Mexico’s New Woman President Claudia Sheinbaum

Claudia Sheinbaum made history by becoming Mexico’s first woman president! She won a huge victory in the election on Sunday. Officials say early results show Sheinbaum got between 58% and 60% of all the votes. That means she was far ahead of her main opponent, businesswoman Xóchitl Gálvez, by about 30 percentage points!

Following Her Mentor’s Path

Sheinbaum will take over as president from her mentor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, on October 1st. She has promised to keep doing the good things that López Obrador started while he was president. This includes continuing the welfare programs that have made him very popular with many Mexicans.

First Woman President in 200 Years!

In her speech after winning, Sheinbaum talked about how important and historic her victory is. She told her cheering supporters: “For the first time in 200 years of Mexico’s history, I will be the first woman president!” She said her win was a big achievement not just for herself, but for all women in Mexico. “From the start, I said this wasn’t just about me becoming president, but about all of us women getting to that level,” Sheinbaum stated.

Promising to Serve the People

Sheinbaum also made a promise to serve the people of Mexico well, saying “I won’t let you down.” She thanked her opponent Xóchitl Gálvez, who admitted defeat after seeing the results.

From Science to Politics

Before becoming a politician, Sheinbaum had a very successful career as a scientist. Her grandparents on her mother’s side were Jewish refugees from Bulgaria who escaped from the Nazis. Her father’s parents came from Lithuania. Both of Sheinbaum’s parents were scientists too. She studied physics and later earned a doctorate degree in energy engineering.  

Expert on Energy and Climate

Sheinbaum worked for years at an important research lab in California. There, she studied how Mexico uses energy and became an expert on climate change. Her science background combined with being involved in student activism led her to become the Environment Secretary for Mexico City when López Obrador was the mayor there.

Trailblazer in Mexico City

Then in 2018, Sheinbaum made history by being elected the first woman mayor of Mexico City. This is one of the most powerful political jobs in Mexico and is often a step towards becoming president. She served as mayor until 2023, when she resigned to run to become president.