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Claudia Sheinbaum, climate scientist and former mayor of Mexico City, is projected to become Mexico’s first-ever woman president in a landslide victory.
According to the Instituto Nacional Electoral’s quick count estimate, Sheinbaum had between 58.3% and 60.7% of the vote. Opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez had between 26.6% and 28.6% of the vote. The official result will be announced on June 8.
“For the first time in 200 years of our Republic, there will be a woman president and she will be transformative,” Sheinbaum posted on social media platform X.
Sheinbaum has pledged to continue with the policies of outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, her political mentor. The ruling Morena party will likely maintain its majority in Congress, but by a smaller margin.
While López Obrador has expanded social programs during his tenure, Mexico has continued to face cartel violence, a point of concern for the U.S., its top trading partner. “Mexico faces significant challenges, including decreasing productivity, violence, and pervasive informality,” the World Bank recently noted.
Elsewhere in the world, South Africa’s election results have been announced, with no party securing a majority. The ruling African National Congress will now begin unprecedented coalition talks to form a government.
Meanwhile, the world’s largest election in India has ended, with most exit polls projecting a win for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
