Third-Party Exit Empowers Female Presidency

In a dramatic turn of events, Samuel García, the governor of Nuevo Leon, declared on December 2, 2023, that he will not run for the Mexican presidency in 2024. With polling figures below 10%, García’s withdrawal virtually guarantees that the next president will be a woman.

García’s decision leaves only the ruling Morena party and the opposition coalition with women candidates. Although García’s Citizen’s Movement party could nominate another male candidate, his troubled exit suggests challenges in finding a formidable replacement.

The political turmoil in Nuevo Leon reached a crescendo as García, seeking a leave of absence for a presidential campaign, faced the appointment of two interim governors on December 1. Frustrated by legislative decisions, protests erupted, culminating in a takeover of the state congress and a smoke bomb incident.

Mexican law mandates officials to resign or take leave six months before running for office. With the June 2 presidential elections looming, García had to abandon his bid to restore order in Nuevo Leon.

Appointing a Cabinet member as interim governor, García faced opposition from the state congress, leading to a chaotic standoff involving protesters, riot police, and armored vehicles. Eventually, García chose to resume his role as governor, abandoning his leave of absence.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, openly sympathetic to García, may find the withdrawal disappointing. López Obrador suggested parallels between García’s situation and his own past struggles to hold office. Critics argue that López Obrador might have strategically supported García to divide the opposition vote.

Nuevo Leon, a crucial industrial hub bordering Texas, has been under García’s leadership since 2021. Despite facing challenges such as a severe water crisis in Monterrey, García aimed to attract younger voters with his social media-savvy campaign style. The governor also boasted about his friendship with Elon Musk and expressed hopes for a Tesla plant in his state.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The AP News