She is set to be Mexico’s first female president. But who is Claudia Sheinbaum?

Claudia Sheinbaum, the former head of the government of Mexico City and candidate for the ruling Morena party, is projected to be the country’s first female president.

Claudia Sheinbaum, the former head of the government of Mexico City and candidate for the ruling Morena party, is projected to be the country’s first female president, marking a historic achievement in a country known for its deeply patriarchal culture. The 61-year-old rode the wave of popularity of her longtime political ally, the outgoing leftist Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and their Morena party. The Electoral Court must still validate the presidential election, and if confirmed, she will start her presidency on October 1. Sheinbaum, a former climate scientist, entered the campaign as the favorite, according to February and March polls by Mitofsky, Parametría, and De las Heras Demotecnia, which placed her support between 49% and 67% compared to her political rivals. Sheinbaum holds a degree in physics and a master’s and doctorate in energy engineering. She has received several accolades for her academic career. Born in Mexico City in 1962, she has two children and one grandchild. Her partner, Jesús María Tarriba, whom she met at university while both were studying physics, is currently a financial risk specialist at the Bank of Mexico.