Unveiling Claudia Sheinbaum: Mexico's Prospective First Female President

Claudia Sheinbaum, who previously served as the head of the government of Mexico City and is now a candidate for the ruling Morena party, is expected to become Mexico's first female president. This would be a significant milestone in a country with a strong patriarchal culture.

She has gained popularity thanks to her close relationship with the current leftist Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and their Morena party. Sheinbaum, who is 61 years old, has been riding the wave of support from her political ally and their party.

The presidential election results are still pending validation by the Electoral Court. If confirmed, the winner will officially begin their presidency on October 1.

Sheinbaum, a former climate scientist, was considered the frontrunner in the campaign. Polls conducted in February and March by Mitofsky, Parametría, and De las Heras Demotecnia showed her leading with support ranging from 49% to 67% over her political opponents.

Sheinbaum, born in Mexico City in 1962, holds a degree in physics and a master’s and doctorate in energy engineering. She has received several accolades for her academic career.

She has two children and one grandchild, and her partner, Jesús María Tarriba, whom she met at university while both were studying physics, is currently a financial risk specialist at the Bank of Mexico.

In 2018, she made history by becoming the first woman to be elected as the head of government of Mexico City. Her journey in Mexican politics began in 2000 when she was appointed as the Secretary of the Environment for the Federal District under the administration of Andrés López Obrador, a position she held until 2006.

Prior to her role as head of government, she served as the first woman elected to lead the Tlalpan borough for three years, until 2017. In early 2018, she transitioned to her new role in the government of Mexico City, where she served until June 2023. At that time, she decided to step down in order to run for the presidency with the Morena party, a party she helped found. Her goal is to succeed her party colleague, López Obrador.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (R) raises the hand of Claudia Sheinbaum (L), after her swearing-in ceremony as Mexico City mayor on December 05, 2018.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (R) raises the hand of Claudia Sheinbaum (L), after her swearing-in ceremony as Mexico City mayor on December 05, 2018.

Sheinbaum, as a member of Morena, has been appointed as the coordinator for the Defense of the Transformation. Her main goal, as mentioned on her LinkedIn profile, is to uphold and advance the principles of the Fourth Transformation of Public Life in Mexico. This transformation serves as the core focus of López Obrador's policies.

Much of her life has been devoted to teaching at the university level, with a specific focus on renewable energy and climate change. She made significant contributions to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.

Sheinbaum holds the title of being the first female president in Mexico, as well as the first president with Jewish heritage. Despite this, she tends to keep her personal background private and has governed as a secular leftist.

What challenges are we facing in the upcoming days?

The upcoming election in Mexico has been marked by a high level of violence, making it the most violent in the country's history. Criminal organizations have been targeting political candidates and applicants, resulting in the deaths of many individuals in an attempt to sway the outcome of the election.

Some view the poll as a way to evaluate the effectiveness of the policies of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who is also the mentor of Sheinbaum.

López Obrador's focus on social welfare programs has been well-received among poorer Mexicans. However, his approach of avoiding direct confrontation with cartels, known as "hugs, not bullets," has not been successful in reducing criminal violence.

Mexico has one of the highest homicide rates globally, with over 100,000 people still missing. It is also a dangerous country for women, with alarming rates of femicide - around 10 women are murdered daily in the region.

Will Freeman, a fellow for Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, emphasized the urgent need for Sheinbaum to address Mexico's organized crime and security challenges.

"It's surprising that the ruling party won the election by a large margin despite the widespread violence. The opposition didn't present strong proposals for what they would do if elected," Freeman commented.

Sheinbaum brings a team from her time as Mexico City mayor who have a successful track record in enhancing security. However, it is uncertain if she can achieve the same results on a national level, according to Freeman.

In 2024, both Mexico and the US will be having elections, a rare event that occurs once every 12 years. This coincides with a period of change in the relationship between the two countries.

Sheinbaum will take office shortly before the November elections in the US, where immigration is a major concern for both Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

Mexico is an important ally for the US on various issues, such as trade, combating drug trafficking, and handling migration. Current and former US officials often characterize the relationship between President Joe Biden and Mexico's President Andrés Manuel López Obrador as positive and cooperative, and look forward to a successful partnership with Mexico's future leader.

But Mexico’s election is happening at a crucial moment for the Biden administration.

Recently, the US has been counting on Mexico to increase immigration enforcement and assist in reducing the number of people migrating to the US southern border. The election in Mexico has created some uncertainty among Biden officials about what could potentially change with a key partner in terms of border collaboration.

One factor to think about when implementing a new border executive action was waiting until after Mexico's election. It is important for the administration to have the support and help of Mexico to carry out the order.

It is anticipated that a new Mexican administration would probably keep working together with the US on migration due to their years of collaboration. However, it is uncertain how migrants, and particularly smugglers, may strategize their next steps during a period of government change.

CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez, Rey Rodríguez, Laura Paddison, Jack Guy, Fidel Gutiérrez, Krupskaia Alís, Aditi Sangal, Karen Esquivel and Carmen Sánchez contributed reporting.

Editor's P/S:

Claudia Sheinbaum's potential presidency marks a significant turning point in Mexico's political landscape. As the first female president, she would challenge the deeply entrenched patriarchal norms and inspire women across the country. Her close association with President López Obrador and the ruling Morena party has bolstered her popularity, but it also raises concerns about her ability to govern independently.

The upcoming election is marred by unprecedented violence, highlighting the challenges facing Mexico's next leader. Sheinbaum's experience as Mexico City mayor, where she implemented successful security measures, will be crucial in addressing the country's rampant crime and corruption. However, the national scope of these issues presents a formidable test, and her ability to replicate her local success remains uncertain. Additionally, the timing of the election coincides with a period of transition in the US-Mexico relationship, adding another layer of complexity to her potential presidency.