Claudia Sheinbaum becomes Mexico's first female president

 

Claudia Sheinbaum

Claudia Sheinbaum is set to become Mexico's first female president in its 200-year history. The climate scientist and former Mexico City mayor announced her victory on Sunday night, confirming that her two competitors had conceded.

“I will become the first woman president of Mexico,” Sheinbaum declared with a smile at a downtown hotel after electoral authorities revealed that a statistical sample indicated her lead was insurmountable. “This achievement is shared by all of us, inspired by our heroines who gave us our homeland, our mothers, daughters, and granddaughters.”

Sheinbaum emphasized, “We have shown that Mexico is a democratic country with peaceful elections.”

The National Electoral Institute reported that Sheinbaum received between 58.3% and 60.7% of the vote based on a statistical sample. Opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez earned between 26.6% and 28.6%, while Jorge Álvarez Máynez garnered between 9.9% and 10.8%.

The preliminary count, which initially progressed slowly, had Sheinbaum leading Gálvez by 27 points with 42% of polling place tallies counted shortly after her victory speech.

Sheinbaum's campaign focused on maintaining the political direction set over the past six years by her mentor, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Claudia Sheinbaum is projected to become Mexico’s first female president, marking a historic milestone in the country's 200-year history. The 61-year-old climate scientist and former mayor of Mexico City led the campaign from start to finish, overcoming a spirited challenge from Xóchitl Gálvez. This election was notable for being the first in Mexico where the two main contenders were women.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who supported Sheinbaum, congratulated her on her victory, acknowledging her significant lead. "She is going to be Mexico’s first woman president in 200 years," he stated following the electoral authorities' announcement.

Sheinbaum’s victory margin, if confirmed, would be similar to López Obrador's landslide win in 2018, where he secured 53.2% of the vote. In this election, preliminary results indicated Sheinbaum had between 58.3% and 60.7% of the vote, while Gálvez had between 26.6% and 28.6%, and Jorge Álvarez Máynez received between 9.9% and 10.8%.

During her victory speech, Sheinbaum reflected on the contributions of women throughout Mexican history, expressing her gratitude and pride. "This achievement is shared by all of us, inspired by our heroines who gave us our homeland, our mothers, daughters, and granddaughters."

Despite her win, Sheinbaum may not experience the same unquestioning support that López Obrador has enjoyed. Both are members of the governing Morena party, but Sheinbaum's lead did not initially draw the same enthusiastic crowds that celebrated López Obrador's victory in 2018. 

The co-main opposition candidate, Gálvez, campaigned on addressing security concerns and taking a tougher stance on organized crime. She has been critical of López Obrador’s "hugs not bullets" policy, promising a more aggressive approach to dealing with the cartels.

Voter turnout appeared slightly lower than in previous elections, with nearly 100 million people registered to vote. In addition to the presidential race, voters elected governors in nine of the country’s 32 states and filled numerous congressional and local positions. The election was widely seen as a referendum on López Obrador’s administration, which has expanded social programs but struggled to curb cartel violence.

Sheinbaum has pledged to continue López Obrador’s policies, including universal pensions for the elderly and youth apprenticeship programs. Her campaign promises aim to address both the social welfare agenda and the escalating violence in the country.

As Mexico awaits the final results, the election underscores the deep polarization within the country regarding its future direction, particularly in terms of security and economic growth. The upcoming races for control of Congress and key governorships, including that of Mexico City, will also be pivotal in shaping the nation’s political landscape.