(NewsNation) — Voters are heading to the polls in Mexico Sunday in what is expected to be a historic presidential election with two women leading.
Another 20,000 congressional and local positions are up for grabs as well. Some campaigns have been plagued by violence, including a mayoral candidate who was gunned down at a rally earlier this week.
Ariel Ruiz Soto, a senior policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, joined “NewsNation Now” to break down Mexico’s upcoming presidential election between candidates Claudia Sheinbaum and Xochitl Galvez. Both women are in the running to replace Mexico’s current president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
“They’re both trying to run on security and economic issues, as well as maintain some gains from the prior administration,” he said. “Where they differ is more likely to be on what reforms they can do in congressional institutions in Mexico and how those are implemented.”
Mexican voters’ perceptions of their country’s leadership, economy, institutions and the honesty of their elections are improving. Meanwhile, about 54% of Mexican voters disapprove of U.S. leadership, compared to 32% who say they approve, according to a recent Gallup survey.
Another 14% were unsure or refused to answer.
Biden is reportedly finalizing plans surrounding migrant limits to crack down on border crossings, according to the Associated Press. Although immigration tends to be a top issue for American voters, Mexico is focused more on security, climate, water and issues surrounding corruption, Ruiz Soto said.
“The issue of immigration tends to be focused more on the relationship with the United States and what it would take for Mexico to sustain that,” he said.