Electoral officials in Costa Rica say the governing party's candidate has won a presidential runoff election in which same-sex marriage was a big issue.

Carlos Alvarado of the ruling Citizen Action Party has 60.6 per cent of the votes, with just over 90 per cent of ballots counted Sunday night.

Fabricio Alvarado of the National Restoration party has 39.4 per cent of the votes. The two men are not related.

Fabricio Alvarado had led the initial election round in early February after coming out strongly against a call by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights for Costa Rica to allow same-sex marriage.

The new president spoke strongly for permitting gays to wed. </s> SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) - Voters gave a resounding no to an upstart evangelical pastor who rose to political prominence by campaigning against same-sex marriage, allowing Costa Rica's governing party to win an easy presidential victory.

While polls had indicated Sunday's runoff would be tight, it was not even close. Carlos Alvarado, a novelist and former Cabinet minister running for the ruling Citizen Action Party, won by a wide margin.

The Supreme Electoral Council said that with 95 percent of ballots counted late Sunday, Carlos Alvarado had 60.8 percent of the votes, and evangelical Fabricio Alvarado of the National Restoration party had 39.2 percent. The two men are not related.

This combination of two photos shows Citizen Action Party presidential candidate Carlos Alvarado, left, on March 29, 2018, and National Restoration Party presidential candidate Fabricio Alvarado on Feb. 1, 2018, in San Jose, Costa Rica. A recent poll indicated a statistical tie in the second-round runoff April 1 vote between the two candidates. (Arnulfo Franco/AP Photos/File) </s> SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — The latest on Costa Rica's presidential runoff election (all times local):

Electoral officials in Costa Rica say the governing party's candidate has won a presidential runoff election in which same-sex marriage was a big issue.

Carlos Alvarado of the ruling Citizen Action Party has 60.6 percent of the votes, with just over 90 percent of ballots counted Sunday night.

Fabricio Alvarado of the National Restoration party has 39.4 percent of the votes. The two men are not related.

Fabricio Alvarado had led the initial election round in early February after coming out strongly against a call by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights for Costa Rica to allow same-sex marriage.

The new president spoke strongly for permitting gays to wed. </s> SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — Costa Rica’s governing party won a big presidential election victory Sunday as many voters rejected an evangelical pastor who had jumped into political prominence by campaigning against same-sex marriage.

The head of the Supreme Electoral Council, Luis Antonio Sobrado, said that with 90.6 percent of ballots counted Sunday night, Carlos Alvarado of the ruling Citizen Action Party had 60.6 percent of the votes in the runoff election. His opponent, Fabricio Alvarado of the National Restoration party, had 39.4 percent. The two men are not related.

Fabricio Alvarado rose from being a political unknown to the leading candidate in the election’s first round in February after he came out strongly against a call by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights for Costa Rica to allow same-sex marriage.

Carlos Alvarado, a novelist and former labor minister who finished second in February to get the final spot in the runoff, spoke in favor of letting gays wed.

Recent opinion polls had said the candidates were running head-to-head going into the runoff, but in the end Carlos Alvarado had an easy win.

The two share similarities beyond their family name. Both have backgrounds in journalism and both have recorded music — Fabricio Alvarado as a gospel singer and Carlos Alvarado as a college-age rock `n’ roller.

Both candidates also had economic advisers who take a conservative approach to economics, favoring the free market and calling for a reduction in the size of government.

Voter Maria Rodriguez said she supported Carlos Alvarado because she rejected his rival’s homophobic discourse and does not believe the evangelical candidate was qualified to be president.

Rodrigo Lopez said Fabricio Alvarado was his choice because Costa Rica should maintain its traditional values and he is tired of the ruling party’s corruption.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. </s> Costa Rica is about to get to know its two freshly minted presidential candidates on a first-name basis – both because of the increased scrutiny each candidate will face now that a 13-person field has been whittled down to two, and because both candidates have the same last name.

Carlos Alvarado, of the Citizen Action Party, who came in second in today’s vote, and first-place finisher Fabricio Alvarado, of the National Restoration Party, both addressed jubilant crowds as they kicked off the second phase of their campaigns: the weeks from now until Easter Sunday, when the two candidates will face off for the presidency.

Fabricio was sixth in the CIEP-UCR poll as recently as December, and surged to the lead following the Inter-American Human Rights Court’s ruling on gay marriage and his fierce opposition. Carlos was fifth in that same poll, and surged to second in the final days as those famously undecided voters made up their minds.

Take a look at their respective celebrations, and read more about how it all went down here. </s> SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica—An evangelical candidate who soared in the polls after coming out strongly against same-sex marriage and a governing party loyalist who favors it led in preliminary returns from Costa Rica’s presidential election late Sunday, and appeared poised to go to a runoff.

With 68% of the ballots counted, Fabricio Alvarado had 25.2% of the vote and Carlos Alvarado—no relation—had 21.1%. </s> SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Costa Ricans vote Sunday in a presidential race that has been turned on its ear by an international court ruling saying the country should let same-sex couples get married.

Evangelical candidate Fabricio Alvarado recently vaulted into first place in the polls after he took a strong stance against gay marriage, which about two-thirds of Costa Ricans also oppose.

His closest rivals are agri-businessman Antonio Alvarez of the opposition National Liberation Party and Carlos Alvarado of the governing Citizens' Action Party.

A recent survey showed that more than a third of likely voters were undecided. If no candidate gets 40 percent or more, the top two finishers advance to an April 1 runoff.

The January decision by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights has come to play a central role in the campaign. It also ordered the country to grant same-sex couples rights such the ability to inherit estates and adopt children.

Political analyst Francisco Barahona told The Associated Press that it came as an "external shock" for Costa Rica, a majority Roman Catholic nation.

Fabricio Alvarado, a 43-year-old journalist, preacher and Christian singer, called the ruling a "sovereign violation" and saw his support balloon in the polls as socially conservative voters gravitated to that message.

Carlos Alvarado — no relation — is the only major candidate to openly back gay marriage and has picked up some support recently from socially liberal voters. A 38-year-old also trained as a journalist, he got his start in politics as communications director for Citizens' Action and also was labor minister under current President Luis Guillermo Solis.

Alvarez, a two-time president of the Legislative Assembly and a Cabinet minister under the first presidency of Oscar Arias in 1986-1990, says he opposes gay marriage but backs recognizing certain other rights for gay couples.

Voters will also be selecting the 57 delegates that make up the Assembly. </s> Center-left candidate Carlos Alvarado Quesada won 61 percent of the vote in Costa Rica's second round presidential run-off vote on Sunday.

With nearly 91 percent of polling stations counted, the result puts Alvarado far ahead of his ultraconservative rival Fabricio Alvarado Munoz.

Read more: Costa Rica chooses new president in conservative country split over gay rights
• Preliminary results were published at 8:15 p.m. local time (0215 UTC on Monday) with 90.66 percent of polling stations counted.
• Electoral officials said there were no irregularities.
• Some 3.3 million people were eligible to vote.

Who is Carlos Alvarado? The 38-year-old is a political scientist and writer who served as labor and social security minister in the former center-left government. He was a candidate for the Citizens' Action Party.

Who is Fabricio Alvarado? The 43-year-old is an evangelical pastor and former TV newscaster and gospel singer who heads the conservative National Restoration Party.

What happened in the first round? Fabricio won 25 percent of the vote and Carlos 22 percent. Both men fell short of the 40 percent threshold to avoid a second round run-off vote.

Split opinions: Both took diametrically opposed stands on a January ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR), which urged member countries to recognize same-sex marriage. Carlos supported the ruling, while Fabricio opposed it, with the latter Alvarado threatening to remove Costa Rica from the court.

Who is being replaced? Carlos will replace former President Luis Guillermo Solis, a member of the Citizens' Action Party, who was elected in 2014. Solis' popularity fell during his time in office amid a corruption scandal and his strong support for gay rights.

Every evening at 1830 UTC, DW's editors send out a selection of news and features. You can sign up to receive it here. </s> SAN JOSE (Reuters) - Costa Ricans went to the polls on Sunday to choose a new president in a race upended by a debate over same-sex marriage, as leading candidates in the crowded field fiercely opposed gay rights that have recently gained ground in Latin America.

Conservative Christian singer and TV anchor Fabricio Alvarado skyrocketed to the top of the 13-person field after denouncing a January ruling by the region’s top human rights court that called on Costa Rica to give equal civil marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples.

If no candidate wins at least 40 percent of Sunday’s vote, a run-off election with the top two finishers is set for early April. Initial results are expected by 8 p.m. local time (2100 ET/0200 GMT Monday).

Hundreds of Costa Ricans, many waving party flags of red, yellow, green, white and blue, set up stalls in front of polling stations early on Sunday, hoping to win over any remaining undecided voters.

The 43-year-old Alvarado, a congressman with the National Restoration Party, has called last month’s ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights a violation of Costa Rica’s sovereignty and an affront to traditional values.

“We have to stand up to those who want to trample on the family,” he said during the final debate of the campaign, and he threatened to pull out of the court as a result.

Rival Antonio Alvarez, a banana entrepreneur and candidate of the National Liberation Party, has said that while he personally opposes the court’s decision, he would respect it if he wins.

Among the few candidates who embraced the court’s resolution is Carlos Alvarado, a former labor minister in the outgoing government of President Luis Gillermao Solis.

Elsewhere in the region, gay and lesbian couples can marry in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and in parts of Mexico.

“The next president has to get into the difficult issues in the country and not be in fights over religion,” said Ronald Pina, a 45-year-old government worker in the upper middle class Escazu neighborhood of San Jose.

“I vote for someone to govern, not to pray.”

Running a close second in one recent opinion poll, conservative Juan Diego Castro, a former justice minister, is aiming to lure voters with an anti-crime platform as well as pushing for less restrictions on miners and oil companies.

A high-end coffee exporter, Costa Rica is well-known for its environmental stewardship and thriving eco-tourism sector.

The candidates, dressed in their party colors, went to vote early on Sunday, with some attending religious services afterward.

Solis, a former diplomat and history professor, won in a landslide four years ago but has seen his popularity slide as an investigation into an influence peddling scandal has unfolded.

He is barred by law from seeking a second term.

Solis gained international attention when he hoisted a rainbow flag along with the Costa Rican flag atop his office just a week after he took office as a statement against homophobia.

Costa Rica’s 3.3 million voters are predominantly Roman Catholic and most describe themselves as conservative.
Pro-same-sex marriage candidate Carlos Alvarado of the Citizens' Action Party defeats conservative candidate Fabricio Alvarado of the National Restoration Party in the second round of voting to become the new President of Costa Rica.