In the upcoming presidential election in Honduras in Central America, the right-wing opposition candidate openly endorsed by U.S. President Donald Trump is leading in the early count.
According to AP and Reuters on the 30th of last month (local time), with 34% of the vote counted, Nasry "Tito" Asfura, 67, of the right-leaning National Party, is in the lead with 40.63% (530,073 votes). Salvador Nasralla, 72, of the centrist Liberal Party, is close behind Asfura with 38.78% (506,316 votes). Rixi Moncada, 60, of the left-wing ruling Liberty and Refoundation Party (Libre), trails far behind with 19.59% (255,972 votes).
Honduras, with a population of 10 million, has about 6.5 million eligible voters, and the total number of votes cast has not yet been confirmed. In pre-election polls, the three main candidates each posted approval ratings in the 20% to 30% range, signaling a tight race.
Asfura, the current front-runner, is a businessman who served as mayor of the capital, Tegucigalpa, from 2014 to 2022. This election drew international attention late in the race after President Trump publicly endorsed a specific candidate.
On the 26th of last month, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social, saying, "I hope the people of Honduras vote for freedom and democracy and elect Tito Asfura as president," openly endorsing Asfura. He also moved to support right-wing forces by signaling willingness to pardon former President Juan Orlando Hernández, 57, who is serving a 45-year sentence in the United States on drug trafficking charges.
Hernández, a member of the National Party, maintained a close cooperative relationship with Trump during his first administration. Even right before the election, Trump sharply criticized Nasralla and Moncada, claiming they could turn Honduras into another Venezuela.
The term of the newly elected Honduran president runs from 2026 to 2030.