Politics: Electoral Reform proposed by Sheinbaum represents a democratic setback
On March 4, 2026, President Claudia Sheinbaum submitted her constitutional electoral reform initiative to the Chamber of Deputies, representing the final outstanding component of "Plan C" announced by Andrés Manuel López Obrador in February 2024. Following two previous failed attempts—a rejected constitutional reform and a "Plan B" pursued through secondary legislation that was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court—this proposal emerged from a Presidential Commission headed by Pablo Gómez.
The reform is justified by the government as an effort to reduce the costs of democracy. Its main changes include: reducing public financing for political parties by 25%; cutting the overall budget of the electoral system (INE, local institutes, and electoral courts) by 25%; restructuring the Senate by eliminating seats corresponding to proportional representation via national lists; creating a new framework for the 200 proportional representation deputy seats (100 allocated to the best district losers and 100 through direct voting in regional constituencies, including eight seats for Mexicans residing abroad); reducing official radio and television airtime from 48 to 35 minutes daily; mandating labeling of electoral content altered by artificial intelligence; initiating district vote counts immediately on election day (potentially eliminating the Preliminary Electoral Results Program, PREP); and strengthening oversight against illicit or foreign funding, without clarifying the mechanisms to achieve this—particularly given the proposed budget cuts. Although the proposal moderates some previously announced extremes, it retains elements that limit plural representation, financially weaken opposition and smaller allied parties, and reduce the INE's organizational and oversight capabilities—thereby facilitating the majority party's perpetuation in power.
Approval prospects remain low, as the reform requires qualified majorities (two-thirds) in both chambers—thresholds Morena cannot reach alone (holding 67 of 128 senators and 253 of 500 deputies). The PT and PVEM allies of Morena reject the initiative, as approving it would constitute political suicide given their dependence on proportional representation seats. The united opposition has also made clear that it will reject the initiative.
Therefore, the president has hinted at a possible "Plan B" similar to López Obrador's approach—pursuing reforms through secondary legislation requiring only a simple majority. However, this would carry significant political costs, including increased polarization and challenges to the rule of law during a critical period of USMCA review and foreign investment promotion.
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