Mexico campaign ends with local candidate shot dead

In the Mexican state of Guerrero, a mayoral candidate was shot and killed. This is the latest attack on a politician-to-be, just days before the weekend polls.

Someone shot and killed Alfredo Cabrera at a campaign gathering. He was running for mayor of the town of Coyuca de Benítez.

The days leading up to the election, which will choose a new president, government members, nine governors, and almost 20,000 local leaders, have been the bloodiest in recent memory.

There have been threats against hundreds more competitors, and more than 20 have been killed.

Media in Guerrero state shared a video of Alfredo Cabrera shaking hands with fans before his last gathering.

Then, someone can be seen walking up to him, and all of a sudden, shots are fired.

You can hear about 15 shots. Officials in the state of Guerrero said that the gunman was killed at the scene by members of Mexico's National Guard who returned fire. 

Local news sources say that cops were watching over Cabrera after being attacked in 2023.

There is now a probe going on to find out the possible reason for the attack.

Non-government organizations say the number is even higher than 22 people running for local office who have been killed in Mexico since September of last year, which is what the government says.

Xóchitl Gálvez, who is running for president of the center-right opposition party, said that the killing of Alfredo Cabrera was wrong.

Ms. Gálvez said, "I have no words to describe how angry I am."

She also said Alfredo Cabrera was "a generous and upstanding man" she had met.

Ms. Gálvez, 61, is supported by a group of opposing parties that want to eliminate the ruling Morena party.

Because of the law, the current president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, can only serve one six-year term. However, the party has chosen Claudia Sheinbaum, who was mayor of Mexico City before becoming president.

According to reports, Ms. Sheinbaum and Ms. Gálvez have a big lead over Jorge Álvarez Máynez, the other male presidential candidate. This means that Mexico will almost certainly have its first female president after this election.

Wednesday was the last day of campaign events for both women.

The clear front-runner, Ms. Sheinbaum, told a crowd in Zócalo Square in the middle of Mexico City that the country had "changed profoundly for the better" since Andrés Manuel López Obrador was elected in 2018.

"I'm clear that my obligation is to take Mexico along the path of peace, security, democracy, freedom, and justice," she added.

Ms. Gálvez held her last event in the northern city of Monterrey. She has attacked President López Obrador for how widespread organized crime is in the country.

"You are going to have the bravest president," she stated. "I will protect your family. I'm going to keep your kids safe. These girls will be cared for by me. "Don't forget that."

No matter who wins the election, they will have to deal with an economy that isn't growing, more crime, and people trying to get to the United States who are still crossing through Mexico.