TEGUCIGALPA – With votes from about 34% of polling places counted in Honduras' presidential contest , preliminary and partial results released late Sunday showed conservative candidates Nasry Asfura and Salvador Nasralla leading and the governing party trailing, only days after U.S. President Donald Trump intervened in a close race by endorsing a candidate and announcing that he would pardon a former president .

The National Electoral Council said that Nasry “Tito” Asfura of the National Party had 40.63% of votes in early counting, while Salvador Nasralla, of the conservative Liberal Party, had about 38.78%. Rixi Moncada of the democratic socialist LIBRE or Liberty and Re-foundation party trailed with 19.59%.

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