Chihuahua debates electoral reforms ahead of 2027 governor race

State officials in Chihuahua are pushing competing electoral changes for the 2027 gubernatorial election. Deputies from the PAN introduced a proposal that would require the Morena party to nominate a woman as its candidate, a move the municipal mayor of Ciudad Juárez, Cruz Pérez Cuéllar, denounced as unconstitutional. He warned that “the proposal tries to decide from now that Chihuahua is exclusively for a woman, which does not belong to the Congress,” and said the measure will likely be struck down by electoral courts.

At the same time, legislators from Movimiento Ciudadano have presented a constitutional amendment to create a two‑round runoff system if no candidate reaches a clear majority. The bill sets a 50 % threshold, or 40 % with a 10‑point lead, to avoid a second round, aiming to ensure that the eventual governor enjoys a decisive mandate. “The strongest governments are born of a clear majority,” said sponsor Francisco Sánchez.

Both initiatives reflect a broader contest over how the state’s future leaders will be chosen and signal intensified political maneuvering ahead of the 2027 vote.