Mexico under scrutiny for alleged spying on U.S. citizens - Claudia Sheinbaum forecasted as the first female winner of a presidential election.
A preliminary exit poll conducted by Enkoll suggests that left-wing candidate Claudia Sheinbaum has won the Mexican presidential election. The 61-year-old Sheinbaum, who represents the ruling left-wing party, garnered 57.8% of the votes, while her conservative opponent Xochitl Gálvez, who ran for a coalition of three opposition parties, received only 29.1% of the votes. This would be the first time in Mexico's history that a woman would hold the presidency.
From the very beginning, Sheinbaum was the frontrunner in the race. Throughout the three-month-long campaign, she consistently outperformed her main competitor, Gálvez. "This is an incredible day," Sheinbaum said as she headed to cast her ballot in Mexico City. "Long live democracy!" she exclaimed after casting her vote.
On Sunday, Mexicans not only selected their president but also filled parliament, the Senate, governor positions in nine states, and multiple local political offices. Over 20,000 spots were open for election, making this the most extensive Mexican election to date.
Sadly, the election season was marred by profound violence. The night before the election, unidentified assailants fatally shot the 35-year-old candidate Israel Delgado in the western state of Michoacán. At least 25 other candidates had been murdered in the months preceding the election.
