17 Mexican Mayoral Candidates Killed Ahead of June 2024 Election

Two more Mexican mayoral candidates, Noé Ramos Ferretiz and Alberto García, were found dead in the states of Tamaulipas and Oaxaca, respectively, bringing the total number of local candidates killed ahead of the June 2, 2024 election to 17. Ramos, a candidate for the opposition National Action Party (PAN), was stabbed to death during his campaign activities in Ciudad Mante, Tamaulipas. García, a candidate for the ruling MORENA party, was kidnapped and killed along with his wife, the current mayor, in Oaxaca. His body showed signs of torture.

The murders of Ramos and García are part of a broader pattern of electoral violence in Mexico. The NGO Laboratorio Electoral has documented 174 incidents of violence against candidates between June 4, 2023, and April 19, 2024, including 57 murders, 11 kidnappings, 29 attempted killings, and 77 threats. Despite claims by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador that political violence has decreased, the current election cycle is being described as one of the bloodiest in recent history.

Why this matters: The wave of killings targeting political candidates in Mexico highlights the dangerous environment for those running for office, where organized crime groups have been known to intimidate and assassinate politicians. The violence is disrupting the democratic process and shaking voter confidence ahead of the crucial June 2024 election.

Authorities are investigating the murders as part of the deadly turf war between rival cartels and government security forces that has turned parts of Mexico into some of the most violent places on Earth. The government has offered police protection to 250 candidates, but this has not spared politicians, with 17 candidates assassinated this political season alone. "The government has typically dismissed such incidents, as acknowledging the problem would be a tacit admission that things are really out of control and that they have not been able to rein in organized crime," said a political analyst who requested anonymity due to security concerns.

The violence has also impacted the presidential race, with leading candidate Claudia Sheinbaum of the ruling MORENA party being stopped at a roadblock by masked men who told her to remember the poor people and the "disaster" in the southern state of Chiapas if she wins. Rival candidate Xóchitl Gálvez of the PAN has focused on security in her campaign, with the slogan "For a Mexico without fear." As the June 2024 election approaches, the safety of candidates and the integrity of Mexico's democracy remain in jeopardy.

Key Takeaways

• 2 more Mexican mayoral candidates killed, bringing total to 17 ahead of 2024 election.
• 174 incidents of violence against candidates since June 2023, including 57 murders.
• Organized crime groups intimidate and assassinate politicians, disrupting the democratic process.
• Government offers protection to 250 candidates, but 17 have been assassinated this season.
• Violence impacts presidential race, with candidates highlighting security concerns in campaigns.