Chihuahua gubernatorial race dynamics

Late July 2026 national polls placed PAN candidate Marco Bonilla as the front‑runner for the upcoming Chihuahua governorship, with Morena hopeful Cruz Pérez Cuéllar trailing behind. Different surveys varied in the exact margins, but Bonilla consistently held an advantage over both Pérez Cuéllar and rival Andrea Chávez.

A few days later, approval surveys in northern Mexico highlighted Pérez Cuéllar’s strong personal popularity: the Nuevo Laredo mayor, on temporary leave to seek the Morena nomination, recorded a 60.5 % approval rating. The data underscored solid local backing for the Morena candidate even as the broader poll picture showed him lagging the PAN frontrunner. The same surveys also noted Coahuila mayor Carlos Villarreal topping statewide mayoral approval, reflecting heightened political activity across the region ahead of the Chihuahua election.