Introduction
In the first half of 2025, seven mayors have been assassinated across various regions in the country, highlighting the vulnerability of local authorities to criminal violence and the lack of security guarantees in the most conflict-ridden municipalities.
Recent Assassinations and Their Circumstances
- Carlos Manzo Rodríguez, Uruapan, Michoacán: The mayor was killed during the Festival de las Velas. This incident marked the most recent assassination of a mayor.
- Mario Hernández García, Santiago Amoltepec, Oaxaca: He was the first mayoral killing in 2025, ambushed along with his driver and a municipal police officer. All three were shot to death while traveling in an official patrol car.
- Isaías Rojas Ramírez, Metlatónoc, Guerrero: The Partido del Trabajo (PT) mayor was shot during an attempted highway robbery on the Autopista del Sol. He succumbed to his injuries days later in a Chilpancingo hospital.
- Salvador Bastida García, Tacámbaro, Michoacán: Executed when arriving at his home with a security detail. Bastida, governing under the PT-PVEM-Morena coalition, had previously reported threats from criminal disputes in the region.
- Lilia Gema García Soto, San Mateo Piñas, Oaxaca: The mayor was killed inside the municipal building by four armed men disguised as police officers. The attack also claimed the life of municipal police officer Eli Gregorio García Ruiz.
- Martha Laura Mendoza Mendoza and Ulises Sánchez Ochoa, Tepalcatepec, Michoacán: The mayor and her spouse were gunned down outside their home, with their 17-year-old son also injured in the attack.
- Miguel Bahena, Pisaflores, Hidalgo: The mayor was killed outside his house by two men on a motorcycle. Bahena, affiliated with the Partido Verde Ecologista de México (PVEM), had called for an immediate investigation, warning that violence “is undermining democracy and community safety.”
Impact on Local Governance and Security
These assassinations have raised serious concerns about the safety of local authorities and the effectiveness of security measures in conflict-ridden municipalities. The targeted killings of mayors have destabilized local governance, leaving communities without leadership and exacerbating the sense of insecurity.
The escalation of violence against mayors underscores the urgent need for improved security arrangements, better coordination between local and federal law enforcement agencies, and a comprehensive strategy to tackle criminal organizations responsible for these attacks.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the mayors who have been assassinated? Carlos Manzo Rodríguez (Uruapan, Michoacán), Mario Hernández García (Santiago Amoltepec, Oaxaca), Isaías Rojas Ramírez (Metlatónoc, Guerrero), Salvador Bastida García (Tacámbaro, Michoacán), Lilia Gema García Soto (San Mateo Piñas, Oaxaca), Martha Laura Mendoza Mendoza and Ulises Sánchez Ochoa (Tepalcatepec, Michoacán), and Miguel Bahena (Pisaflores, Hidalgo).
- What were the circumstances surrounding their deaths? The mayors were killed in various situations, including ambushes, highway robberies, and targeted assassinations. Some were killed while traveling in official patrol cars or inside municipal buildings.
- What impact do these assassinations have on local governance and security? These killings destabilize local governance, leaving communities without leadership and exacerbating insecurity. They highlight the urgent need for improved security measures and better coordination between local and federal law enforcement agencies.
