Hondurans vote for president amid tight race and US aid threat
Hondurans are voting in a tight presidential election dominated by three candidates, as US President Donald Trump threatens to cut aid if his favored candidate loses.
November 30, 2025 - 04:12 PM ET • 2 min read
Hondurans headed to the polls Sunday to elect a new president in a tightly contested general election marked by external influence and concerns over voter fraud.
Polls opened at 7:00 am local time (13:00 GMT) for 10 hours of voting, with initial results expected late Sunday night, authorities said. The winner will succeed incumbent President Xiomara Castro, who is limited to a single four-year term.
The race, which features five presidential candidates, is widely viewed as a three-way contest among the leading contenders. These include former Defense Minister Rixi Moncada of the ruling leftist Liberty and Refoundation (LIBRE) party, businessman Nasry "Tito" Asfura of the right-wing National Party, and television host Salvador Nasralla of the centrist Liberal Party.
The election has been overshadowed by the intervention of U.S. President Donald Trump, who publicly endorsed Asfura and threatened to cut financial aid to the Central American nation if his favored candidate does not win. Trump also announced days before the vote that he would pardon a former Honduran president.
Asfura, a conservative businessman and former mayor of Tegucigalpa, represents a potential shift to the right for Honduras. Moncada, a lawyer, represents the continuity of the current leftist administration led by President Castro.
Recent opinion polls indicate a virtual tie among the three leading candidates. While one recent poll placed Nasralla in the lead, analysts noted that the race remains highly unpredictable, with 34% of voters reportedly undecided.
President Castro, accompanied by her husband and chief advisor Manuel Zelaya, cast her vote Sunday, stating that by exercising their right to vote, Hondurans demonstrate "sovereignty."