Mexicans Cast Votes In Gubernatorial Elections Expected To Strengthen Morena

Mexico's ruling Morena party is expected to consolidate its grip on power in the wake of gubernatorial elections held Sunday in six opposition-controlled states, with its candidates expected to win at least four of the races, even as opposition parties struck agreements to field joint candidates.

• Voters in in Aguascalientes, Durango, Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, and Tamaulipas can cast their votes until 18:00 local time, which means polling stations in some of these states have just closed.
• Opinion polls suggested that Aguascalientes and Durango should remain under control of opposition parties, but four victories would still mean that Morena controls two-thirds of gubernatorial seats in the country.
• A strong showing from Morena candidates would also allow AMLO to consolidate his position within the ruling party, giving him a greater say in nominating the party's candidate to succeed him after the 2024 presidential election.
• The performance of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), a former hegemon on Mexico's political scene, will be watched. Failure to win any of the races could accelerate its demise, leaving it in control of just two governorships.