Claudia Sheinbaum becomes Mexico’s first woman president with landslide victory in nation plagued by gang and gender-based violence

Claudia Sheinbaum was elected Mexico’s first female president in a landslide on Sunday. In doing so, she made history in a country plagued by rampant criminal and gender-based violence.

Crowds of flag-waving supporters sang and danced to mariachi music in Mexico City’s central square to celebrate the victory of the ruling party’s candidate.

“I want to thank millions of Mexican women and men who decided to vote for us on this historic day,” Sheinbaum said in a victory speech to the cheering crowd.

“I will not abandon you,” the 61-year-old former mayor of Mexico City promised.

She thanked her main rival Xochitl Galvez, who admitted defeat.

Sheinbaum, a scientist by training, won about 58-60 percent of the vote, according to preliminary official results from the National Electoral Institute.

That was more than 30 percentage points ahead of Galvez, and about 50 percentage points ahead of the only man running, distance centrist Jorge Alvarez Maynez.

Claudia Sheinbaum (photo) was elected by a landslide on Sunday as Mexico’s first female president

After casting her vote, Sheinbaum revealed that she did not vote for herself, but for a 93-year-old left-wing veteran, Ifigenia Martinez, in recognition of her struggle

Claudia Sheinbaum shows her ballot before voting at a polling station in San Andres Totoltepec, Mexico City

Voters had flocked to polling stations across the Latin American country despite sporadic violence in areas terrorized by ultra-violent drug cartels.

Thousands of troops were deployed to protect voters after a particularly bloody election process in which more than twenty aspiring local politicians were murdered.

Mexican women going to the polls had cheered the prospect of a woman breaking the highest political glass ceiling in a country where about 10 women or girls are murdered every day.

“A female president will be transformative for this country, and we hope she does more for women,” said Clemencia Hernandez, a 55-year-old cleaner in Mexico City.

‘Many women are subjugated by their partners. They are not allowed to leave their homes to work,” she said.

Sheinbaum, a scientist by training, won about 58 to 60 percent of the vote, according to preliminary official results

Crowds of flag-waving supporters sang and danced to mariachi music in Mexico City’s central square to celebrate the victory of the ruling party’s candidate

Mexican presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum kisses her husband Jesus Maria Tarriba (photo, right)

Voters flocked to polling stations across Latin America despite sporadic violence in areas terrorized by ultra-violent drug cartels

Daniela Perez, 30, said having a female president would be “something historic,” even though neither of the two main candidates was “completely feminist” in her eyes.

“We will have to look at their positions on improving women’s rights, solving the issue of femicides – which have become an epidemic – and supporting women,” the logistics company manager added.

Nearly 100 million people were registered to vote in the world’s most populous Spanish-speaking country, home to 129 million people.

Sheinbaum owes much of her popularity to outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a left-wing colleague and mentor who has an approval rating of more than 60 percent but may serve only one term.

Lopez Obrador congratulated his ally with “all my affection and respect.”

Not only is she the first woman to lead Mexico, but “she is also the president with possibly the most votes in the history of our country,” he said.

After casting her vote, Sheinbaum revealed that she did not vote for herself, but for a 93-year-old left-wing veteran, Ifigenia Martinez, in recognition of her struggle.

In a country where politics, crime and corruption are closely intertwined, drug cartels did their utmost to ensure that their favorite candidates would win.

Sheinbaum has vowed to continue the outgoing president’s controversial “hugs, not bullets” strategy of tackling crime at its roots.

Mexican presidential candidate for the Morena Party, Claudia Sheinbaum, celebrates after the results of the general elections in Mexico City

Hours before polls opened, a local candidate was killed in a violent western state, authorities said

Hours before polls opened, a local candidate was murdered in a violent Western state, according to official figures, along with at least 25 other political hopefuls killed this election season.

In the central Mexican state of Puebla, two people died after unknown persons attacked polling stations to steal papers, a local government security source told AFP.

Voting was suspended in two municipalities in the southern state of Chiapas due to violence.

Sheinbaum has vowed to continue the outgoing president’s controversial “hugs, not bullets” strategy of tackling crime at its roots.

Galvez promised a tougher approach to cartel-related violence and declared that “hugs for criminals are over.”

Since the government deployed the military to combat drug trafficking in 2006, more than 450,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands have gone missing.

The next president will also have to manage delicate relations with the contiguous United States, especially the thorny issues of cross-border drug smuggling and migration.

In addition to electing a new president, Mexicans also voted for members of Congress, several governors and numerous local officials – more than 20,000 positions in all.