Pro-business opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez of Mexico’s Frente Amplio coalition could give Claudia Sheinbaum of the ruling Morena party a run for her money in the country’s 2024 presidential election, according to Rice University’s Tony Payan.

Payan, who directs the Center for the United States and Mexico at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, broke down the two leading candidates in the latest episode of NGI’s Hub and Flow podcast. The election is set for June 2 of next year. 

A survey of likely voters published Sept. 20 by pollster Electoria showed 51% of respondents supporting Sheinbaum versus 35% for Galvez, with 9% undecided. The results were in line with other recent polls conducted by Mexican media outlets. 

But with just under nine months to go...