By Tamara Mares
Morena, Mexico’s ruling party, has built its identity around former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador. His political trajectory not only marked Mexico’s last 20 years but also turned him into a widely recognized figure that even found a small niche in the economy, with t-shirts, keychains, and plush toys.
It’s no wonder that, when López Obrador retired in 2024 after ending his presidency, the party he founded started showing cracks, and the cliques that had already formed inside started pushing to grab control of the machinery that generated over 33 million votes for current president Claudia Sheinbaum.
With the 2027 Mexican midterm election coming up, finding strong leadership is the only way Morena can keep the majority it holds in the Legislative Branch and win over the 17 states that are up for grabs. Because of its scale, the election will largely determine Mexico’s political future.
So today, in Mexico Decoded, we’ll analyze Morena and what happens when a party is constructed around a leader, such as López Obrador, who retires and leaves no undisputed successor.
