Claudia Sheinbaum on the morning of her victory. Photo: Google

By KELIN DILLON

Following Mexico’s federal elections on Sunday, June 2, National Regeneration Movement (Morena) candidate and former Mexico City head of government Claudia Sheinbaum was declared the early winner of the presidential race by the National Electoral Institute (INE) during the early hours of Monday, June 3.

According to the INE’s quick count, Sheinbaum earned between 58.3 and 60.7 percent of the vote, ahead of conservative opposition candidate Xochitl Galvez’s estimated 26.6 to 28.8 percent of the population’s vote.

Sheinbaum, the handpicked successor of outgoing Morena President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), will be Mexico’s first woman and Jewish president. 

When addressing the crowds in Mexico City’s Zócalo following news of the election’s results early Monday morning, Sheinbaum promised to “preserve” AMLO’s legacy while saying “we are going to govern for everyone.”

“I won’t fail you,” the former Mexico City head of government told her supporters.

Galvez also conceded the election to Sheinbaum, calling the Morena candidate to admit defeat and saying that the results “aren’t in my favor.”

“I told her that I saw a Mexico with a lot of pain and violence and that I hope she can resolve the serious problems of our people,” Galvez said after her call with Sheinbaum. 

Meanwhile, López Obrador called Sheinbaum’s victory a “day of glory” for the Mexican people.