Tegucigalpa — Honduras's leftist presidential candidate Xiomara Castro was headed for election victory Tuesday — making history as the first woman to govern the Central American nation — with her rival from the ruling rightwing National Party conceding defeat.
With just over 52 percent of votes counted, former first lady Castro led with 53.49 percent compared with 33.98 percent for her nearest challenger, the conservative Nasry Asfura.
While Hondurans were nervously awaiting the final election results, Asfura said he met with the LIBRE party candidate and her family to concede and congratulate her.
"I wish that God may enlighten and guide her so that her administration does the best" for Honduras, Asfura said in a video released by the National Party (PN).
Washington also hailed the Honduran people and their "free and fair election.".
Castro's victory would break 12 years of PN rule and four decades of hegemony shared with the Liberal Party.
Washington has been keeping a close eye on the election, with Honduras the starting point for waves of migrant caravans trying to reach the United States
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