When foreigners hear news from Mexico, it can often sound chaotic, involving cartels, crime or migration surges. But last night’s election results make clear that most Mexicans are pleased with their country’s direction.
Claudia Sheinbaum — the former mayor of Mexico City and the chosen successor of the current president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador — won the presidency easily. Sheinbaum, a leftist-leaning engineer, received about 58 percent of the vote, to around 29 percent for Xóchitl Gálvez, a centrist entrepreneur, and about 11 percent for Jorge Álvarez Máynez, a progressive candidate. Mexican law restricts presidents to a single term. (Votes are still being counted, see live results here.)
In today’s newsletter, we’ll explain why most Mexican citizens have been so satisfied with López Obrador (who’s often known by his initials, AMLO) and what challenges Sheinbaum will likely face, starting with violent crime, which is indeed a major problem.
Mexico’s election matters well beyond its borders. It is virtually tied with Canada as the biggest trading partner of the U.S. In the years ahead, U.S.-Mexico trade seems likely to increase, partly because tensions with China have given American companies a reason to move production to friendlier countries.