Advancing Political Landscape: Mexico Poised to Elect First Female President as Prominent Parties Nominate Two Women Candidates

In a landmark move, former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum has been chosen as the candidate of Mexico’s ruling party for the upcoming presidential election in June. This means that, for the first time, two women from the country’s main political movements will be competing for the presidency.

Both Sheinbaum and opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez have emphasized that Mexico is ready to be led by a woman, but they acknowledge that the path will not be easy.

On Wednesday night, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s Morena party announced Sheinbaum’s victory over five male competitors within the party. Despite occasional accusations of male chauvinism, López Obrador has placed women in important positions in his Cabinet and has been a mentor to Sheinbaum.

Although Mexico is known for its intense “machismo” or male chauvinism, which is seen in high rates of femicides and countless subtle forms of discrimination, there is still a significant “macho vote,” according to Gloria Alcocer Olmos, director of the electoral magazine “Voice and Vote.” Interestingly, this vote is not exclusive to male voters.

Alcocer Olmos pointed out that in the gubernatorial election in Mexico’s most populous state last June, which featured two female candidates, voter turnout was historically low. The same trend was observed in the state election in Aguascalientes in 2021.

She asked, “What does that tell us? That people are voting for women?” She emphasized that the reality is quite the opposite, and unfortunately, even women themselves are not voting for women.

However, Alcocer Olmos believes that the low turnout in the upcoming presidential election is less likely due to the high stakes involved. She also mentioned the possibility that the Citizen Movement party, which controls economically important states like Nuevo Leon and Jalisco, could nominate a male candidate who would attract the “macho vote.”

Another uncertainty is the position of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, who was Sheinbaum’s closest rival in Morena. Ebrard has refused to accept the results of the internal party selection process, citing irregularities.

With Morena controlling 22 out of Mexico’s 32 states and López Obrador still enjoying high popularity, Sheinbaum has a strong advantage. However, Gálvez, who has emerged from virtual obscurity, has gained momentum as the opposition’s consensus candidate, thanks in large part to daily public criticism from López Obrador.

Aurora Pedroche, a Morena activist who supports Sheinbaum, raised concerns about the greater power and responsibility given to the military during López Obrador’s administration. She questioned how they would accept a woman as the commander in chief.

“That scares me,” Pedroche admitted.

While Mexican women have made strides in attaining positions of political power, they continue to face high levels of gender violence. Femicides, which are cases of women being killed because of their gender, have been a persistent problem for decades.

Sheinbaum represents a continuation of López Obrador’s social agenda, although she lacks his charisma when it comes to connecting with the people, which is a strength of Gálvez, the independent candidate. Gálvez is representing the Broad Front for Mexico, a coalition consisting of the conservative National Action Party, the progressive Democratic Revolution Party, and the old-guard Institutional Revolutionary Party.

Antonio Sola, a strategist who worked on former President Felipe Calderón’s 2006 campaign and later with one of the parties that helped López Obrador secure victory, believes that Gálvez’s outsider image could work in her favor. He noted that in a world where traditional candidates are losing ground, those who challenge the system are emerging as prominent figures.