Political Violence in Veracruz: A growing Crisis Threatens Mexico’s Elections
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A surge in political violence is gripping the Mexican state of Veracruz, raising serious concerns about the safety of candidates and elected officials as the country approaches the 2027 elections. The escalating bloodshed, targeting primarily those at the municipal level, underscores a disturbing trend of criminal power infiltrating the political landscape.
Veracruz: Ground Zero for Political Violence
For years, Veracruz has consistently ranked among the states with the highest incidence of political violence in Mexico, and assaults against public officials and aspiring candidates.
Veracruz, alongside Oaxaca, Puebla, guerrero, and Michoacán, accounts for nearly half of all such incidents nationwide. During the recent municipal campaigns, the state was second only nationally in instances of electoral violence.
The Municipal Level: A Primary Target
A particularly alarming aspect of this violence is its concentration at the municipal level. Over 80% of victims nationwide either held or sought municipal positions, a pattern mirrored in Veracruz where municipal presidents, former mayors, councilors, and local candidates are consistently targeted. This suggests a struggle for control over local power and resources.
A String of Tragic Losses
The list of victims paints a grim picture.In November 2020,Florisel Ríos Delfín,the municipal president of Jamapa (PRD),was kidnapped and murdered,her body discovered with gunshot wounds on a rural road. Reports indicate Ríos had previously reported receiving threats, raising questions about the adequacy of protection afforded to local authorities.
February 2021 saw the shocking double homicide of Gladys Merlín, a former local deputy and former mayor (PRI), and her daughter Carla, who was campaigning to become mayor of Cosoleacaque.The attack, carried out inside their home, deeply impacted the state due to the family’s long-standing political career.
The violence continued in early 2021 with the murder of Melquiades Vázquez Lucas, former municipal president of La Perla (PAN) and a candidate seeking to regain office. Tragically, his son, Andrés Vázquez, had also been murdered just weeks prior, in February.
Further compounding the crisis, Remigio “René” Tovar Tovar, a Citizen Movement candidate for municipal president of Cazones, was fatally shot just 36 hours before the June 4, 2021 election. A stunning twist followed the election,as his campaign manager,Omar Ramírez,assumed the presidency only to be arrested days later as a suspected mastermind in Tovar’s murder.
The pattern of violence persisted into 2024 and 2025. Benito Aguas Atlahua, a substitute federal deputy for Veracruz (PVEM), was shot and killed in December 2024 in Zongolica, having recently taken office due to the previous incumbent’s leave.
More recently, on April 29 of this year, Germán Anuar Valencia, a candidate for mayor of Coxquihui representing the Morena-PVEM alliance, was murdered during a campaign event. An armed group opened fire on attendees, injuring a dozen people, including minors, as Valencia attempted to escape.
Just weeks later, on May 11, Yesenia Lara Gutiérrez, Morena’s candidate for mayor of Texistepec, was murdered during a public rally broadcast live on social media. An armed commando attacked the candidate and the crowd, resulting in her death and the deaths of four other attendees, with at least two more sustaining serious injuries.
Looming Challenges for 2027
These cases, and countless others, highlight the immense scale of the problem, not only in Veracruz but across the country.The escalating violence presents an enormous challenge as Mexico prepares for the 2027 electoral process, threatening the integrity of the democratic process and the safety of those who participate.
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