In a disturbing trend of political violence, a second female mayor has been murdered in Mexico in just two days. Martha Laura Mendoza, the mayor of Tepalcatepec in Michoacan state and a member of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Morena party, was fatally shot alongside her husband, according to the Michoacan public prosecutor’s office. Authorities are treating the case as a femicide. Reports indicate the couple was attacked as they left their home.
This tragedy follows closely on the heels of the assassination of Lilia García, the mayor of San Mateo Piñas in Oaxaca, who was killed in her office along with a staff member just 48 hours prior.
Michoacan, a state known for its avocado production and the port of Lazaro Cardenas, has been plagued by gang violence for nearly two decades. Criminal organizations frequently target local politicians, especially in areas where drug cartels exert significant control. The violence isn’t limited to rural areas; even Mexico City has seen a recent surge, including the killing of two aides to Mayor Clara Brugada last month.
Since Mexico’s government initiated a militarized effort against drug cartels in 2006, the country has suffered an estimated 480,000 deaths and over 120,000 disappearances. Local authorities throughout Mexico remain susceptible to the influence of organized crime, which aims to manipulate governance through intimidation and force. The AFP news agency initially reported this information.