What you need to know
- Historic election: Claudia Sheinbaum is projected to win Mexico’s presidential election and become the first woman to lead the country’s government, according to official preliminary results. She will also be the country’s first president with Jewish heritage. The climate scientist and Mexico City’s former mayor rode the wave of popularity of her longtime political ally, outgoing leftist Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and their Morena party.
- Millions headed to the polls: Sheinbaum is set to defeat Xóchitl Gálvez of the opposition coalition in the country’s largest election in history. Over 98 million voters were registered to cast a ballot in Mexico and more than 20,000 positions are set to be filled after a campaign cycle that was marred by violence.
- Regional implications: As the new president, Sheinbaum will face several challenges, including security, organized crime, energy and immigration, and would also set the tone for the pivotal US-Mexico bilateral relationship. Sunday’s vote came just months before the US presidential election, where immigration is a top issue.
Latin American leaders celebrate Claudia Sheinbaum’s projected win
From CNN’s Abel Alvarado:
Latin American leaders are celebrating Claudia Sheinbaum’s projected win as Mexico’s president with leaders referencing a common theme — that her appointment would hopefully see strengthened relationships between countries on the continent.
Sheinbaum will face several challenges, including security, organized crime, energy and immigration, and would also set the tone for the pivotal US-Mexico bilateral relationship.
- Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said in a post on X: “We wish her success in her management, the first for a woman in that position.”
- Honduran President Xiomara Castro extended her “sincere congratulations” to Sheinbaum, “as the first female president of Honduras” on X. Castro said she spoke to Sheinbaum following her victory and agreed “to work together for the unity of Latin America and the Caribbean.”
- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called her win a “great victory for the Great Homeland. I hug you! Long live Mexico!”
- Bolivian President Luis Arce congratulated her on X and added that they “salute salute all the Mexican people for their democratic vocation and broad participation in the electoral process.”
- Colombian President Gustavo Petro described Sheinbaum’s appointment as “a triumph for the Mexican people and for their democracy.”
- Costa Rica‘s presidency referred to the two countries as “brother countries” and congratulated Sheinbaum on her appointment.
