Ismael Burgueño is emerging as a leading name for another run as Tijuana mayor if Morena and Mexico’s Green Party (PVEM) move forward with a coalition, according to Arturo Escobar, the PVEM’s national election coordinator.
Escobar said the Green Party considers Burgueño its strongest-positioned potential candidate, citing his recognition among residents, the possibility of reelection and what the party described as a positive assessment of his administration.
That does not guarantee him the nomination, though. Escobar emphasized that the candidate will ultimately be selected through a poll, regardless of which party formally holds the slot.
The Green Party Wants Polls to Decide Coalition Candidates
The PVEM says it will enter negotiations with Morena with a preference for using surveys to determine their joint candidates rather than political agreements.
According to Escobar, Morena and the Green Party established earlier this year that in states where the PVEM participates in selecting the state-level leadership, the results of the poll would be binding.
“We are comfortable because we believe the ideal mechanism is to select the woman or man who is best positioned,” Escobar said, adding that the goal is to put forward competitive candidates for an election he described as challenging.
The arrangement will also apply to Tijuana if Burgueño chooses to seek another term.
Burgueño Previously Ran Under the Green Party Banner
The Green Party held the Tijuana slot in the 2024 election, when it nominated Burgueño, a politician identified with Morena.
The PVEM wants to retain that position in a new coalition, but Escobar acknowledged that having the slot does not automatically determine who will be the candidate.
“Regardless of the fact that the slot belongs to the Green Party, what determines the candidacy is the poll,” he said.
Escobar added that all potential candidates would be allowed to participate. If Burgueño decides to pursue reelection, he would enter the process with what Escobar described as an advantage, but would still have to go through the survey.
Morena and Green Party Confirm Baja California Coalition
The PVEM confirmed that it will build a coalition with Morena in Baja California. The party said it is making progress toward joint candidacies in Tijuana and Mexicali, where surveys are expected to determine the nominees.
The situation is less settled in San Quintín, where both parties have candidates considered to be among the leading profiles. The parties have expressed interest in forming a coalition there, but no final agreement has been reached.
The Green Party is also seeking to promote its own candidates for the state and federal legislatures, including Jorge Ramos, Rodrigo Otáñez and Fausto Gallardo.
Meanwhile, Escobar said Julieta Ramírez won the survey to lead the state-level coordination in Baja California after a close contest with Burgueño. He rejected the idea that gender played a role in that decision, saying the full survey was presented to the candidates and that gender was not used as a determining factor.
