Ruling party’s Laura Fernández emerges as clear front-runner in Costa Rica election

With 61.50% of the vote counted, Laura Fernández of the Sovereign People’s Party was leading with 50.23% of the vote, compared with 32.12% for social democrat Álvaro Ramos, who was running second, according to provisional data from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE). Roughly 3.7 million Costa Ricans were eligible to vote Sunday to choose a successor to President Rodrigo Chaves and renew the 57-member Legislative Assembly. Voter turnout was estimated at about 66%, in a day shaped by concerns over drug-related violence and widespread voter engagement, as early results began to roll in from across the country.