Mexico's Current Election Cycle Marks Deadliest Period in Modern History

Mexico's current electoral process has already been the deadliest for the candidates vying for a position, with 27 being killed over the past 10 months, a new study shows.

The report, published by organization Laboratorio Electoral, recounts that the figure is higher than the 24 candidates killed during the 2018 process and "confirms that violence linked to elections has seen a worrying increase." The situation has space to worsen, as the elections are a little less than two months away.

Laboratorio Electoral also tallied non-confirmed fatal actions, including attacks, disappearances or intimidation against candidates over the past ten months. Besides the killings, there were nine kidnappings, 22 attacks and 75 threats.

The latest killing took place on Monday, when Gisela Gaytán, who was running for mayor of Celaya, in the state of Guanajuato, was fatally shot on the street while holding a campaign rally. Police described her death as a murder.

Another took place last week in the western state of Morelia, when Guillermo Torres Rojas, mayor of Churumuco was shot in a restaurant where he was eating with his 14-year-old son.

According to CBS News, local cartels have often focused their assassination attempts on local candidates to control police or extort money from municipal governments.

Mexico will hold its largest elections ever on June 2. Close to 100 million people will be eligible to vote and elect over 20,000 posts, including the president.

CNN reported that organizations differ in their reporting, but they coincide on their assessment about the increased level of violence. "A little over 60 days the elections, the 2023-2024 electoral process is already the most violent in Mexico's history," concluded a report by Integralia, which reported some 300 episodes of political violence until April 1.

Secretary of Citizen Safety and Protection, Rosa Icela Rodríguez, recognized the murder of 15 candidates and said that, up until April 1, the government had received 108 requests for protection.