Violence Increases Ahead of Mexico's June 2 Elections

The Electoral Laboratory has documented an increase in electoral violence, with 50 murders associated with the upcoming June 2 presidential elections. This figure exceeds the 43 murders recorded during the 2018 presidential elections. Among the victims, 26 were aspiring candidates for various elective positions, while others included family members, politicians, or public officials, according to the laboratory’s Second Preliminary Report on Electoral Violence for the 2023-2024 Process.

"The report identifies MORENA and PAN as the parties with the highest number of murdered candidates, highlighting the political rivalries amid the electoral campaign,” states the report.

The Electoral Laboratory also highlights a total of 156 attacks during the electoral process, including nine abductions, 22 attempted assassinations, and 75 threats. Violence has notably surged during the months of July and October 2023, and January, February, and March 2024. Guerrero, Veracruz, and Michoacan emerge as the states most affected by electoral violence, signaling the need for targeted interventions in these states to ensure the safety and integrity of the electoral process.

The report gained popularity due to the murder of Bertha Gisela Gaytán, MORENA candidate for mayor in Celaya, Guanajuato. López Obrador regretted the killings of candidates such as Gaytán, who was murdered on April 1 while walking with supporters. She was the only female candidate for mayor in Celaya, Guanajuato. MORENA stated they had requested protection for her due to threats, but the Local Electoral Public Body (OPLE) said protection for local candidates starts with campaigning, implying it was not time yet. In addition, state authorities indicated that the procedures for requesting protection had not been followed.

Minister of Security and Citizen Protection Rosa Icela Rodríguez acknowledged the deaths of 15 candidates involved in the current electoral process. She stated that as of April 1, the government had received 108 requests for protection, of which 86 had been granted, 12 were under risk assessment and 10 were rejected.

Mexico is preparing to hold its most important elections to date on June 2, in which close to 100 million voters are expected to participate. These elections will decide a total of 20,375 positions, of which 19,746 will be local and 629 federal, including the presidency.