The 2026-2027 election cycle began on Thursday, and though the stakes are high for the control of Congress, the majority of governorships and all 16 Mexico City borough leaders, the process has already been marred by accusations about the autonomy and transparency of the agency in charge.

A record 102 million Mexicans are eligible to participate in the June 6, 2027, vote. The National Electoral Institute (INE) said it will set up 176,141 polling places, some 6,000 more than during the 2024 federal elections.

Controversy flared up during the agency’s opening electoral session, however, when INE Councilor Arturo Castillo challenged the institution’s credibility.

“The INE seems to have abdicated its role of overseeing and arbitrating elections,” he said, describing a scenario of premature campaigning and irregularities that he said could compromise confidence in the outcome.

Castillo also criticized INE President Guadalupe Taddei for appointing 12 new executive directors over the past year without the consensus of the General Council, some of whom did not meet legal requirements for their appointment.

Two other INE councilors raised questions about new procedures and past oversights, while representatives of opposition political parties complained about what they see as the failure to enforce electoral regulations. 

These denunciations contrasted with Taddei’s assertion that the INE was ready to organize the election, while insisting the playing field is level.

What’s at stake in next June’s election

Beyond the selection of more than 20,000 public officials, the vote will serve as a national referendum on the governing project of Morena and the performance of President Claudia Sheinbaum. It will also determine the relative strength of opposition forces ahead of the 2030 presidential election.

While Morena seeks to consolidate its territorial dominance and protect its legislative majority in the Chamber of Deputies (all 500 seats are on the line), some parties will be battling for political survival. The election will also see 17 states choose new governors.

The once-dominant PRI is fighting to remain one of the top five parties in Congress, while the conservative PAN is desperate to preserve its hold on three governor’s mansions.

These two parties also hope to remain relevant in Mexico City, where PRI-PAN alliances control five of the capital’s 16 borough halls, while the PAN aims to maintain its status as the No. 2 party in the Mexico City Congress.

Two new political parties will make their debut in the upcoming elections: PAZ (a party linked to the evangelical church) and Somos México (a center-left party that emerged from opposition to reforms of the INE championed by Morena).

Although the election cycle has officially begun, the formal candidate selection process is not due to begin until Jan. 4, with parties permitted to hold primaries through Feb. 12. After that, the formal campaign season will take place from April 4 through June 2.

Complaints about alleged irregularities

Criticism of the INE is primarily related to alleged violations of the campaign schedule regulations. 

Ahead of the 2018 elections, Morena designated so-called state coordinators who were tasked with guiding the party in the run-up to gubernatorial elections. Since they were then inevitably nominated as candidates, critics say their actions as state coordinators should be regarded as campaign violations.

At the same time, office-holders seeking re-election or aiming for a new post have been known to stage public events and rallies before the official campaign season, proceedings that could be seen as violating election law.

With reports from El País, Animal Político, El Universal, Texas Public Policy Foundation and Lider Empresarial