Mexico has made history by electing Claudia Sheinbaum as its first female president. In a landmark victory, the former Mayor of Mexico City secured a resounding win in Sunday’s election, marking a significant step forward for gender equality in Mexican politics.
Preliminary results from Mexico’s official electoral authority indicate that Ms. Sheinbaum, aged 61, from the ruling Morena party, garnered between 58% and 60% of the vote. This substantial lead of approximately 30 percentage points over her closest competitor, businesswoman Xóchitl Gálvez, underscores the decisive nature of her triumph. Ms. Sheinbaum is poised to succeed her mentor, the outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), assuming office on October 1st.
For many, the election of a woman to Mexico’s highest office was deeply symbolic and emotionally resonant, representing a long-awaited milestone.
Ms. Sheinbaum, with her background as an energy scientist, has campaigned on a platform of continuity, pledging to extend and enhance the policies of President López Obrador. His welfare programs have been a cornerstone of his popularity, and Sheinbaum aims to build upon these “advances.”
In her victory address, Ms. Sheinbaum emphasized the groundbreaking nature of this election. “For the first time in the 200 years of the Mexican Republic,” she declared to jubilant supporters, “I will become the first woman president of Mexico.” She framed her achievement as a collective victory for all women, stating, “This is not just about me getting to the top office, it’s about all of us getting here.” She concluded her speech with a promise: “I won’t fail you.” Ms. Sheinbaum also acknowledged her rival, Xóchitl Gálvez, who has since conceded the election.
Mexico’s First Female President Shatters Political Ceiling
Before her presidential bid, Claudia Sheinbaum held the influential position of Mayor of Mexico City. This role is widely regarded as a significant stepping stone to the presidency in Mexican politics, and Ms. Sheinbaum utilized it effectively to build her national profile.
Born into a family with a strong scientific and academic background, Sheinbaum’s maternal Jewish grandparents emigrated from Bulgaria to Mexico to escape Nazi persecution. Her paternal grandparents were from Lithuania. Both her parents were scientists, and she followed in their footsteps, earning a doctorate in energy engineering after studying physics. Her expertise led her to a research position in California, where she focused on Mexican energy consumption patterns and became a leading voice on climate change issues.
Her scientific expertise and early engagement in student activism eventually led her to public service. Andrés Manuel López Obrador, then Mayor of Mexico City, appointed her as secretary of the environment for the capital. Later, in 2018, she achieved another first, becoming the first woman elected as Mayor of Mexico City, a position she held until 2023 when she resigned to pursue her presidential ambitions.
Supporters of Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, gathered in the Zócalo to celebrate this historical moment for women in politics.
The presidential race between Ms. Sheinbaum and Ms. Gálvez was itself a historic event, irrespective of the outcome, as it placed two women at the forefront of Mexican politics. Edelmira Montiel, 87, voiced the sentiments of many older women, expressing her gratitude at witnessing a woman reach the presidency. “Before, we couldn’t even vote, and when you could, it was to vote for the person your husband told you to vote for. Thank God that has changed and I get to live it,” she told Reuters, recalling that women’s suffrage in Mexico was only achieved in 1953.
However, the election period was also marked by violence, casting a shadow over the democratic process. Alongside the presidential election, Mexicans voted for all members of Congress, governorships in eight states, the head of Mexico City’s government, and numerous local positions. Tragically, local candidates were particularly targeted, with government figures reporting over 20 killed across Mexico, while some surveys suggest the number may be as high as 37.
Ms. Gálvez was critical of the government’s handling of the violence and challenged Ms. Sheinbaum on this issue during the campaign. She pledged to be a “brave president” who would directly confront crime, although she presented limited details on her strategies to combat powerful criminal cartels.
Following the announcement of Ms. Sheinbaum’s insurmountable lead, Ms. Gálvez contacted her to concede. “I told her I saw a Mexico with a lot of pain and violence. I wished that she could solve the severe problems our people have,” Ms. Gálvez stated after the call, highlighting the pressing security challenges facing the incoming president.
Xóchitl Gálvez conceded defeat, paving the way for Claudia Sheinbaum to become the first woman president of Mexico.
Addressing Mexico’s pervasive issue of violent cartels will be a primary challenge for President-elect Sheinbaum. She has articulated a strategy focused on tackling the root causes of violence, advocating for investment in social welfare programs to deter young people from joining criminal organizations.
Regarding international relations, particularly with the United States, which has experienced strained periods under President López Obrador, Ms. Sheinbaum indicated a desire for a more stable and respectful relationship. She affirmed her commitment to “a relationship of friendship, mutual respect and equality” with the US. Furthermore, she pledged to “always defend the Mexicans who are on the other side of the border,” signaling her intention to advocate for the rights and interests of Mexican citizens living and working in the United States.
President López Obrador, who has maintained high approval ratings throughout his term, was constitutionally limited to a single six-year term. He actively supported Ms. Sheinbaum as his successor, and his endorsement significantly bolstered her campaign. Many voters who supported Ms. Sheinbaum expressed their desire to see the continuation of President López Obrador’s initiatives aimed at poverty reduction and social upliftment.
Additional reporting by BBC Monitoring in Miami.
