Uruguay, one of Latin America’s strongest democracies, heads to a runoff between two moderates Boston 25 News [Video]

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — (AP) — Voters in the small South American nation of Uruguay cast ballots Sunday in a presidential election in which a center-left rural mayor pulled firmly ahead of the conservative incumbent-party candidate, pushing the race into a second round of voting.

Both of the leading candidates — a two-time mayor and former history teacher, Yamandú Orsi, 57, and the center-right ruling party’s candidate, Álvaro Delgado, 55 — told crowds late Sunday that they would face each other in a heated runoff on Nov. 24, reflecting official election results with over 90% of votes counted hours after polls closed.

The outcome came as little surprise. But Uruguay’s remarkably civilized presidential race has emerged as an exception in the region, defying trends of bitter division and democratic erosion seen across Latin America and in the United States. Far from mud-slinging and personal attacks, Uruguay’s contest focused on key issues …