Claudia Sheinbaum has made history as Mexico’s first woman president, securing a landslide victory in the latest election.
Preliminary results from Mexico’s electoral authority indicate that Sheinbaum, the 61-year-old former mayor of Mexico City, won between 58% and 60% of the vote. This gives her a significant lead of about 30 percentage points over her main rival, businesswoman Xóchitl Gálvez. Sheinbaum will succeed her mentor, outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, on October 1.
Sheinbaum, with a background in energy science, has pledged to continue López Obrador’s popular welfare programs. In her victory speech, she highlighted the significance of her win, declaring, “For the first time in the 200 years of the [Mexican] Republic, I will become the first woman president of Mexico.” She emphasized that this achievement is for all women, stating, “This is not just about me getting [to the top office], it’s about all of us getting here. I won’t fail you.”
Sheinbaum thanked her rival, Gálvez, who has conceded. Before her presidential run, Sheinbaum served as mayor of Mexico City, a key political position. Her career includes notable scientific achievements; her Jewish maternal grandparents fled Nazi persecution, and she earned a doctorate in energy engineering, focusing on climate change.
In 2018, Sheinbaum became the first female mayor of Mexico City, a position she held until 2023 when she decided to run for president. This election has been hailed as a significant moment for women in Mexico, with both leading candidates being female. Edelmira Montiel, 87, expressed her joy, saying, “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.”
Despite the celebration, the campaign was marred by violence, with over 20 local candidates killed, highlighting Mexico’s ongoing struggle with crime. Gálvez criticized the government for the violence and promised to tackle the criminal cartels if elected. After conceding, Gálvez spoke with Sheinbaum, expressing hope that she could address the severe issues facing Mexico.
Sheinbaum’s presidency will involve addressing the roots of violence and investing in welfare programs to deter young people from joining criminal groups. She also aims to maintain a positive relationship with the United States, emphasizing mutual respect and the defense of Mexicans living there.
López Obrador, barred from a second term, supported Sheinbaum, boosting her campaign with his high approval ratings. Voters backing Sheinbaum were drawn to Morena’s anti-poverty programs and their desire to see these initiatives continue.
