Claudia Sheinbaum’s historic ascent to the Mexican presidency marks a pivotal moment for the nation, ushering in its first female leader in over 200 years of independence. Capitalizing on the enduring popularity of her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the 61-year-old former Mexico City mayor and lifelong leftist secured victory in Sunday’s elections, according to official quick counts. As Mexico embarks on this new chapter under Sheinbaum’s leadership, all eyes are on how she will establish her own distinct imprint on the presidency, diverging from the towering figure of her mentor, López Obrador.
While politically aligned with López Obrador and sharing his vision of a government deeply involved in addressing societal inequalities, Sheinbaum is perceived as embodying a less confrontational and more empirically grounded approach to governance. Her background as a scientist, holding a Ph.D. in energy engineering, and her brother’s profession as a physicist underscore a data-driven mindset. In a 2023 interview with The Associated Press, Sheinbaum’s declaration, “I believe in science,” offered a glimpse into her pragmatic worldview, a stark contrast to the often ideologically driven pronouncements of her predecessor.
This scientific grounding became particularly evident during her tenure as Mexico City’s mayor amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. In a city of approximately 9 million inhabitants, Sheinbaum’s administration charted a different course from the federal government’s response spearheaded by López Obrador.
While the national government minimized the significance of widespread coronavirus testing, Mexico City under Sheinbaum expanded its testing capabilities. She implemented restrictions on business operating hours and capacity to curb the virus’s rapid spread, even as López Obrador prioritized economic preservation over stringent measures. Furthermore, Sheinbaum publicly embraced protective masks and promoted social distancing, practices notably absent in the president’s public appearances, highlighting a divergence in their leadership styles during a critical public health crisis.
One of the most pressing challenges confronting Sheinbaum’s presidency, commencing on October 1st, will be Mexico’s persistently high levels of violence. During her campaign, her pronouncements on this issue remained largely consistent with López Obrador’s existing strategies. She pledged to expand the National Guard, a quasi-military force established by her predecessor, and to continue addressing the underlying social factors that render young Mexicans vulnerable to cartel recruitment.
At her final campaign rally, Sheinbaum clarified her stance on tackling criminal organizations, stating, “Let it be clear, it doesn’t mean an iron fist, wars or authoritarianism. We will promote a strategy of addressing the causes and continue moving toward zero impunity.” This nuanced approach suggests a continuation of López Obrador’s focus on social programs, but potentially with a more refined and data-informed implementation.
Sheinbaum has consistently lauded López Obrador, echoing many of his policy positions. She has criticized neoliberal economic policies for exacerbating poverty, championed a robust welfare state, and expressed support for Pemex, Mexico’s state-owned oil giant, while simultaneously advocating for a transition towards cleaner energy sources.
In her interview with the AP the previous year, Sheinbaum articulated her leftist ideology, stating, “For me, being from the left has to do with that, with guaranteeing the minimum rights to all residents.” This commitment to social justice and equitable access to basic rights forms the bedrock of her political philosophy.
In contrast to López Obrador’s penchant for public clashes with other branches of government and the media, many observers anticipate a less adversarial approach from Sheinbaum. Political scientist Ivonne Acuña Murillo from Iberoamerican University noted, “It appears she’s going to go in a different direction. I don’t know how much,” suggesting a potential shift in presidential style while acknowledging the uncertainties that remain.
Adding another layer of historical significance to her presidency, Claudia Sheinbaum will be the first individual of Jewish heritage to lead Mexico, a predominantly Catholic nation. This landmark achievement underscores the evolving social and political landscape of Mexico and signals a new era of inclusivity at the highest levels of leadership.
