Before running for president, Claudia Sheinbaum served as mayor of Mexico City, a significant political position in the country often seen as a stepping stone to the presidency.
Claudia Sheinbaum has made history by being elected as Mexico’s first woman president in a landslide victory.
According to Mexico’s official electoral authority, preliminary results show the 61-year-old former mayor of Mexico City winning between 58% and 60% of the vote in Sunday’s election, giving her a lead of about 30 percentage points over her main rival, businesswoman Xóchitl Gálvez.
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Claudia Sheinbaum will succeed her mentor, outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, on October 1.
A former energy scientist, Ms. Sheinbaum has pledged continuity, promising to build on the “advances” made by López Obrador, particularly his popular welfare programs.
In her victory speech, Claudia Sheinbaum highlighted the historic nature of the election, telling cheering supporters, “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 milestone was not just for her but for all women. “I’ve said it from the start, this is not just about me getting [to the top office], it’s about all of us getting here,” she added, assuring, “I won’t fail you.”
Ms. Sheinbaum also expressed gratitude to her rival, Xóchitl Gálvez, who conceded victory.
About Claudia Sheinbaum
Before running for president, Ms. Sheinbaum served as mayor of Mexico City, a significant political position in the country often seen as a stepping stone to the presidency.
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With Jewish maternal grandparents who fled the Nazis from Bulgaria and paternal grandparents from Lithuania, Ms. Sheinbaum had an illustrious career in science before transitioning to politics. She studied physics and earned a doctorate in energy engineering. She worked at a renowned research lab in California, focusing on Mexican energy consumption patterns, and became an expert on climate change. Her scientific and activist background led to her appointment as secretary of the environment for Mexico City when López Obrador was mayor.
In 2018, she became the first female mayor of Mexico City, a position she held until 2023, when she stepped down to run for president.
This election, which saw Ms. Sheinbaum and Ms. Gálvez as the front-runners, has been described as a significant change for women in Mexico. Edelmira Montiel, 87, expressed her gratitude for witnessing a woman elected to the highest office, recalling how women couldn’t even vote in the past.
Despite the celebration of having two female front-runners, the campaign was marred by violence. Alongside the presidential election, voters elected members of Congress, governors in eight states, the head of Mexico City’s government, and thousands of local officials. Local candidates were particularly targeted, with over 20 reportedly killed across Mexico, although other surveys suggest the total could be as high as 37.
Ms. Gálvez criticized the government and Ms. Sheinbaum for the violence affecting much of Mexico. She promised to be “the bravest president, a president who does confront crime” if elected but offered few details on tackling the powerful criminal cartels behind much of the violence.
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After Claudia Sheinbaum’s victory was clear, Ms. Gálvez called her, saying, “I wished that she could solve the severe problems our people have.”
Addressing Mexico’s violent cartels will be one of Ms. Sheinbaum’s many challenges. She has emphasized tackling the roots of violence and promised to invest in welfare programs to prevent young Mexicans from being recruited by criminal groups.
Regarding relations with the United States, which were sometimes strained under her predecessor, Claudia Sheinbaum pledged a “relationship of friendship, mutual respect, and equality.” She also promised to “always defend the Mexicans who are on the other side of the border.”
Outgoing President López Obrador, who has been in power since 2018, was constitutionally barred from a second term and supported Ms. Sheinbaum. His backing, along with his near 60% approval rating, significantly boosted her campaign. Many voters supported her to continue Morena’s poverty alleviation programs.