Meet the women vying to make history in Mexico's election

June 2, 2024, marks a significant day in the history of Mexican politics. As the country heads to the polls, it is poised to elect its first-ever female president.

For a country often characterised by violence fuelled by warring drug cartels, some believe the election of a woman as president may bring the calming presence the South American country needs for a reboot and restart.

But who are the women on the cusp of history in the Mexican elections, and what do they stand for?

Claudia Sheinbaum

Described as a protégée of outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Claudia Sheinbaum is vying to lead Mexico on the ticket of the incumbent MORENA party. Barring any last-minute twists, projections by pollsters in the country and sub-region suggest she remains the favourite to win the election.

Claudia Sheinbaum is not new to breaking barriers and shattering stereotypes. The 62-year-old politician broke the glass ceiling to become Mexico City's first female mayor and its first Jewish mayor. She served from 2018 to 2023, after which she pivoted to run for president.

Sheinbaum is a consummate scientist, which is no surprise given her background. Her mother, Annie Pardo Cemo, is a biologist and professor emeritus at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City. Her father, Carlos Sheinbaum, is a chemical engineer.

In 2007, the aspiring Mexican president was a co-recipient of the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. She and other scientists worked on the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which earned them the award.

Xochitl Gálvez

Described as a self-made, successful entrepreneur and engineer, Xochitl Gálvez is hoping to become Mexico's first female president. She faces stiff opposition in her bid to make history, but it wouldn't be the first time she has overcome the odds. In one of her interviews with CNN, the businesswoman-turned-politician described herself as "an all-terrain, 4-by-4 kind of woman." She is also well-known for travelling around Mexico City by bicycle.

The 61-year-old Xochitl Gálvez is the candidate of Mexico's opposition coalition, which includes the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), a party that dominated the country's politics until 2000. The largely conservative coalition affectionately calls themselves the "Strength and Heart for Mexico."

Between 2015 and 2018, Gálvez was the mayor of one of the districts of Mexico City before winning a seat in the upper house of Congress. She served two terms until late 2023 when she stepped down to enter the 2024 presidential race. Gálvez also had the opportunity to serve as the top official for indigenous affairs under former President Vicente Fox before becoming a senator.

While the face-off between Sheinbaum and Gálvez remains the highlight of the election, it is noteworthy that they are not the only candidates in the race. Former Congress member Jorge Alvarez Maynez is also eyeing the presidency, although projections place him at a distant third. He represents the Citizen’s Movement. The winner takes office on October 1 to start their six-year term.

The implications of a female President for Mexico

Data available from the Mexican government indicates that an average of 10 women and girls are murdered each day in the country. Many observers expect that number to significantly decrease when a woman takes office later this year.

Already, the buildup to the presidential contest has been marred by violence, with 37 candidates murdered during the campaign.