SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Dominican President Danilo Medina appeared to be heading toward a second straight term Monday, as initial returns showed him with a strong enough lead to avoid a runoff with his closest rival.

The Central Electoral Commission reported that the incumbent led with 62 percent of the vote. His nearest opponent, businessman Luis Abinader, had 35 percent. The numbers were based on results from nearly 60 percent of polling stations.

‘‘The results reflect a trend without a doubt, but it’s necessary to wait until the process finishes,’’ said Roberto Rosario, the commission president.

A senior official in the Medina administration, Jose Ramon Peralta, said that the president appeared to have won the highest percentage of the vote in the country’s democratic history.

Participation in Sunday’s election topped 60 percent. Polls had pointed to Medina as the likely presidential winner. If victorious, the Dominican Liberation Party will have won four straight presidential elections. It was not clear whether the party maintained the control of Congress that it has had for a decade.