Mexico Elections: 37 Candidates Killed Ahead Of Voting Tomorrow, Marking Bloodiest Polls In Country's History

In a tragic escalation of violence, Mexico's current election season has become the bloodiest in its modern history.

The assassination of Jorge Huerta Cabrera, a candidate running for a council seat in Izucar de Matamoros, Puebla state, marks the 37th candidate murdered ahead of Sunday's vote.

The incident occurred during a political rally on Friday, according to the state prosecutor's office.

This surpasses the previous record of 36 assassinated candidates set during the 2021 midterm elections, according to data from security consultancy Integralia, news agency Reuters reported.

The issue of violent crime has significantly influenced this year's presidential contest,.

The ruling party of outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has faced criticism for the persistently high murder rate.

Opposition parties have leveraged the bloodshed to argue for a change in leadership.

Claudia Sheinbaum, the ruling party's candidate, is widely expected to win Sunday's vote and potentially become Mexico's first female president.

Integralia has also reported 828 non-lethal attacks on candidates during this election season, an increase from 749 earlier in the week.

The consultancy highlights the dangerous mix of powerful drug cartels and often corrupt local governments as key factors contributing to the risks faced by candidates.

Earlier this week, another local mayoral candidate in Guerrero state was also killed during a campaign rally. He was among the 560 candidates and election officials who have been assigned security guards due to ongoing threats.

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