Claudia Sheinbaum has been elected Mexico’s first woman president by a landslide Sunday, making history in a country plagued by rampant criminal and gender-based violence.
Flag-waving supporters sang and danced to mariachi music in celebration of the ruling party candidate’s victory, in a nation where around 10 women or girls are murdered every day.
Addressing the cheering crowd, Sheinbaum expressed her gratitude to millions of Mexican women and men who decided to vote for her on this historic day,”
The 61-year-old also thanked her main opposition rival Xochitl Galvez, who conceded defeat.
Former Mexico City mayor, a scientist by training, won around 58-60 percent of votes, according to preliminary official results from the National Electoral Institute, which estimated turnout at 60 percent.
That was more than 30 percentage points ahead of Galvez, and some 50 percentage points ahead of the only man running, centrist Jorge Alvarez Maynez.
Maria de los Angeles Gordillo, a 37-year-old member of the Tojolabal Indigenous community, said she was moved to tears as she listened to Sheinbaum speak.
Voters had flocked to polling stations across the Latin American nation, despite sporadic violence in areas terrorized by ultra-violent drug cartels.
Thousands of troops were deployed to protect voters, following a particularly bloody electoral season that saw more than two dozen aspiring local politicians murdered.
“Our society is violent, sexist, misogynistic and Dr. Sheinbaum as president will really be able to help change not only the laws but society,” said Lol-Kin Castaneda, 48, who waited late into the night to hear the winner speak.
She added that Mexico can’t stand any more violence.
