Tuesday Briefing: Mexico Elects Its First Woman President

Claudia Sheinbaum after her irreversible lead in the election was announced.Credit…Fred Ramos for The New York Times

Mexico elected its first woman president

Claudia Sheinbaum, a climate scientist and former mayor of Mexico City, will be Mexico’s next president, after winning a landslide victory in elections. She will be the first woman, and the first Jewish person, to hold the post.

Sheinbaum, a leftist, was beating her opponent by a stunning 30 percentage points or more, early returns showed. Votes are still being counted: See live results here.

Her victory suggests that most Mexicans are pleased with their country’s direction: Sheinbaum, 61, is the chosen successor of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the current president.

What’s next: Sheinbaum’s next hurdle will be stepping out of the shadow of López Obrador. She notes that they are “different people,” though she appealed to voters by promising to cement his legacy. Here’s what to know about Mexico’s next leader.

Region: Latin America has had more than a dozen female leaders, many in democracies that were once under the sway of authoritarian governments.