Claudia Sheinbaum Poised to Make History as Mexico's First Female President

Mexico is on the verge of having its first female president. Claudia Sheinbaum, a climate scientist and former mayor of Mexico City, is currently leading in the country's biggest election ever.

Preliminary results show that Sheinbaum has secured between 58.3% and 60.7% of the vote. This information comes from the Quick Count, a process conducted by the National Electoral Institute (INE) using a statistical sample of ballots from polling stations.

Sheinbaum, aged 61, benefited from the support of her political ally, the current leftist Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and their Morena party.

She expressed her commitment to governing all Mexicans equally, without any discrimination.

She addressed crowds of supporters in Mexico City's main square, the Zócalo, on Monday morning, emphasizing the importance of unity and peace to create a better Mexico.

She also reflected on the historical milestone of being the first female president of Mexico.

"I am thankful to announce that I will be making history as Mexico's first woman president after 200 years of the republic," she expressed her gratitude.

Sheinbaum is not only set to be Mexico's first female president, but also the country's first leader of Jewish heritage. Despite her rare public discussions about her personal background, she has governed as a secular leftist.

Trailing Sheinbaum is opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez, who is supported by a coalition of the National Action (PAN), Institutional Revolutionary (PRI), and Democratic Revolution (PRD) parties. She has received between 26.6% and 28.6% of the votes.

In third place is the Citizens’ Movement candidate, Jorge Álvarez Máynez, who has garnered between 9.9% and 10.8% of the votes.

Based on the quick count results, around 58.9% to 61.7% of the almost 100 million eligible voters participated in the presidential election.

The outgoing president, Obrador, who is also Sheinbaum's political mentor, congratulated Sheinbaum on her victory.

I want to congratulate Claudia Sheinbaum for her impressive victory in the election. She will make history as the first female President of Mexico, possibly with the most votes ever received in our country. This was mentioned in a video shared on X.

Sheinbaum's win is a significant moment for Mexico, a country that leads the world in terms of gender equality in elected positions. In 2019, Mexico solidified its position with constitutional reform, surpassing many countries in terms of women's representation in parliament.

Yet Mexico remains a dangerous place to be a woman: it has sky-high femicide rates with around 10 women murdered in Mexico every day.

Supporters of Claudia Sheinbaum celebrate during an election rally in Mexico City on June 2, 2024.

Supporters of Claudia Sheinbaum celebrate during an election rally in Mexico City on June 2, 2024.

Luis Antonio Rojas/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Sheinbaum led Mexico City for five years before stepping down in June to pursue the presidency. She is also known for co-authoring a Nobel Prize-winning report on climate change with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and is married to Jesús María Tarriba Unger.

She is viewed as carrying on the legacy of López Obrador, whose social welfare programs helped increase the popularity of the Morena party and had a positive impact on the lives of many low-income Mexicans. According to the Mexican constitution, presidents are limited to serving one term and cannot seek re-election.

Sheinbaum has promised to carry on the policies of her predecessor, which include providing pensions for all senior citizens, offering scholarships to over 12 million students, and giving free fertilizers to small farm owners. Despite criticism for her close political ties with López Obrador, she remains committed to these initiatives.

She is soon to be succeeded as the mayor of Mexico City by another woman, Clara Marina Brugada Molina from Sheinbaum's Morena party. According to the Quick Count, Sheinbaum secured between 49% and 52.8% of the votes, while the opposition candidate Santiago Taboada received 37.2% to 40.5% of the votes.

Sunday's election was the biggest in the history of the country. Over 98 million voters were registered to vote, including 1.4 million Mexicans who were eligible to vote from abroad.

More than 20,000 positions were up for grabs in addition to the presidency, with around 70,000 candidates competing to become senators, mayors, and governors.

Unfortunately, the elections were marred by widespread violence. The Mexican government reported over 20 political killings since September, but other sources suggest the number could be even higher. According to the consultancy firm Integralia, at least 34 candidates were murdered leading up to the election.

Voting in the southeastern Mexican town of Coyomeapan was stopped for a few hours on Sunday because of violence at the polling locations, as reported by state electoral authorities.

Despite a decrease in the murder rate in Mexico from 2019 to 2022, the country continues to face a significant challenge with approximately 30,000 homicides annually. Experts believe that the actual number of homicides is even higher than reported.

Violence seems to be a major worry for voters as cartels continue to gain control over Mexico.

Sheinbaum hasn't revealed much about her security plans, but she has highlighted her achievements as the mayor of Mexico City. Her team claims that she enhanced the working conditions and intelligence capabilities of the police force.

One of the major challenges she will face is gaining the trust of voters by showing them that she is capable of putting an end to the widespread culture of impunity in Mexico. In 2022, an alarming 95% of all crimes across the country remained unsolved, as reported by Mexico Evalua, a think tank.

Following the announcement of the final election results, the Electoral Tribunal of the Judicial Branch of the Federation (TEPJF) is responsible for receiving and reviewing any potential challenges to the electoral process. The presidential election must be officially confirmed by September 6. Once the court validates the election, Sheinbaum is set to assume office on October 1, serving a six-year term from 2024 to 2030.

This story has been updated.

Editor's P/S:

Mexico's impending election of Claudia Sheinbaum as its first female president is a testament to the country's progress in gender equality. Her victory reflects the growing representation of women in leadership positions, mirroring Mexico's strong stance on this issue. Despite this positive step, the country's high femicide rate remains a stark reminder of the challenges women face. Sheinbaum's commitment to governing without discrimination and her focus on improving conditions for all Mexicans offer hope for a more just and equitable society.

The election was marred by violence, highlighting the ongoing security challenges Mexico faces. Sheinbaum's security plans and her ability to address impunity will be crucial in restoring trust and creating a safer environment for the country's citizens. Her plans to continue the social welfare programs implemented by her predecessor are commendable, but it is essential to ensure their effective implementation and impact on reducing inequality. As Mexico enters a new era with Sheinbaum at the helm, it is critical to address both the progress made and the challenges that lie ahead.