Honduras will hold its presidential election on November 30, with five candidates competing to lead the Central American nation as it confronts mounting economic pressures and mass emigration.

The National Electoral Council has confirmed that over 6.3mn citizens are registered to vote, including nearly half a million Hondurans living abroad who will participate in the poll that will also determine the composition of congress and local government positions.

According to Bloomberg Linea, Defence Secretary Rixi Moncada leads the ticket for the governing leftist Liberty and Refoundation party after stepping down from her cabinet role in May. The former judge and long-serving public official previously held key positions in both the current government and the administration of Manuel Zelaya, whose party returned to power in 2021.

Facing Moncada is a divided opposition field headed by construction magnate Nasry Asfura of the right-wing National Party. The former Tegucigalpa mayor, who unsuccessfully challenged President Xiomara Castro in the previous election, is banking on his business credentials and municipal track record to mount a comeback.

Television personality Salvador Nasralla represents the centrist Liberal Party in his third presidential bid. The 72-year-old broadcaster, known for his staunch anti-corruption stance, previously allied with the ruling party before returning to opposition politics.

The remaining candidates include academic Nelson Ávila, an economist with international experience representing the Innovation and Unity Party, and businessman Mario Rivera, whose platform centres on the contentious proposal to transform Honduras into a US territory similar to Puerto Rico.

Political analysts suggest the election will test whether Castro's leftist government can maintain power amid persistent challenges including high crime rates, limited economic opportunities, and continued outward migration that has made Honduras one of the region's largest sources of emigrants to the United States.

The fragmented opposition may struggle to consolidate anti-government sentiment, potentially benefiting the ruling party despite criticism over its handling of the economy and security situation.

Campaigning has focused heavily on migration policy, with candidates offering different approaches to address the root causes driving hundreds of thousands of Hondurans to seek opportunities abroad. The outcome will significantly influence the country's vital relationship with Washington, particularly regarding immigration and development assistance, as the Trump administration slashes foreign aid, taxes remittances and cracks down on illegal migration.

Electoral authorities completed ballot positioning through a public lottery earlier this month, with voting scheduled across the nation's 18 departments on the final Sunday of November.