In a milestone moment for Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum was elected as the nation’s first female president in a historic, dominant victory. According to preliminary results from Mexico’s official electoral authority, the 61-year-old former mayor of Mexico City won between 58% and 60% of the vote in the election. This significant lead places her approximately 30 percentage points ahead of her main rival, businesswoman Xóchitl Gálvez.
Sheinbaum’s victory represents a personal milestone and a significant achievement for women throughout Mexico. Addressing a crowd of enthusiastic supporters, Sheinbaum said, “For the first time in the 200-year history of the Mexican Republic, I will become the first woman president of Mexico.” She also added, “This is not just about me getting [to the top office]; it’s about all of us getting here,” highlighting the broader implications of her win for gender equality in the nation.
People were really emotional about this election, especially the supporters. A lot of them gathered at Mexico City’s Zócalo square to celebrate. Edelmira Montiel, who is 87 years old, was really thankful to see a woman become the president of Mexico. She said, “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 will live it.” She talked about how much things have improved for women since 1953, when Mexican women were first allowed to vote in national elections.
Sheinbaum will succeed her mentor, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, on October 1st. Lopez Obrador has been president since 2018, but he can not run for a second term because of the rules. His support was really important for Sheinbaum. She has promised to continue working on the welfare programs that made Lopez Obrador well-liked. A lot of people liked how he focused on helping poor people, and they wanted Sheinbaum to keep doing that when she became the leader.
Sheinbaum, a former energy scientist, has much academic and professional experience. Her Jewish grandparents on her mother’s side came to Mexico from Bulgaria to escape the Nazis, while her grandparents on her father’s side were from Lithuania. Both of her parents were scientists, and she pursued a similar path. She studied physics and got a Ph.D. in energy engineering. Sheinbaum’s knowledge about climate change and energy use, gained at a well-known research lab in California, eventually brought her into politics.
Sheinbaum’s political career started when she was the environment secretary for Mexico City while Lopez Obrador was mayor. In 2018, she became the first female mayor of Mexico City and held the position until 2023, when she stepped down to run for president.
The election was historic, but the campaign saw a lot of violence, especially against local candidates. Over 20 local candidates were killed in Mexico before the vote, with some reports saying up to 37 were killed. This violence became a big issue in the campaign. Galvez criticized the government and Sheinbaum for not dealing with the criminal cartels, causing much of the violence. In response, Sheinbaum promised to tackle the root causes of violence by investing in welfare programs to keep young Mexicans from joining criminal groups.
In her victory speech, Sheinbaum discussed Mexico’s relationship with the United States. She promised to maintain a “relationship of friendship, mutual respect, and equality” and defend the rights of Mexicans living and working in the US. Relations between the two countries have sometimes been tense under Lopez Obrador, and many people will be watching Sheinbaum’s approach closely.
As Sheinbaum gets ready to take office, she faces many challenges, such as dealing with powerful criminal cartels and continuing the popular welfare programs started by her predecessor. However, her historic election is a big step forward for gender equality in Mexico and brings hope for a new era of leadership.