A candidate for mayor of the ruling party was shot dead on Monday (3) in central Mexico during an event on the first day of her campaign, despite having requested protection from authorities, without receiving a response.
At first, a candidate for the City Council was presumed dead in the same shooting incident, but the Ministry of Security later said he was missing.
On Monday night, Gisela Gaytán had just presented her strategic security plan at a rally in Celaya, Guanajuato, when gunmen opened fire, killing her instantly.
The Guanajuato attorney general’s office said it is investigating the murder. No arrests were made.
Why Gaytán became a target is unclear, but the state of Guanajuato has recorded some of the highest numbers of homicides in Mexico in recent years and has been the scene of wars over territorial disputes between criminal groups.
Mexican elections have been marred by political violence for years, but numbers suggest the situation is getting worse. Dozens of politicians and candidates were killed before the 2021 midterm elections.
According to research organization Civic Data, based in Mexico City, there was a 236% increase in electoral political violence in the country between 2018 and 2023.
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