On April 1, Gisela Gaytán was tragically murdered at the age of 37, just a day after she began her campaign for mayor of Celaya, Guanajuato. She was a member of the ruling party National Regeneration Movement (Morena) and became the latest victim in a series of attacks on candidates running for federal office on June 2. Since November 20, more than 13 politicians have been murdered across seven states in Mexico, including candidates, pre-candidates, and aspiring local government officials.
The organization Electoral Laboratory has been keeping an annual record of electoral violence and reported that there were 51 murders related to the upcoming elections on June 2, exceeding the previous year’s record of 43 homicides during the presidential elections in 2018. Of these victims, 27 were candidates while the rest were family members or public officials. Additionally, there were a total of 156 attacks reported during this election cycle, including kidnappings and other violent incidents.
Gaytán’s murder is just one example of how political violence is becoming increasingly common in Mexico. The months leading up to the election have seen a significant increase in violent incidents targeting candidates from both political parties. In particular, Guerrero, Veracruz, and Michoacán have recorded the highest number of cases of electoral violence.
Despite concerns about escalating violence and numerous requests for protection from authorities, many politicians continue to put themselves at risk by continuing their campaigns without adequate security measures in place. This lack of protection highlights the urgent need for greater action to ensure that all political candidates can run safe and free from fear during this critical time for Mexico’s democracy.
