As Claudia Sheinbaum entered the packed auditorium of Mexico's National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), one of the country's most prestigious public educational institutions, on April 8, she seemed at home. In his speech, the Institute's director, Arturo Reyes Sandoval, recalled that her mother, Annie Pardo, once taught biology there. Then, he turned to the presidential candidate, saying: "You're Mexico's first female doctor of electrical engineering and a member of the Academy of Sciences. Having a scientist president would be an undeniable asset for our nation."

With her hair neatly tied back, as always, with a hair tie, Sheinbaum smiled, expressed gratitude, exchanged kisses with him and scribbled down a few notes before beginning her own speech. A genuine smile lit up her face when a student took the microphone and said: "Today, we Mexican women no longer dream of being princesses, but of becoming president."

It is now widely acknowledged that 61-year-old Sheinbaum will win Mexico's June 2 general election (which will also involve races for the country's Congress, mayoral positions and nine governorships). She is the successor to Andrés Manuel López Obrador, known as AMLO – the outgoing left-wing president, who holds a lengthy press conference every morning in which he is unafraid to criticize his opponents – who is finishing his six-year term with a popularity level at over 60%.

A historic election

The former mayor of Mexico City enjoys a lead of more than 20 points in the polls over her main rival, right-wing senator Xóchitl Gálvez, who is also a woman. While suspense has been absent from this campaign, it is nonetheless historic: It is the first time that a Mexican presidential election has seen two women candidates face off. Both have declared themselves to be "feminists," and the issue of women's rights has been a major focus of the campaign. Mexican women, and even men, have been taking a certain pride in this as, further north in the United States, two men prepare to go head-to-head.

"Claudia," as everyone calls her, brings a twinkle to the eyes of those who come to her rallies: "We have high hopes for her, that's for sure, maybe even too high, but just being experiencing this moment gives you shivers," said Anabel, a young brunette with mischievous eyes, who had come with two friends from high school to attend her first political gathering, in the poor suburbs of Mexico City. These 17-year-old girls were quick to take some credit for this historic moment: "Claudia is also here thanks to all of us [women]."

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