Xóchitl Gálvez, a candidate in the upcoming Mexican election, began her life selling snacks in a small town in central Mexico and has risen to national politics. However, she is currently trailing behind the ruling party’s candidate in the polls. The people of her hometown, Tepatepec, are less interested in her life story and more focused on their own difficult lives. President López Obrador’s Morena party has been able to ease these struggles with social programs, which has benefitted his protégé, Claudia Sheinbaum. Gálvez’s popularity has been declining despite initially being seen as a contender for taking power.
Despite Gálvez’s humble background, with her father being an alcoholic and struggling financially, some residents of Tepatepec are questioning the authenticity of her story. Gálvez left the town at 16 to study computer engineering in Mexico City, and her father’s alcoholism had a significant impact on the family’s financial situation. While Gálvez remembers her grandparents speaking the Indigenous language of the region, the townspeople are unconvinced by her claims. They believe that she has not done anything for her hometown, which has led to her lacking support in her own community.
López Obrador’s political machinery appears to be invulnerable at the moment, with Morena controlling Mexico’s Congress and the majority of states. His new social programs for specific demographics have contributed to his popularity, providing benefits to the residents of Tepatepec. However, Gálvez’s unconvincing political tactics, including the use of mild profanity and crude language, have not been well-received by the working class voters she is trying to appeal to. Voters in Tepatepec are concerned about the direction of Mexico under Gálvez, with none of her proposals appearing appealing to them.
Gálvez previously held positions in the National Commission for Indigenous Development and as head of a government office in Mexico City. She formally entered the presidential race after being excluded from López Obrador’s morning press conference and accused of wanting to eliminate national social programs. Despite her progressive ideas and support for marginalized communities, including the LGBT+ community, she is facing strong opposition from the Morena political machine. Political consultant Rubén Aguilar acknowledges her tenacity in overcoming extreme poverty but recognizes the challenge she faces against the powerful political forces in the upcoming election. Gálvez is now a senator in Mexico following her political journey.
