In a groundbreaking electoral victory, Claudia Sheinbaum has been elected as Mexico’s first female president, securing a landslide win in the nation’s latest presidential race. The National Electoral Institute (INE) of Mexico released preliminary results indicating Sheinbaum’s commanding lead, with the former Mexico City mayor obtaining between 58% and 60% of the vote, significantly outpacing her closest contender, businesswoman Xóchitl Gálvez, by nearly 30 percentage points.
Conceding to Sheinbaum’s overwhelming victory, Xóchitl Gálvez has acknowledged her defeat. Successor to her mentor, the currently serving President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Sheinbaum is slated to take office on October 1. She has committed to furthering Obrador’s administrative endeavors, assuring voters in her victory speech, “I won’t fail you.”
Positioned as a prominent figure in Mexican politics, Sheinbaum’s tenure as mayor of Mexico City is considered by many as the stepping stone that catapulted her to the presidency. Her transition into politics was preceded by a distinguished career as a scientist, a trajectory influenced by her family background with both parents being scientists. Holding a doctorate in energy engineering, Sheinbaum’s research focused on Mexican energy consumption patterns, positioning her as a climate change expert.
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Her political journey began when she was appointed Secretary of the Environment for Mexico City during Obrador’s term as mayor. In 2018, she made history by becoming the first female mayor of Mexico City, a role she relinquished in 2023 to pursue the presidency.
The presidential campaign, notable for featuring two leading female candidates, was however tarnished by violent incidents with more than 20 campaign-related fatalities reported by the government; external sources suggest the number could be higher.
López Obrador, who could not vie for re-election due to constitutional restrictions, endorsed Sheinbaum, significantly enhancing her campaign given his enduring popularity with an approval rating hovering around 60%.
Claudia Sheinbaum’s electoral triumph not only sets a precedent as Mexico’s first female leadership but also signifies a potent continuation of the current administration’s policies, backed by the robust support of the outgoing president.
