In a striking example of political violence, Yesenia Lara Gutiérrez, a mayoral candidate from Mexico’s ruling Morena party, was shot and killed by suspected cartel operatives during a Facebook livestream event. This incident underscores a grim reality as left-leaning President Claudia Sheinbaum continues to deny U.S. forces the authority to intervene against cartel activities within Mexican borders, allowing organized crime to flourish unchecked.
Gutiérrez’s assassination marks the second murder of a politician from Sheinbaum’s party in Veracruz as the June elections approach. Reported by the New York Post, the event transpired on a Sunday in the Gulf coast town of Texistepec, where she was actively campaigning.
“Yesenia Lara Gutiérrez of the governing Morena party was gunned down while she was greeting supporters in the small town of Texistepec in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz on Sunday, where she was running for election.
“A chilling Facebook live stream shows Gutiérrez greeting residents of the town of 20,000, surrounded by supporters. As she walks through the smiling and chanting crowd, gunfire suddenly rings out off camera.”
Over 20 gunshots can be distinctly heard in the footage, a stark reminder of the perilous environment in which politicians now operate. Tragically, Gutiérrez’s daughter was also a victim of this violent act, which left two additional individuals dead and three wounded, as confirmed by Veracruz Governor Rocío Nahle García, who is also affiliated with the Morena party.
In another alarming development, two federal officers were killed in a separate incident elsewhere in Veracruz, highlighting the ongoing ‘hunting season’ for politicians in the region.
Watch:
DISTURBING
A Mexican mayoral candidate, Yesenia Lara Gutiérrez was fatally shot by suspected cartel gunmen during a Facebook live stream while greeting supporters.
She is the second politician killed in the state before the June 1 elections. pic.twitter.com/Sp7zafKbWI
— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) May 13, 2025
“A record 661 attacks on individuals and institutions connected to politics were reported last year in the country, according to the human rights organization Data Cívica.”
This shocking statistic reveals a broader trend of violence against political figures in Mexico, illustrated by the recent murders of a mayoral candidate in Guerrero, the mayor of Cotija in Michoacán, and the decapitation of another mayor in Guerrero’s capital, Chilpancingo. The list of casualties continues to grow.
“Less than two weeks prior, Germán Anuar Valencia, also from the governing party, was shot and killed in Veracruz while at his campaign headquarters in the town of Coxquihui in the north of the state.”
Read more:
Mexico’s Leftist President-Elect Gathers Latin American Socialist Leaders, as Opposition Candidate Demands Recount, Another Mayor Is Killed, and the Panicked Market Melts
