5/27/16 AS/COA
As the June 5 date nears for Mexico’s gubernatorial elections, campaigns are getting so ugly, they’re making U.S. elections seem civil by comparison. President Enrique Peña Nieto lamented that all political parties are stooping to “very dirty” campaigning.
Here’s a preview of what’s at stake and why these elections are important ahead of the 2018 presidential race.
- What’s up for grabs on June 5?
- Why do results matter on a national level?
- What’s the big race to watch?
- What are other key races?
- What’s up with that one-off election in Mexico City?
What’s up for grabs on June 5?
Twelve of Mexico’s 32 states will pick new governors and elect officials to local seats. Baja California will also hold local elections and Mexico City will have a special vote to select 60 members of its constitutional assembly. All in all, 1,425 seats are up for election.
Seventy-eight registered candidates are competing for the 12 gubernatorial spots. The cost of their campaigns, taken together, is estimated to be as much as $187 million. Governors serve six-year terms and cannot seek reelection.
