary election list.[11] He responded days later with a statement declaring that he had not been notified of the decision and that he was resigning from the party, acknowledging that it no longer upheld its founding values.[12][13]
On January 26, a month after Paloma Valencia was chosen as the party's candidate, María Fernanda Cabal, along with her husband José Félix Lafaurie, announced their irrevocable resignation from the party, citing irregularities in the primary election as the main reason.[14] Cabal announced her support for Valencia in the 2026 presidential election, running as an independent.