Mexico’s president expressed deep sadness over the killing of mayoral candidate Bertha Gaytán, who was gunned down in Celaya, Guanajuato just hours after requesting protection and beginning her campaign. Another city council candidate who was wounded in the same attack also died. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said the killing of his party’s candidates “hurts a lot,” but did not announce any increase in security for politicians. This incident is just the latest in a string of violent attacks on candidates in the leadup to Mexico’s June 2nd elections, with at least 15 candidates killed since the start of 2024.
While no one immediately claimed responsibility for the killings, Mexico’s drug cartels have a history of targeting mayors and mayoral candidates in order to control local police or extort money from municipal governments. The government has provided some candidates with bodyguards or bulletproof cars, but candidates for municipal positions, who are the most endangered, are often the last in line for security. Despite the risks, many candidates have continued to campaign on the streets, as was the case for Gaytán who was shot while walking down the street and shouting slogans for her party.
The violence against politicians in Mexico is fueled by the ongoing turf battles between the Jalisco drug cartel and the Santa Rosa de Lima gang in places like Guanajuato, which has become one of the most dangerous places, per capita, for police officers in North America. In 2023, more police were shot to death in Guanajuato than in the entire United States. The state has also been plagued by high rates of homicides for some time, further highlighting the dangerous environment for politicians and law enforcement personnel.
Federal Security Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez stated that the government has committed to responding to protection requests within 72 hours and that over 100 candidates nationwide have asked for protection. The leadership of López Obrador’s Morena party condemned the killings as “cowardly” and called for an investigation into the attacks. The government’s response to the escalating violence against politicians will be crucial in ensuring the safety and security of candidates as they campaign and participate in the upcoming elections.
The assassination of political figures in Mexico is a widespread issue, with incidents occurring across various states in the country. Over the weekend, the mayor of Churumuco in Michoacan was shot to death at a taco restaurant, while in late February, two mayoral candidates in another town in Michoacan were killed within hours of each other. The prevalence of such violence underscores the challenges faced by politicians at all levels, and the urgent need for comprehensive security measures to protect those who are running for office and working to promote democracy in Mexico.
