He organized crime and political violence drown Mexico with a growing wave of murders that includes civilians, journalists, activists and politicians, among them 10 acting mayors during the government of Claudia Sheinbaum Brown; here the full list of who they are and how they were killed.
And in the last 12 months, ten acting municipal presidents have been murdered in different states of the country.
Specialists agree that these events show the fragility of local power in the face of territorial control and pressure from organized crime.
Everything indicates that 2025 will close as one of the most violent for mayors, since this year the situation worsened.
Since analysts agree that it is at the local level the main battlefield where criminal groups exercise their power in Mexico.
10 mayors murdered in office during Claudia Sheinbaum’s mandate
Next, the list of 10 mayors murdered in office during Claudia Sheinbaum’s mandatewho took office as national leader on October 1, 2024, after winning the general elections on June 2, 2024.
1. Mayor of Uruapan, Michoacán, Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez
The most recent homicide occurred on November 1, when the mayor of Uruapan, Michoacán, Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez (he arrived independently, he was not nominated by any party), he was attacked with bullets while he was at the 18th edition of the Candle Festival for the festivities of Day of the Dead 2025.
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His murder is added to a list that reflects a phenomenon that does not give up and that is mainly concentrated in entities such as Guerrero, Oaxaca and Michoacán. Even during In the armed attack on Carlos Manzo, another official was injured, who could have had a bullet taken out of him..
2. Miguel Bahena Solórzano, municipal president of Pisaflores, Hidalgo
Previously, on October 20, 2025, violence resurfaced with the homicide of Miguel Bahena Solorzano (PRI), municipal president of Pisaflores, Hidalgo. The attack occurred when he was returning home..
3. Martha Laura Mendoza Mendoza, mayor of Tepalcatepec, Michoacán
Three days earlier, on June 17, 2025, M. was also executed.artha Laura Mendoza Mendoza (Morena), municipal president of Tepalcatepec, Michoacán, along with her husband.
It must be remembered that Tepalcatepec is a municipality that for years has been the scene of disputes between rival criminal groups.
4. Lilia Gema García Soto, mayor of San Mateo Piñas, Oaxaca
On June 15, she was murdered Lilia Gema García Soto (Morena), mayor of San Mateo Piñas, Oaxacatogether with a community representative, after a armed attack inside the municipal palace.
5. Salvador Bastida García, mayor of Tacámbaro, Michoacán
Just three days later, on June 5, it was riddled Salvador Bastida García (PRD), mayor of Tacámbaro, Michoacán, when he was traveling along Fuerte de Loreto Street, in the municipal seat, in an event that caused tension between federal and state authorities due to the growing criminal siege in the entity.
6. Isaías Rojas Ramírez, mayor of Metlatónoc, Guerrero
On June 2, 2025, he died from gunshot wounds. Isaiah Rojas Ramirez (PT), mayor of Metlatónoc, Guerrero, after spending several days hospitalized after being attacked in a tunnel of the Autopista del Sol, one of the main roads in the state and a focus of recurring criminal acts.
7. Mario Hernández García, mayor of Santiago Amoltepec, Oaxaca
On May 15, Mario Hernandez Garcia (Morena), municipal president of Santiago Amoltepec, Oaxaca, was ambushed and executed on a rural road known as “El Tablero”, located in the vicinity of the community of El Mamey.
8. Jesús Franco Lárraga, mayor of Tancanhuitz, San Luis Potosí
On December 15, 2024, Jesus Franco Larraga (Morena), mayor of Tancanhuitz, San Luis Potosí, was ambushed and shot to death when he was traveling in his vehicle on the Tamazunchale-Ciudad Valles highway, near the Palmira community, in an area where organized crime cells operate.
9. Román Ruiz Bohórquez, councilor of Candelaria Loxicha, Oaxaca
Days before, on October 15, 2024, they killed a Roman Ruiz Bohórquez (Morena), mayor of Candelaria Loxicha, Oaxaca, who was attacked with a knife inside his own home.
This crime generated outrage among the population, due to the level of vulnerability with which the local leader was surprised.
10. Alejandro Arcos Catalán, municipal president of Chilpancingo, Guerrero
According to state records and reports, this chain of attacks began on October 6, 2024, with the murder of Alejandro Arcos Catalán (PRI), municipal president of Chilpancingo, Guerrero.
The president was executed and beheaded, after concluding a public activity in the capital of Guerrero, one of the municipalities most affected by criminal violence.
Mexico, under crime control
According to Integrala political risk consultancy, in the first half of the year there were 112 political murders in Mexico.
In the first 10 months of the year, more than 300 police officers were killed, 24 percent more than the previous year, according to Common Causean anti-corruption group.
In this regard, Nancy Canjura, security expert at Causa Común, told The New York Times that the murder of Carlos Manzo “is confirmation that criminal groups have control of the territory, and not the authority.”
Furthermore, security experts consider that municipalities are the most vulnerable level of government in the country’s institutional structure, because mayors are usually under protection and are directly responsible for strategic areas for criminal operations, such as local police, business permits and public works.
They warn that political violence is closely linked to the criminal dispute over territory, which makes mayors a priority target for illegal groups that seek to co-opt or subjugate the authorities.
Given this panorama, specialists urge to reinforce protection and security protocols for municipal officials, especially in high-risk areas, in order to prevent this trend from continuing to escalate and further weaken governance in Mexico.