Political Violence Escalates in Mexico as More Candidates are Killed Before Elections

Gisela Gaytán, a candidate for mayor of Celaya in the Mexican state of Guanajuato, tragically met her end on the first day of her campaign. She belonged to the ruling party, Morena, and became the latest victim in the wave of violence that has plagued candidates competing in the upcoming federal elections on June 2 in Mexico. This surge in violence has made this election cycle one of the most dangerous in the country’s history.

Since November 20, when pre-campaigns began, a total of 13 politicians have been killed across seven states in Mexico. The victims include candidates, pre-candidates and aspiring municipal leaders. Additionally, data from the Electoral Laboratory reveals that there have been 51 murders linked to this year’s election cycle – surpassing the number of homicides during last year’s presidential elections.

The parties with the highest number of murdered candidates are Morena and National Action Party (PAN). A concerning trend has emerged as violence escalates during recent months coinciding with candidate registrations at local level. There were notable spikes in murder cases during July, October, January, February and March. States like Guerrero, Veracruz and Michoacán reported the highest incidents of electoral violence.

The ongoing violence serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by individuals participating in democratic processes in Mexico despite government efforts to provide protection to candidates. The murder of Gisela Gaytán once again highlights the need for urgent action to address this escalating violence.