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– Editorial
A historic presidential election awaits Mexico, with the likely election of a woman to lead the country for the very first time. Claudia Sheinbaum aims to keep the current President’s political party in power, while Xochitl Galvez is set to become the voice of those who disapprove of the current administration.
Claudia Sheinbaum’s Journey to Becoming the Presidential Candidate
In August 2017, Sheinbaum secured Morena’s candidacy for the 2018 Mexico City mayoral election, triumphing over Ricardo Monreal and Martí Batres. During her campaign, Sheinbaum prioritized tackling crime and enforcing zoning laws to curb overdevelopment.
On July 1, 2018, she won a six-year term as the head of the government of the Federal District of Mexico City, defeating six other contenders. In doing so, she became Mexico City’s first elected female mayor and the first Jewish mayor in its history.
Looking ahead to the 2024 presidential election, it was announced on June 12, 2023, that she would step down as Mexico City’s mayor on June 16. On September 6, 2023, she officially secured the party’s nomination for the 2024 election, surpassing former foreign secretary Marcelo Ebrard. Sheinbaum has been a vocal critic of the neoliberal economic policies of previous Mexican presidents, arguing that they have exacerbated inequality in the country.
Xochitl Galvez: The Last Hope of the Opposition
While initially vying for the role of Mayor of Mexico City, Galvez announced her intention to run for the presidency in the 2024 general election in late June. She quickly gained popularity in opinion polls among opposition candidates, which led to attacks and allegations from President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
López Obrador frequently mentioned her in his morning press conferences, making allusions to alleged irregularities in her companies’ contracts. He even disclosed confidential information concerning her private companies’ tax returns and their business dealings with various entities. These actions resulted in orders from the National Electoral Institute (INE) prohibiting López Obrador from commenting on the 2024 elections. Gálvez perceived this as harassment, prompting her to seek constitutional protection against his actions. However, this protective measure has not been enforced yet.
Gálvez is a computer engineer from UNAM, a politician, a businesswoman, and a candidate for the Mexican presidency. She served as the mayor of the Miguel Hidalgo borough of Mexico City from 2015 to 2018. Since 2018, she has been a senator in the LXIV Legislature of the Mexican Congress. While caucusing with the center-right National Action Party as a senator, she often aligns with progressive stances on social issues such as abortion, drug policies, and social spending. Her academic background is in computer engineering, with a focus on smart building technologies.
