Daniel Noboa wins Ecuador election with tough-on-crime campaign

Noboa secures decisive victory as Ecuador backs his crackdown on cartel violence.

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa speaks during a rally after the second round of the general election in Olon, Ecuador, on April 13, 2025. Photo by Vicente Gaibor/Bloomberg

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Daniel Noboa wins Ecuador election in a resounding fashion, emerging with a double-digit lead over his leftist challenger, Luisa Gonzalez, in Sunday’s vote. As Ecuador continues to reel from cartel violence and economic distress, voters delivered a clear message in favor of Noboa’s hardline security stance.

According to Ecuador's National Election Council, with more than 90 percent of ballots counted, Noboa held a dominant 12-point advantage, earning 56 percent of the vote compared to Gonzalez’s 44 percent. The outcome marked a dramatic shift from the first round, when the race had been too close to call. The decisive victory not only solidified Noboa’s position but also served as a mandate for his crackdown on gang violence that has shaken the once-tranquil Andean nation.

Celebrating the result in his hometown of Olon, the young leader addressed a sea of jubilant supporters. “A huge hug to all those Ecuadorians who always believed in this young president!” Noboa said. “Ecuadorians have spoken. From tomorrow morning we will go to work.”

A campaign defined by fear and uncertainty

Throughout the election season, fear dominated the public discourse. Once considered a peaceful oasis in Latin America, Ecuador has become one of the region’s deadliest nations. The rise of drug cartels and organized crime has transformed cities into battlegrounds, ports into trafficking hubs, and daily life into a struggle for safety.

Voters, overwhelmed by headlines of daily murders and kidnappings, flocked to the polls in search of order and security. Noboa’s campaign, grounded in a no-nonsense approach to crime, struck a chord. Deploying soldiers to patrol the streets, arresting cartel leaders, and inviting U.S. special forces to assist, Noboa crafted an image of a president willing to fight for stability at all costs.

On the eve of the vote, Noboa declared a state of emergency in Quito and several provinces, a move both symbolic and strategic. It underscored the urgency of the moment and reminded voters of the chaos he promised to contain.

Gonzalez rejects result, cries fraud

Despite the overwhelming result, Luisa Gonzalez refused to concede. Shocked by her underwhelming performance, the leftist candidate alleged widespread fraud, though she offered no immediate proof.

“I refuse to believe that the people prefer lies over the truth,” Gonzalez said, adding that Noboa had committed “the most grotesque electoral fraud.” Her call for a recount landed with a thud in a country exhausted by conflict and crisis.

Gonzalez had hoped to become Ecuador’s first female president, and her campaign leaned heavily on her affiliation with former president Rafael Correa. But Correa, now living in exile in Belgium to avoid a corruption conviction, remains a divisive figure. Analysts suggested that his shadow may have weighed down her prospects.

Ecuadorian presidential candidate Luisa Gonzalez reacts after seeing the initial results of the runoff election in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on April 13, 2025. Photo by Luis Acosta/AFP

“There is a strong anti-Correa sentiment,” said Ruth Hidalgo, a political scientist from the University of the Americas. “Her campaign didn’t manage to overcome that, they didn’t connect with voters.”

Economic despair deepens the crisis

While security dominated the headlines, the economy also played a critical role in the vote. Once prosperous, Ecuador’s economy has slowed to a crawl. Investors are wary, tourists are scarce, and poverty continues to rise. According to official statistics, 28 percent of the population now lives in poverty.

The deadly combination of economic decline and surging crime has left Ecuadorans desperate for change. Noboa’s promise of a strong government, coupled with a vision for recovery, proved compelling.

In the capital Quito, voters braved the cold and lined up at polling stations with hope and trepidation. “I think Ecuador is divided,” said Camila Medina, a 21-year-old architecture student. “But I think we all understand we're in a situation where we have to unite, whoever is leading the government.”

A total of 13.7 million Ecuadorians were required to vote, and early turnout suggested high engagement—a reflection of just how high the stakes were.

Noboa’s supporters cheer, critics brace

For supporters like 26-year-old Natalie Ulloa, the result brings optimism. “These next four years, I hope everything goes well,” she said. “I hope he manages to better implement what he has been proposing from the beginning.”

Others, however, are more cautious. Noboa’s presidency now faces enormous pressure to deliver. The military presence in the streets and headline-grabbing arrests have calmed nerves temporarily, but lasting peace requires dismantling entrenched criminal networks and addressing the root causes of violence.

His alignment with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration—despite controversy—has also raised eyebrows. Noboa has praised Trump-style governance, and his law-and-order policies echo the populist rhetoric of the former U.S. president. Whether this budding alliance brings benefits or complications remains to be seen.

A young leader with big expectations

At just 37, Daniel Noboa is Ecuador’s youngest-ever president, and his ascent marks a generational shift in the country’s politics. The guitar-strumming son of a billionaire banana tycoon, Noboa entered politics with both privilege and pressure. Now, with a sweeping electoral win, he must navigate a fractured nation with rising crime, economic instability, and political skepticism.

He has signaled that security remains his top priority, but observers stress that social programs, education reform, and job creation must also be on the agenda. Violence, after all, is a symptom of deeper issues.

Still, Sunday’s result gives Noboa the momentum he needs to press forward. With a new mandate and a public desperate for peace, he faces both opportunity and immense responsibility.

As Ecuador takes its next steps under Noboa’s leadership, the world watches closely to see whether his “iron fist” approach can truly restore safety and prosperity—or whether the cycle of violence and disillusionment will persist.

Daniel Noboa wins Ecuador election — but the challenges ahead may prove even greater than the battle for the presidency.