MEXICO CITY—Claudia Sheinbaum, the projected winner of Mexico’s presidential election, is set to make history as the first female president in the country’s 200-year history.
“I will become the first female president of Mexico,” Ms. Sheinbaum declared with a smile at a downtown hotel following the announcement by electoral authorities that she had an insurmountable lead. “I don’t achieve this alone. We have all contributed, alongside our heroines who fought for our country, our mothers, daughters, and granddaughters.”
“We have demonstrated that Mexico is a democratic nation with peaceful elections,” she added.
The National Electoral Institute reported that Ms. Sheinbaum had secured between 58.3% and 60.7% of the vote based on a statistical sample. Her closest competitors, Xóchitl Gálvez and Jorge Álvarez Máynez, trailed behind with 26.6% to 28.6% and 9.9% to 10.8% of the vote, respectively. Additionally, projections indicated that Sheinbaum’s Morena party would hold majorities in both chambers of Congress.
The climate scientist and former mayor of Mexico City revealed that both of her opponents had called to concede defeat.
With nearly 50% of polling places reporting, the official preliminary count showed Ms. Sheinbaum leading Ms. Gálvez by 28 points.
Ms. Sheinbaum will also make history as the first individual of Jewish descent to lead Mexico, a predominantly Catholic nation.
Her six-year term will commence on October 1, as Mexico’s constitution prohibits reelection.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s chosen successor, the 61-year-old Ms. Sheinbaum, maintained a lead throughout the campaign despite a vigorous challenge from Ms. Gálvez.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Claudia Sheinbaum, the clear winner by a significant margin,” remarked Mr. López Obrador following the announcement by electoral authorities. “She will be Mexico’s first female president in 200 years.”
If the current margin holds, it would rival his overwhelming victory in 2018. Mr. López Obrador secured the presidency with 53.2% of the vote after two previous unsuccessful attempts, with the National Action party receiving 22.3% and the Institutional Revolutionary Party garnering 16.5%.
However, Ms. Sheinbaum may not experience the same unwavering support that Mr. López Obrador has enjoyed.
The primary opposition candidate, Ms. Gálvez, a tech entrepreneur and former senator, vowed to take a more assertive stance against organized crime.
In her concession speech, she emphasized, “I want to emphasize that my acknowledgment of Ms. Sheinbaum’s victory comes with a strong demand for tangible results and solutions to the country’s pressing issues.”
Approximately 100 million people were registered to vote, and turnout was estimated to be around 60%, similar to previous elections.
Voters also cast their ballots for governors in nine states, as well as candidates for both houses of Congress, numerous mayoral positions, and other local offices, marking the largest elections in the country’s history, albeit marred by instances of violence.
The elections were widely viewed as a referendum on Mr. López Obrador’s leadership. Currently, his Morena party holds 23 of the 32 governorships and a majority of seats in Congress.
Ms. Sheinbaum pledged to continue all of Mr. López Obrador’s initiatives, including a universal pension for the elderly and a program that offers apprenticeship opportunities for young individuals.
The prevalent cartel violence and Mexico’s modest economic performance were the focal points for voters in this election.
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