Current federal deputy Betzabé Martínez Arango will lead the race for the mayoralty of Gómez Palacio, the second most important city in Durango. Martínez Arango obtained the candidacy through gender division, despite losing in the poll against Cristian Mijares, former boxing champion. Meanwhile, the state capital will be contested by José Ramón Enríquez, former senator and ally of Andy López Beltrán.
The electoral and territorial strategy of the government in Durango is overseen by the secretary of Organization of Morena, Andrés Manuel López Beltrán. In Durango, a state historically controlled by the PRI, Morena seeks to consolidate its presence in the upcoming elections. Martínez Arango, who won District II in the last federal elections, presents a solid position to compete for the mayorship of her hometown.
With the electoral campaign approaching, Martínez Arango has requested leave from her position in the Chamber of Deputies to fully dedicate herself to campaigning and territorial activities. In Lerdo, the third most relevant city in Durango, the candidate will be Flora Isela Leal Méndez, current local deputy for District XIII. These strategic nominations are part of the former president's son's strategy for the June elections.
José Ramón Enríquez, the candidate for the capital, is an ophthalmologist who has ventured into local politics, having been a senator and mayor of Durango in the past under the PAN party. His departure from that party in 2019, amid criticisms for the loss of "idealism" and the predominance of "personal interests and power groups", positions him as a relevant figure for Morena in the contest.
With these strategic candidates and a solid territorial operation, the government in Durango aims to conquer the three main cities of the state, heading towards the gubernatorial elections of 2028, where they will seek to defeat the current governor from the PRI, Esteban Villegas Villarreal.
