Background on Salomón Jara and His Relevance
Salomón Jara, the current governor of Oaxaca, Mexico, has narrowly avoided early removal from his position following the recent revocation consultation held on March 25. Despite facing high levels of disapproval in certain districts, Jara managed to retain his position with the support of Morena and its electoral allies.
Revocation Consultation Results
The revocation consultation, which took place across 25 local districts in Oaxaca, revealed mixed results for Governor Jara. In 10 of these districts, including the capital’s surrounding area, Jara experienced significant disapproval. Specifically:
- In the 13th district, the “no” vote won by a margin of 22,000 votes.
- In the 14th district (Villa de Etla) and the 15th district (Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán), the “no” vote also prevailed by a 2:1 ratio.
- Jara lost in the 12th district (Santa Lucía del Camino) and the 18th district (Santiago Tehuantepec), with a narrow margin of only 10% of the votes.
Out of the 877,641 Oaxacans who participated in the consultation, 58.5% voted in favor of Jara remaining as governor. However, election authorities invalidated 25,451 ballots due to unclear voting intentions or blank votes.
Electoral Efficiency and Limitations
This revocation consultation is the third electoral event in Oaxaca since the concurrent elections of 2024. These events have demonstrated both the effectiveness and limitations of electoral forces in the region.
To make the revocation consultation results binding, according to Oaxaca’s constitutional reform for mandate revocation, 40% of the nominal voter list must support removal. This list comprises three million 130,405 Oaxacan voters.
Jara’s Response and Future Implications
Although Jara narrowly escaped early removal, he acknowledged the message from the polls and announced a restructuring of his working team. This situation may set a precedent for other Morena-elected governors, such as Alejandro Armenta from Puebla, who recently adjusted his team of collaborators.
Armenta’s new Secretary of Planning, Finance, and Administration, Daniela Stephanie Pérez Calderón, has been appointed, with Armenta emphasizing his commitment to transparency and accountability.
Secondary Effects: US-Mexico Security Cooperation
Exegisis:
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum denied any collaboration between US and Mexican security forces, contradicting FBI Director Kash Patel’s insinuations. The evidence presented by Anthony Colombo, lawyer for ex-Canadian Olympian Ryan James Wedding, contradicts the official version: there was no surrender, negotiation, or handover. Instead, Wedding was reportedly apprehended by members of the FBI’s HRT.
