Mexico’s two major political parties have selected women candidates for the presidency, setting up a historic election next year.

Broad Front for Mexico (the main opposition) chose Xochitl Gavez, a senator who is known for her outspokenness, to represent the coalition.

The Morena Party, which is in power, has chosen Claudia Sheinbaum as its candidate. She was previously the mayor of Mexico City.

This means that, barring any surprises from a third party candidate, Mexico will elect a female president. Breaking down the glass ceiling of a country known for its patriarchal culture.

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Both women are unlikely candidates in Mexico’s race for the presidency. Sheinbaum is a 61-year-old environmental engineer and former Mexico City mayor. She is close to leftist president Andres Manuel Obrador.

Galvez is 60 years old and a computer engineer. She founded her own business. She entered politics when she became the director of the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples. She was raised in an impoverished area of the state of Hidalgo where she worked with her family to sell street food.

She is a good headline grabber and her rise to power has been rapid. She wore an inflatable green dino suit to the Mexican Senate last year in protest of a ruling-party bill.

In recent years, women have made great strides in the political arena of Mexico. They were not allowed vote in Mexico until 1953. Since 2021, women have made up almost half of the Mexican legislature. A woman is the chief justice of Mexico’s Supreme Court.

The U.S., on the other hand, currently ranks 71st in the world for gender parity in political life. Mexico is ranked number five.

Sheinbaum is currently leading the race for President, according to polls conducted by Mexico’s Reforma, where she has 44% of support and Galvez 27%.

The next presidential election will be held in June of 2019.