Mexico: Claudia Sheinbaum Elected First Woman President

Above: Presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum of ''Sigamos Haciendo Historia'' coalition gives a speech at the Hilton Hotel on June 03, 2024 in Mexico City, Mexico. Image copyright: Hector Vivas/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

  • According to official preliminary results, Claudia Sheinbaum has been elected as Mexico's first-ever female president. She will replace her mentor, the outgoing Pres. Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

  • Her two rivals, Xóchitl Gálvez and Jorge Álvarez Máynez, have reportedly conceded defeat after the National Electoral Institute announced Sheinbaum had received between 58.3% and 60.7% of the vote.


The Spin

Narrative A

Despite accusations of having a male-dominated culture and negative biases against female leaders, Mexico has become the first North American country to elect a woman as head of government — and her closest rival was a woman as well. This is a clear culmination of a gender parity framework that has been in place for decades in the country.

Narrative B

It's all too convenient to praise gender parity policies for this outcome when Sheinbaum is, in fact, just another female protégé appointed by a populist Latin American leader who can't run for re-election. Given that this story is reminiscent of Dilma Rousseff's rise in Brazil, one can only hope for better luck for Mexico.


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