Claudia Sheinbaum, a climate scientist and former mayor of Mexico City, became the first woman to be elected president of Mexico, winning Sunday’s vote in a landslide.
Sheinbaum, 61, received nearly 58 percent of the vote, according to preliminary results from the Mexican electoral office.
In another precedent, Sheinbaum is also the first Jewish person to lead one of the world’s largest predominantly Catholic countries.
After thanking voters for their support, Sheinbaum emphasized the historical moment. “For the first time in 200 years of the Republic, I will become the first woman president of Mexico,” she told supporters.
“We have achieved a plural, diverse and democratic Mexico,” Sheinbaum said. “Although many Mexicans do not fully agree with our project, we will have to walk in peace and harmony to continue building a fair and more prosperous Mexico.”
Her party, Morena, is expected to have a majority in the legislature, according to projections by the electoral agency. Such a majority would allow her to approve constitutional changes that have eluded current President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Sheinbaum is a close confidante of the left-wing populist López Obrador, who was not allowed to run for office again after his six-year term.
It was the biggest election day in the history of Latin America’s second-largest economy, with around 130 million inhabitants. In addition to the presidency, more than 20,000 political positions needed to be filled, including all seats in the lower house and the senate as well as regional and municipal offices.
Thousands of soldiers were deployed across the country to facilitate a peaceful voting day. Still, a town council candidate was shot to death hours before the election. In another town, one man was kidnapped while voting in a polling station.
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