The Honduras presidential election took a dramatic turn on Sunday as two conservative challengers emerged as frontrunners in a race that has become unexpectedly intertwined with U.S. politics. With early results showing roughly 41-43% of votes counted, the contest between National Party candidate Nasry "Tito" Asfura and Liberal Party candidate Salvador Nasralla has tightened into a nail-biter, while the ruling party's candidate trails significantly behind.
The most shocking development came just days before the election when U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed Asfura, declaring he would be the only Honduran candidate his administration would work with. Trump's intervention didn't stop there—he also announced he would pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who is currently serving a 45-year sentence in a U.S. prison for helping drug traffickers move cocaine into the United States.
The Race Tightens as Votes Roll In
According to preliminary results, Asfura holds a narrow lead with
40.54% of votes, while Nasralla trails closely behind with
38.99%. Rixi Moncada, the handpicked successor of current President Xiomara Castro and candidate of the democratic socialist LIBRE party, sits in third place with
19.49% of the vote.
Both frontrunners have urged caution as counting continues. Nasralla expressed confidence that remaining tallies would favor him, telling supporters "We are really going to know the result tomorrow in the course of the day." Neither candidate has declared victory, recognizing that with nearly
60% of votes still uncounted, the outcome remains uncertain.
Who Are the Main Candidates?
Nasry Asfura, the 67-year-old former mayor of Honduras' capital Tegucigalpa, has positioned himself as a pragmatic politician focused on infrastructure development. His campaign highlighted popular projects he championed during his tenure as mayor. Trump's endorsement gave him significant momentum, with the U.S. president warning that Honduras could follow Venezuela's path if the wrong candidate won.
Salvador Nasralla, a 72-year-old former sportscaster, is running for the presidency for the fourth time. Despite his long political history—including joining current President Castro's ticket four years ago—he continues to market himself as an outsider. His central campaign message has focused on rooting out corruption, a theme that resonates with many Hondurans frustrated by years of political scandals.
Rixi Moncada represents the ruling LIBRE party and was handpicked by President Castro as her successor. However, concerns about the governing party potentially using state resources to advantage Moncada have circulated among opposition observers. Moncada has already signaled she may not accept preliminary results, claiming there could be manipulation of the vote count.
Trump's Controversial Intervention
Trump's endorsement of Asfura and his announcement to pardon Hernández have dominated the final weeks of campaigning. The U.S. president warned that Nasralla and Moncada could lead Honduras down the same path as Venezuela, particularly citing Castro's cordial relationship with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
However, Trump's pardon announcement backfired somewhat—many Hondurans said it would not sway their votes, and it raised eyebrows given Hernández's conviction for drug trafficking. The move underscored how deeply U.S. interests have become entangled in Honduras' electoral process.
What's at Stake Beyond the Presidency
Hondurans voted on far more than just the presidency on Sunday. The election also determined
three presidential designates, 298 municipal mayors, and 128 parliamentary deputies, making it a comprehensive reshuffling of the country's political landscape.
Key issues driving voter decisions include
security and employment. While Honduras has seen improvements in homicide and unemployment rates under Castro's administration—and the International Monetary Fund has praised her fiscal responsibility—the country still grapples with Central America's highest homicide rate and widespread job scarcity.
Election Integrity Concerns Mount
The final campaign period was marred by accusations of election fixing from all three leading candidates, prompting warnings from Honduran and international observers that such rhetoric could undermine the credibility of the electoral process itself. The National Electoral Council has urged all vote-counting boards to remain at polling centers until results are fully and transparently completed.
As the count continues into Monday, Honduras remains on edge. With such a tight race between Asfura and Nasralla, the final results could reshape not only Honduras' political future but also its relationship with the United States under the Trump administration.
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CNN-News18 - Honduras Election 2025: Trump-Endorsed Nasry Asfura2.
ABC News - Conservatives ahead of governing party in Honduras presidential vote
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1. Honduras Election 2025: Trump-Endorsed Nasry Asfura ... - YouTube
2. Conservatives ahead of governing party in Honduras presidential ...
