Volkswagen has announced that it intends to begin production of electric vehicles in Mexico, with a more than US $763 million investment in new facilities. (Volkswagen México)
German car manufacturer Volkswagen plans to start large-scale production of electric vehicles (EVs) in Mexico in the next three years, with an investment of several hundred million dollars.
Holger Nestler, the company’s Mexico director, told Forbes Mexico that Volkswagen is planning two investment packages to kickstart EV production at its flagship plant in Puebla. The first, a total of US $763.5 million, will focus on modernizing production processes and making them more environmentally friendly. The second will focus on the specific EV model it plans to produce, with details to be announced in 3-4 months’ time.
The electric vehicles will be manufactured at Volkswagen’s flagship Puebla facility, which has been a mainstay of the Mexican auto industry for decades. (Volkswagen México)
“You can count on it [large scale EV production within three years],” Nestler assured Forbes. “What we are doing today is preparing the facilities so that they have the necessary qualifications to be able to produce this type of vehicle.”
He added that Volkswagen plans to electrify not only the cars themselves but also the manufacturing process, to produce “a vehicle that eliminates fossil energy or even gas energy.” Part of the initial $763.5 million investment will go towards this goal, while $350 million will go to a new painting facility.
Volkswagen anticipates that the main markets for its Mexico-produced EVs will be Mexico, the United States and Canada, taking advantage of the free trade protections in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and growing regional demand for EVs.
“In the coming years we will see how this type of option will take up more and more space in the market, resembling those in Asia and Europe,” he said. “It is the customer himself who is requesting this type of alternative.”
Volkswagen plans to manufacture EVs for the North American market at its Mexican plant. (Volkswagen México)
Though currently low, Mexican EV sales aregrowing rapidly. During 2022, 5,631 fully electric vehicles were sold in the country, nearly four times more than in 2021, according to data from the Mexican Association of the Automotive Industry (AMIA). So far this year, 11,053 plug-in vehicles have been sold, including both fully electric and hybrid models. In August, EVs accounted for 1.22% of total car sales.
However, provision of EV charging points in Mexico has failed to keep pace with this growth. AMIA places the existing number at 1,189, while the National Autoparts Industry estimates that there are around 2,000 stations. These points are mostly clustered in Mexico City, Central Mexico, and the northern states. The ratio of cars per charging station has risen from three cars per charger last year to seven cars per charger today.
“Mexico falls far short of [meeting] the need for EV chargers that there will be in the coming years, and that is why it is very important to work on several aspects of charging infrastructure,” said AMIA director Odracir Barquera.
AMIA predicts that a government action plan involving manufacturers, charging stations and incentives for buyers could bring EVs up to 39% of total car sales by 2030. Without such a comprehensive approach, this figure would drop to 19%, the association says.
Chinese companies are renting or building new industrial spaces in Mexico to gain easier access to the U.S. market. (@autosenimagen/X)
The rise of nearshoring has significantly increased the number of Chinese companies renting industrial properties in Mexico, according to real estate market intelligence firm SiiLA Market Analytics.
SiiLA’s data shows that the number of industrial tenants from China has almost tripled while the number of occupied square meters in industrial warehouses increased by five times between 2019 and 2023, occupying over 1.8 million square meters in strategic locations across Mexico.
In the last four years, the number of industrial tenants from China has almost tripled in Mexico. (@ProLogis/X)
According to the Economy Ministry, there were 1,294 Chinese companies operating in Mexico by mid-2022. Earlier this month, the Mexican government announced that over 400 Chinese companies are interested in expanding their production in the country.
Some of the companies that have recently announced investment in Mexico are Chinese auto parts manufacturer Paramount New Materials, which declared last month that it would invest US $200 million to build a manufacturing plant in Saltillo, Coahuila.
Chinese manufacturer of motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles CFMoto, which already has 40 agencies in Mexico, will now build the country’s first all-terrain vehicle plant of Chinese origin. The project involves an investment of US $46 million in Nuevo León’s Vynmsa Industrial Park.
Another Nuevo León project was made public last month, when Chinese construction company Lingong Machinery Group revealed plans to invest US $5 billion in the development of a 10-hectare industrial park.
Chinese Lingong Machinery Group (LGMG) will invest in a 10-hectare industrial park to open in 2024 in Nuevo León. (LGMG/Facebook)
It is no surprise that these recent announcements all concern investments in northern Mexico. According to SiiLA, 62% of the total square meters of industrial space rented by Chinese companies is concentrated in three markets in the region: Monterrey in Nuevo León, Saltillo in Coahuila and Tijuana in Baja California.
These cities are also home to the four busiest border crossings in the country. As a result, Chinese investment in these markets is expected to continue growing in the coming years.
Since the last quarter of 2022, five out of every 10 Asian companies has been interested in establishing operations in Mexico according to Jorge Luis Baca, the Querétaro regional director of Querétaro for the real estate development company American Industries Group. In 2023 the developer has closed 10 projects with Asian companies, and it is in negotiations to carry out 15 more.
However, Baca told newspaper El Economista that there are challenges in consolidating investment from Asia.
“At this stage of relocation, one of the major challenges is the consolidation of infrastructure, meaning physical structure such as land, sea, or air ports of entry to facilitate the transfer of goods,” he said, adding that Mexico lags in the generation and distribution of electrical energy, natural gas, water and renewable energy sources.
Eric González at Casa Sierra Nevada, SMA. (Courtesy Eric González)
When MND spoke to his colleagues, guests, and the man himself, it was clear that Eric González Tenoriolives and breathes his passion for working with people and the hospitality industry. No wonder hewon the top award from the St. Regis’ Hotels Ambassador Program in Seattle for “going above and beyond” and has continued to receive international acclaim in his field. As the middle sibling of eight and raised with little means, Eric laughs, “All my siblings are married. I think I’ve been married to my job!” He’s on his wayfrom being General Manager of the classically beautiful and renowned hotel, Casa Sierra Nevada, San Miguel de Allende, to work his magic at Bowie House, Fort Worth, TX, after a trail of leadership positions over the last 20 years – spanning Houston, Anguilla, the Ritz Carlton Puerto Rico, and the JW Marriott, Cancun, Mexico City and San Salvador. Casa Sierra Nevada was awardedTravel & Leisure readers’ number one hotel in Mexico this past July. I had a burning question – what propelled Eric from his humble roots to such success?
Mexicans work hard and play hard!
First job as a bellhop at Mexico City Airport Hotel. (Courtesy)
“My brother-in-law got me my first job in a hotel as a bellhop at the Marriott Mexico City Airport when I was 18. I loved the people, the environment, and, yes, the tips! Before long, I was a concierge, meeting celebrities, getting invited to events, working as hard as I could and learning as much as possible about the trade.”
Growing up in the working class neighborhood of Delegación Iztacalco, Eric’s father taught him the value of arriving to work an hour early and always staying a bit longer. He says where he’s from in Mexico City, ganas, or efforts, are part of your DNA – which essentially means keep going, don’t give up and you’ll succeed. As a teenager, Eric won a football scholarship to high school in Van Nuys, CA, and would travel 2 hours each weekend to work as a bank teller at Bank of America. “I learned much about respecting different cultures and working with diverse people in California. When I had to return to Mexico to help my parents, the importance of genuinely connecting to people had become a part of me. I thought I would work in a bank, but clearly, there was another plan for me!!”
Why mentors matter
From all accounts, Eric’s leadership skills comprise a special knack for bringing the best out in his staff. “Happy employees mean happy guests, and business keeps coming!” he declares. He refers to his primary mentor, Sam Basu, as “the guru,” a humble, kind Indian who climbed his way up to the role of Director of Operations at the Ritz Carlton. “But this guy – who taught me so much about planning, motivating teams, being detail oriented – was a guy who was accustomed to being barefoot as a kid.” Sam’s father gave him good shoes for a high school dance, and they were so uncomfortable that he threw them in the river by the end of the night. He told his Dad, who was dismayed as he planned to return the shoes to the store. Eric and Sam share that unique camaraderie, knowing what it’s like to grow up poor with big dreams.
The morning I spoke with Eric, he’d texted Sam about Casa Sierra Nevada winning Conde Nast Traveler’s number two hotel in Mexico. Sam replied right away, as usual, and said, “Eric, you do better than me with guests. I learn from you.”
Eric tries to pay forward to his staff with that kind of motivation and confidence. “A successful day at work comes from a collective mindset of dedication to the tasks at hand, founded on humility, good heartedness, and a belief in your particular talents,” he says. Eric likes to acknowledge his team’s efforts like his other mentors, Manuel Leal and Tiago Sarmento. His employee of the year for 2021, Angela Martinez, won a 5-day trip to their sister hotel in Anguilla, which included taking her family. “There were some happy surprises”, he says.”This was her first trip on a plane!”
What keeps the guests coming back?
Some of Eric’s colleagues told MND his unique thoughtfulness has brought countless returning guests. When he worked at JW Marriott, he’d get koi fish in a bowl (naming them Pablo or Carlos, for fun) as companions for business people dining alone. “They’d laugh and take photos, telling me it made a regular business trip a little less dull!” he tells me gleefully. “And it often started a good conversation.”
With Naan Laws after her class with renowned artist Karla de Lara. (Courtesy)
Naan Laws, a well-traveled Canadian on the luxury circuit, came to San Miguel last winter and spent nearly 3 months at Casa Sierra Nevada. She departed feeling like family and having made long-term friends in the city, through Eric’s suggestions, with her Zumba teacher and hairdresser – who even threw her a going away party! “Eric got me a place at the first masterclass with renowned artist Karla de Lara. I was nervous to pick up a brush, so Eric found one of her books for me to study beforehand. I had a ball at that class.”
Chef Eduardo would personally call her to find out what she wanted to eat – would she prefer room service or the dining room? Would she like anything heated or kept in the fridge? Benjamin, the gardener, would appear with a bunch of fresh flowers for her at the start of each week because she loved the exotic gardens at the hotel. “I’ve traveled to many high-end hotels around the world, but I’d never experienced such warmth and so many thoughtful touches,” Naan concludes.
Mexico has a certain magic
“Well, Naan changed our way of doing business,” Eric tells MND. Over her 3 month stay, the staff learned a new and highly efficient cooperation system. “I encourage my team to be creative, to connect with guests authentically; there’s an art to knowing when guests need personal space, when to be right there for them, or when to offer a gesture that appeals to them personally.” Enrique Sanchez, Rooms Manager, who cites Eric as his mentor, offered to walk Naan’s dog Curly morning or night or help with her grocery shopping and transportation.
“Eric raises the bar,” Naan continues. On her last night, the new restaurant at the hotel, Tunki Rooftop, hosted its opening party, for which she received a hand-delivered invite. Blindfolded, she was led to the location, entering the cheers of all the staff and the riotous music of a mariachi band, and then presented with a video montage of her happy days at the hotel.
The boy from the rough neighborhood, the once bellhop who now directs operations at top-tier luxury hotels, always believed in being part of something much bigger. “I’ll try to take what I’ve learned about the importance of hard work and creating a family culture among colleagues and clients to my next spot. That’s a very Mexican trait! Working in hospitality in Mexico, you’re ultimately in the business of making friends. I can’t wait for the next adventure!”
Henrietta Weekes is a writer, editor, actor and narrator. She divides her time between San Miguel de Allende, New York and Oxford, UK.
Whale watching season in Los Cabos officially runs from December 15 to April 15. (Photo: Cabo Adventures)
Whales, the most enormous creatures on the planet, are naturally migratory. During the summer months, they feed in cold northern waters, while in winter months they head south to warm weather breeding grounds, often traveling enormous distances to do so. The longest whale migration ever tracked was noted in 2011, when a gray whale dubbed Varvara traveled a round trip from Sakhalin Island in Russia to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, covering more than 14,000 miles in total. Because Los Cabos, home to cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, is more than just a resort destination: it’s a major wintertime destination for several species of whale.
When is whale watching season in Los Cabos?
Whale watching season in Los Cabos officially runs from December 15 to April 15; this is the timeframe during which tour operators can legally offer whale watching excursions. The whales arrive whenever they like, of course, and the first sightings often take place in early to mid-November.
The absolute peak of the season, however, occurs from January to March. So, if you’re planning a trip and whale watching is a preferred activity, this is the optimal time to visit. Local tour operators can’t guarantee whale sightings, but this three-month period is when they are most likely to be frequent and spectacular.
Which whale species are the most commonly sighted in Los Cabos?
The Baja California peninsula generally and Los Cabos specifically are premier breeding destinations for many varieties of whales. Eight major whale species can be spotted in Los Cabos each winter, although not all breed within the municipality’s waters. Gray whales like Varvara, for instance, typically breed in Baja California Sur’s coastal areas like Magdalena Bay and the San Ignacio and Ojo de Liebre lagoons. But gray whales, just like blue, bryde, fin, humpback, minke, orca and sei whales, can still be seen enjoying the winter waters of Los Cabos, something they have in common with U.S. and Canadian snowbirds.
Whales can be spotted from virtually every coastal vantage in Los Cabos. (Photo: Cabo Adventures)
Humpbacks in particular are the stars of whale watching season in Los Cabos. Not only are they the most commonly seen whale species in local waters, but these massive cetaceans – which can weigh up to 80,000 pounds – love to breach, lifting their bodies out of the water and splashing down with magnificent effect. Amazingly, this maneuver is just one of several photogenic behaviors for which humpbacks are famous. Spyhopping, for example, is another humpback specialty: The whales casually lift their heads out of the water to cast a curious eye on the surroundings, watching those who are watching them. There’s also tail slapping, also known as lob tailing, in which humpbacks smack their enormous flukes, 18 feet wide in some adults, against the ocean surface.
Humpbacks are also noted for their haunting songs. No one knows why they “sing” these songs, which, in essence, are complex sound patterns that can be used to communicate within their pod – yes, a language. During the breeding season, for example, males sing an identical mating song to courted females. These songs, in fact, likely helped to save the species from extinction when a 1970 album produced by American bioacoustician Roger Payne, “Songs of the Humpback Whale,” became an unexpected hit. Humpback numbers have rebounded significantly since, but Mexico’s humpback population is still listed as “threatened” by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
What are the legal protections for whales in Mexico?
One of the most commonly told jokes by local tour operators is that the whales born in Mexico are Mexican citizens. That’s not true, of course, but whales do enjoy legal protections while they’re within national waters. The proximity to whales with which boats can bring their passengers, for example, is regulated by law. Boats with a whale watching permit, a category that includes almost every commercial vessel in Los Cabos, are allowed – depending on their size – to get as close as 60 to 80 meters (approximately 200 to 250 feet).
The safety of passengers is taken into account with these strictures. But so, too, is the safety of the whales. For this reason, tour operators are also cautioned against any activity that might negatively impact the whales. This includes accelerating too fast in their vicinity, breaking up large groups, or following them for too long.
Are tours the only way to see whales?
The smaller and faster the boat, the closer you’re likely to get to whales. (Photo: Cabo Adventures)
Whales can be spotted from virtually every coastal vantagein Los Cabos, including beaches, resorts, restaurants, and golf courses. These sightings are apt to be from a lengthy distance, however, and tend to be short-lived. Tours are recommended for those who want to see whales up close.
In most cases, the smaller and faster the boat, the closer you’re likely to get to whales and the longer you can stay within photo-taking distance. But visitors to Los Cabos can choose from a variety of boat types that offer whale watching excursions, from zippy Zodiacs and rigid inflatables to catamarans and even luxury yachts. Each tour type offers a different experience, and morning, afternoon and sunset tours are commonly available. Some boats focus on getting close to whales, while others prioritize comfort, food and drink options and a smooth ride. Most depart from the Cabo San Lucas Marina.
Costs vary, naturally, depending on the type of tour selected. Small boat tours are typically less than $100 per person – often with lower rates for kids – although more amenity-laden outings can boast prices north of that mark. Sailboat and luxury yacht tours, by contrast, are more expensive, often prohibitively so in the latter instance.
What tour types offer the best experience?
The answer to this question depends on personal preference. There are only a few tours in Los Cabos, however, that are equipped with hydrophones, an absolute necessity for those who’d not only like to see the whales but hear their distinctive songs as well.
Zodiac boats, which are small, maneuverable and suited to quick changes in direction, generally offer the best chance to get up close to whales. These 24-foot open-air inflatables can accommodate up to 15 guests per tour.
Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.
Former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum (right) supported Clara Brugada when she ran for Iztapalapa borough mayor in 2018. (Facebook/Claudia Sheinbaum)
In the wee hours of Saturday morning, Morena party president Mario Delgado announced that Clara Brugada, former two-time mayor of Iztapalapa borough, will represent the party in the 2024 Mexico City mayoral race. However, she came in second place in the party’s polling, with 26.7% support versus former CDMX security minister Omar García Harfuch (40.5%). How did Brugada secure the nomination?
Following weeks of political skirmishes that some observers saw (or perhaps wished to see) as evidence of an impending rift in the country’s ruling party, and last-minute gender quotas imposed by the INE (National Electoral Institute), Morena announced their candidates for gubernatorial state elections in 10 press conferences over 16 hours. They were required to select five women and four men for the nine races.
As Brugada said to the press: “It’s the time for women!”
The significance of the Mexico City election
The office of jefe(a) de gobierno (head of government) of Mexico City is among the most powerful in the country. The 16-borough city-state is the political, administrative and business center of the nation, second only to México state (Edomex) in population and the biggest single contributor to national GDP (14.22% in 2022). It is its own country.
Since 1997, politicians from Mexico’s leftist parties have run the city, including Andrés Manuel López Obrador (2000-2006) and Marcelo Ebrard (2006-2012) as representatives of the PRD (Democratic Revolution Party), and of course, most recently, Claudia Sheinbaum (2018-2023) representing Morena. While only one of these mayors has become president so far, the fact that two of them were in competition for Morena’s 2024 presidential candidacy speaks to the significance of the position as a springboard to higher office.
The Mexico City mayorship was a key step in President López Obrador’s path to becoming president of Mexico. (Cuartoscuro)
Why the stakes are high for Morena
Morena has led the opposition parties in opinion polls in Mexico City: according to a Mitofsky poll published on Nov. 5, Morena would get 46.7% of the vote if the election was held today, followed by the PAN-PRI-PRD coalition at 41.3%. In two scenarios pitting Clara Brugada against potential PAN candidates, she would win with 46% of the vote. García Harfuch extended this advantage, polling at 54%-56% of the vote.
However, in 2021, midterm mayoral elections were held in the city’s 16 boroughs and Morena did lose four to the opposition, a blow to any complacency the morenistas may have felt. But it is reasonable to predict today that Morena’s nominee will win the race, and will therefore be a possible candidate for president in 2030.
The two contrasting lead candidates came to represent two visions for the future of the party, based on pragmatism (García Harfuch) or principle (Brugada). This is a familiar dilemma for political parties — how to select a candidate who inspires the party’s “base”, while also showing viability in a general election?
Omar García Harfuch, former Mexico City security minister, at a recent television interview. (Facebook @OGHarfuch)
The leaders of Morena think they’ve found an answer. They assert that their polling method for nominating candidates is the most transparent and effective process: “polls represent…the conviction that we must respect what the people decide” in the words of Mario Delgado. And in fact, the opposition parties followed their lead in how they chose Xóchitl Gálvez to represent the Broad Front for Mexico (FAM) in 2024.
The advantage (and disadvantage) of using polls is that they passively measure preferences in the general population, rather than reflect decisions made by citizens at a voting booth. In other words, polls are not the most democratic method, but they do allow for more political acrobatics — which in this case were required to meet the gender parity quotas.
Women candidates only outperformed their male rivals in the polls in two states, Veracruz and Morelos. The consolation prize for men who won in the polls but were discarded to meet the gender quota was a position in the Senate. For his part, García Harfuch said in a post on X that “we will always respect gender parity and our party’s decision. Wishing my colleague Clara Brugada success.”
The judicial branch’s electoral tribunal (TEJPF) affirmed the electoral institute’s gender quota just last week. (X/TEJPF)
He was also known to be Sheinbaum’s favorite in this race. So, what’s his baggage?
He came up in the ranks of law enforcement under Calderón and Peña Nieto; his father, Javier García Paniagua, was head of the notorious Directorate of Federal Security (DFS) during the “Dirty War” and his grandfather was Defense Minister during the Tlatelolco student massacre of 1968. García Harfuch himself was also assigned to Guerrero as a director of federal police in 2014, when the Ayotzinapa student massacre and disappearance occurred. He is also a relative latecomer to Morena, and is viewed with skepticism by some party loyalists.
Brugada: The principled choice?
Clara Brugada is a very different species of politician: she has been in the trenches of Mexico’s left for decades, and also rides a wave of recent success during her two terms governing Iztapalapa, the city’s most populous borough.
Brugada presents the president with a “I love you, Iztapalapa” sweatshirt at an event celebrating her Utopia program. (Facebook @ClaraBrugadaM)
She is best-known for her 12 ambitious “utopia” community center projects, which provide free recreation and education in low-income areas. She also opened addiction support centers that focus on a harm-reduction approach to drug abuse. Another innovative Brugada program: providing 25,000 egg-laying hens to households in Iztapalapa to improve food security. In a recent interview, Brugada said she sees Mexico City as a “progressive city”, and celebrated Sheinbaum’s achievements in the capital.
But what about security? While crime levels across the city have declined, Iztapalapa remains the borough with the most citizens who say they feel unsafe — 75% of adults according to INEGI data from September.
What happens next?
Will Morena be able to maintain unity after this tempestuous nomination process? And can the party hold on to its Mexico City stronghold in 2024?
On Sunday, García Harfuch was invited to join Claudia Sheinbaum’s team and so far, the other losing candidates have accepted the party’s decisions. The opposition coalition’s candidate selection process is still unclear, which gives Morena an advantage (for now) in the national conversation.
Mexico’s young democracy still has many weaknesses, but we shouldn’t forget as we assess its progress that democracy is messy; outcomes are unpredictable, there is conflict and dissent, compromise and confusion. We are sure to see more of the above in the campaigns to come.
Kate Bohné is chief news editor at Mexico News Daily. You can find her writing on The Mexpatriate.
Shoppers in Mexico can grab big discounts during El Buen Fin, from November 17-20. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
Mexico is gearing up for its equivalent to the Black Friday sales event this week: El Buen Fin.
El Buen Fin, is Mexico’s biggest annual sales event, and in its 13th year, expects a revenue of $195 million pesos (US $11 million).
Buen Fin offers consumers the chance to grab great deals – in store and online, as retailers across the country sign up to the government scheme. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
According to the Mexican Sales Association, up to 80% of national consumers will participate in this year’s Buen Fin.
What is El Buen Fin?
El Buen Fin is an initiative from the Economy Ministry designed to encourage consumer spending. Participating businesses and companies offer special discounts and promotions on a wide range of products and services.
El Buen Fin’s objective is to boost the local economy and encourage the transition of small, and medium-sized businesses to the digital world so that they can sell their products online.
While offers vary between retailers, one thing is for certain – El Buen Fin offers a great chance to hunt for bargains. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
When is it?
This year’s shopping event will take place from Nov. 17 to Nov. 20, coinciding with the Mexican Revolution bank holiday.
Which stores participate?
Major retailers taking part in sales events include:
Department stores
Liverpool
Palacio de Hierro
Sanborns
Sears
Coppel
Online retailers
Amazon
Mercado Libre
Shein
Supermarkets
Chedraui
Soriana
Waldos
Other smaller and mid-size retailers will also be offering discounts during the event, so be sure to check your local stores.
The Morena party national director, Mario Delgado, announced the selected candidates on Saturday in Mexico City. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro.com)
After weeks of tensions over the polling process and gender parity requirements, Mexico’s ruling Morena party has announced its candidates for the nine governorships in contention in the 2024 elections.
Results of the internal party polls were expected to be announced on Oct. 30 but were delayed until Nov. 10, during tense internal negotiations. New gender parity requirements approved by the National Electoral Institute (INE) in October require five out of nine of the candidates to be women, meaning several men who won the polls in their respective states had to be displaced by female candidates.
Morena selected Itzapalapa borough chief Clara Brugada as its candidate for Mexico City mayor, though she came second in party polls. (Facebook @ClaraBrugadaM)
The most high-profile upset was in Mexico City, where the former mayor of Iztapalapa, Clara Brugada, was eventually selected as the candidate, despite trailing 14 points behind Omar García Harfuch, the capital’s former security minister.
Harfuch achieved 40.5% in poll support compared to Brugada’s 26.7%, with respondents scoring him higher on voting intentions, honesty, knowledge of the city, closeness to the people and identification with the party’s values. But despite waging a fiercely-fought campaign, Harfuch’s team have stated that he will respect the party’s eventual decision and support Brugada, who has also served as a congresswoman and senator.
It is expected that if Morena’s presidential candidate — Mexico City’s former head of government, Claudia Sheinbaum — wins the election, Harfuch will be given a leading security role in her cabinet.
The gender parity rules meant that women were also prioritized over higher-scoring men as gubernatorial candidates in the states of Guanajuato and Jalisco. In an effort to preserve unity, these men will be guaranteed a seat in Congress, according to an agreement released by the Morena leadership on Thursday.
Morena selected poll leaders as gubernatorial candidates in seven states, while the runners-up were selected to represent Mexico City and Jalisco. (X @PartidoMorenaMx)
Female candidates won the polling in Veracruz and Morelos, and were thus automatically selected as candidates.
The final list of Morena’s candidates for the eight contested governorships is as follows:
Chiapas: Eduardo Ramírez, current coordinator of the Morena caucus in the Senate, and formerly a local and federal deputy and mayor of Comitán
Guanajuato: Alma Alcaraz, a Morena deputy and former local party leader
Jalisco: Claudia Delgadillo, a federal deputy for the Green Party (PVEM), a Morena ally. She has also been a local deputy and councilwoman in Jalisco’s capital, Guadalajara.
Morelos: Margarita González, former general director of the National Lottery
Puebla: Alejandro Armenta, former president of the Senate
Tabasco: Javier May, former Welfare Minister and head of the National Fund for Tourism Promotion (Fonatur)
Veracruz: Rocío Nahle, former Energy Minister
Yucatán: Joaquín Díaz Mena, a former federal and local deputy for the opposition National Action Party (PAN)
Mexico’s other political parties have yet to finalize their internal selection processes for the contested governorships. Morena and its allies currently govern in 23 of the country’s 32 states, and are hoping to expand that number.
Pre-campaigns for the 2024 elections open this month, with specific dates dependent on the state. The pre-campaign period in Mexico City officially started on Nov. 5 — before any of Mexico’s political parties had announced a candidate.
Mérida, Yucatán, is considered one of the best cities in the world. (Yucatán Turismo)
The Sabores de Yucatán Festival is just around the corner and has a line-up of extraordinary activities that will captivate the most discerning gourmets with 6-course dinners, gastronomic circuits, free tours, market tours, academic programs and much more, where the great leaders of gastronomy such as Ferran and Albert Adria, Jordi Roca, Dabiz Muñoz, Mitsuharu Tsomura, among others, will gather to enjoy the Sabores de Yucatán.
Mérida, the capital of Yucatán, is considered one of the best cities in the world, as well as one of the safest destinations in the country, where you can admire the beauty of its streets full of history and tradition, together with a modern and cosmopolitan city.
Emplumado offers one of the most impressive gastronomies of the destination and, of course, a refreshing and extravagant mixology bar. (Yucatán Turismo)
Emplumado
If you prefer quiet places to have fun, Emplumado is a good option. It is strategically located in front of the imposing Monumento a la Patria and the charming Paseo de Montejo. It offers a privileged view from its terrace, making it the perfect place for meeting with friends and taking refuge in the relaxing atmosphere of Mérida. It is essential to mention that Emplumado offers one of the most impressive menus of the destination and, of course, a refreshing and extravagant mixology bar.
Catrín 42
It is a very Mexican cantina in the XXI Century, which has given new life to the most emblematic dishes of the country by the talented Yucatecan chef Adrian Ramos, in addition to its challenging mixology that will test even the most daring of its visitors. At Catrín, you will experience a unique party atmosphere on a colorful terrace where artist Jacobo Roa has painted his work along with a selection of pieces chosen by himself to reinforce and accentuate the Mexican style while you dance and sing to the rhythm of the DJ and interact with other people.
The Sabores de Yucatán Festival is just around the corner and has a line-up of extraordinary activities that will captivate the most select gourmets, 6-handed dinners, gastronomic circuits, free tours, market tours, academic programs and many more. (Yucatán Turismo)
La Negrita
La Negrita Cantina is an old and renovated bar in Mérida’s Centro Histórico with more than 100 years of history, and it is one of the most traditional places to visit. Being the first bar to open in Mérida in 1917, its unique atmosphere combines the essence of the conventional Yucatecan cantina with a modern and vibrant touch, where its tropical gardens invite you to let yourself be carried away by the rhythm of live music while you delight yourself with succulent Yucatecan appetizers and refreshing drinks.
Pipiriripau
We could say that Pipiripau is the classic cantina of today; its jovial and tropical atmosphere attracts all those looking to have fun in Mérida while admiring the fusion of the symbolic details of Mexican culture in a colonial-era mansion and a terrace with tropical tints where you can dance while sipping a cold beer or something from their cocktail bar.
The Golden Lizard
This cantina offers a wide variety of dishes, drinks, snacks, and typical desserts of Yucatán. As for drinks, Lagarto de Oro has a variety of beers and classic cocktails, as well as soft drinks; while you taste the gastronomy of the peninsula, let yourself get caught by the live music in the section “la bodega” where you will meet great local artists.
The flavors of Yucatán are to be enjoyed at all times, and what better way to do it than during the days of its gastronomic festival? The festival Sabores de Yucatán runs from Nov. 16 to Nov. 20.
Aguascalientes magistrate and LGBTQ+ activist Ociel Baena was found dead at home, with wounds from a knife. (Ociel Baena/X)
Thirteen months after being sworn in as the first non-binary electoral magistrate in Latin America, Jesús Ociel Baena Saucedo was found dead at home in Aguascalientes on Monday.
The lifeless body of one of Mexico’s most prominent LGBTQ+ activists was found around 9 a.m. with wounds caused by a knife, according to the state prosecutor’s office.
Baena was an outspoken LGBTQ+ activist. (Ociel Baena/X)
Another person, reportedly Baena’s partner, also was found dead, reportedly also with knife wounds, inside the magistrate’s home in the capital city of Aguascalientes.
“We don’t know if it is a homicide or an accident,” said Rosa Icela Rodríguez, the head of Mexico’s Ministry of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC). “An investigation is going to be done.”
The killing sent shock waves throughout Mexico’s LBGTQ+ community and human rights groups worldwide. Immediately there were calls for Baena’s death to bring about stronger anti-discrimination laws long demanded by advocates in the country.
Baena, who was born in 1984 according to their profile on the social media site X, was an appointed judge with the Electoral Tribunal of the State of Aguascalientes, a division of the Mexican justice system that specializes in matters relating to elections.
Activists in Mexico have called for better protections for the LGBTQ+ community, who have suffered a recent rise in attacks against them. (Gay Games 2023/Facebook)
Born in Saltillo, Coahuila, and a resident of Aguascalientes for 11 years, Baena earned a degree in law from the Faculty of Jurisprudence of the Autonomous University of Coahuila, where they also completed a master’s degree in constitutional law and government policies.
Earlier this year, Baena made the news by obtaining a re-issue of their birth certificate, with a box added for “non-binary,” from the Civil Registry of Coahuila.
A month or so later came the issuance of Mexico’s first non-binary passport, to Baena, in honor of the International Day Against Homophobia.
Baena became the first Mexican to receive a non-binary passport in May this year. (Marcelo Ebrard/X)
On Sunday, Baena participated in a round table in Oaxaca, speaking about LGBTQ+ rights. In their career, they pioneered initiatives on behalf of trans children, same-sex marriage and gender-identity recognition.
Baena said activists provided “a lot of support” after their appointment in October 2022 because “it is a position where real decisions are made that change and transcend the lives of many people.”
But there was also resistance, criticism and hate speech. “There were calls from bar associations and people from these bars who [asked] the presiding judge how it was possible that they allowed this type of daring [appointment], especially in a highly conservative state,” Baena said.
Mexico faces ongoing issues with discrimination and violence targeting LGBTQ+ individuals. According to LetraEse, a digital news site focused on sexuality and gender, murders of LGBTQ+ persons in Mexico increased by nearly a third from 2020 to 2021.
The sport grew from early informal matches between miners in Real del Monte, and by the early 1920s, Mexico’s national league had been set up. (Canva)
Call it football, fútbol or soccer, that’s your preference. One thing is indisputable, though. It’s the world’s most popular sport – loved, watched and played by over 265 million – and its growing popularity inMexico is breaking records yearly. In 2026, Mexico will co-host the next World Cup alongside the USA and Canada, becoming the first country ever to host the renowned competition three times.
But despite its massive national and international appeal, the remarkable and deadly story of how fútbol (as it is known in Mexico) became an integral part of Mexican life remains largely unknown.
In 2026, Mexico will co-host the next World Cup alongside the USA and Canada, becoming the first country ever to host the renowned competition three times. (Canva)
Soccer’s journey to Mexico from a humble English mining town
In the early 19th century, Mexico’s once-prolific silver mines in Real del Monte, in central Mexico, faced an uncertain future. The mines had fallen victim to years of neglect during the country’s war for independence with the Spanish. Integral mineshafts were flooded, outdated machines lay broken and disused and with little investment to help improve resources, the country’s mines were in disrepair.
Recognizing an urgent need to rejuvenate this vital part of the national economy, investors in Mexico’s silver mines turned to the United Kingdom, specifically a region on the south coast called Cornwall, for support.
The quiet coastal region had a global reputation for state-of-the-art mining equipment and specialist expertise in operating complex, modern machinery. With that, 60 Cornish miners in 1825 bid goodbye to their families and friends at the Falmouth Docks in southern England and boarded a large boat that would carry them and 1,500 tonnes of equipment over 6,000 nautical miles to Veracruz, one of Mexico’s oldest and most significant ports, before the journey on land to Real del Monte.
The transatlantic voyage to save Mexico’s ailing mining industry would claim the lives of many and leave some of those who waved goodbye to the sixty young men at Falmouth Docks as grieving widows, parents and children.
On arrival, the Spanish still held the port of Veracruz, forcing the miners to land on the beach of Mocambo. The disruption caused massive delays, leaving the English and Mexican men employed to help them with no choice but to take a dangerous route through the jungle.
Swampy waters and the rainy season in Mexico saw several men contract Yellow Fever. According to thediaries of an English engineer, John Buchanan, 100 Mexican men and 30 English men died during these months, which forced the surviving party to abandon much of their cumbersome equipment and make their way to the safety of the mountains in Xalapa until the rainy season ended. The 250-mile journey on land, which was supposed to take the group less than a month, was in great jeopardy.
Fourteen months later, with many friends and colleagues buried along the way, the mining party made it to Real del Monte, the highest town in Mexico at 10,000 feet above sea level. Engineer John Buchanan reported in his diary: “After great labour and many accidents, we conquered this great ascent and our convoy proceeded on our last stage to deposit its valuable cargo in Real del Monte.”
Life in Real del Monte or Mexico’s “little Cornwall”
Work began quickly for those who survived the first journey to Mexico, and a small, distant English enclave grew. A cemetery, built on a hilltop overlooking the town, called the Panteón Inglés, was soon constructed to honor the dead. The high-quality equipment salvaged during the 14-month journey from Veracruz was instrumental in repairing old mining machinery.
But as English miners laid down roots in Mexico, it wasn’t their technology and expertise that would have the greatest impact on Mexico’s culture but their customs and traditions. By the early 20th century, the state of Hidalgo, where Real del Monte is located, had the most British transplants of any Mexican state, most notably a regular afternoon game of fútbol enjoyed by the local Mexicans and the British expatriates.
At 4 p.m. daily, Mexican and English miners would pause work for a kickabout. The tradition became part of the working day and love of the simple game quickly spread to nearby towns and regions in Hidalgo. The town of Pachuca, just 14km west of Real del Monte, would launch the country’s first official football club by the turn of the 20th century.
The sport has become a source of pride for Mexico on the global stage. Current estimates show over 8 million play soccer in over 17,000 teams across the country. (Canva)
Today, Pachuca is known as the country’s cuna del fútbol (cradle of football) and home to the Salón de la Fama soccer museum, which charts the sport’s early history and long-lasting legacy.
The sport grew from early informal matches between miners in Real del Monte, and by the early 1920s, Mexico’s national league had been set up. In 1922, the Mexican Association Soccer Federation was founded. The national team was formed one year later, with their first participation on the international stage during the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games and their first appearance in the FIFA World Cup in Uruguay in 1930.
Mexico would go on to host the World Cup in 1970. It became the first country to host the tournament twice in 1986, and in 2026, Mexico will break another record by becoming the first country to host the World Cup three times.
The sport has become a source of pride for Mexico on the global stage. Current estimates show over 8 million play soccer in over 17,000 teams across the country and it’s not just a sport for the players, but also for spectators.
Mexico’s match against Argentina during last year’s FIFA World Cup became the most-watched Group Stage match in Spanish-language history in the United States. It drew a national audience of over 20 million people in Mexico.
The sport brought to Mexico from Cornwall faced an uphill battle that claimed many lives before the first game was ever played on Mexican soil. But from tragedy, the country’s most sacred and beloved sport has helped elevate Mexico’s international reputation.
Alongside stadiums in Guadalajara and Monterrey, the world-famous Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, known as a coliseum of world football which welcomed the likes of Pele and Diego Maradona across two World Cup finals, will be packed with thousands of spectators from across the world in 2026. The stage in Mexico is set for more pulsating moments during football’s most prestigious global event.
Gordon Cole-Schmidt is a freelance journalist based in Oaxaca, Mexico.
