Who’s Winning Peru’s Tight Presidential Race?

One week before Peru votes again, the race is tighter than expected. Right-leaning Keiko Fujimori leads left-leaning Roberto Sanchez by just three points in recent polls. Fujimori has about 38% support, while Sanchez holds around 35%. That’s a small shift from earlier numbers, where Fujimori was slightly ahead. But something else stands out too: nearly three in ten voters say they’ll skip the ballot or spoil their vote. That’s up one point from last time. So why does this matter? The final outcome could hinge on what undecided voters do. Some may pick the candidate they dislike less, rather than the one they truly support. This "lesser evil" logic is a big factor in close elections. The polls also show a margin of error—about 2. 5 to 2. 8 points—meaning the lead could flip if late shifts happen.

Fujimori isn’t new to this race. She’s the daughter of a former president and has run three times before. In April’s first round, she came in first with 17%—not a majority, but enough to make the runoff. Sanchez, tied to a jailed ex-president, barely squeaked in with 12%. Their debate later today could sway a few more voters. Yet the real story might be the growing frustration. Almost a third of voters don’t want either candidate. That’s not just apathy—it’s a sign of deep distrust in the political system. With so many undecided or rejecting both options, the next president could win with less than half the public’s backing.

Actions