Quintana Roo violence surges as 2027 election nears

Cancún, Quintana Roo — A surge of armed violence is keeping residents on edge in Quintana Roo, even as state political figures intensify their activity ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial race.

In the early hours of Sunday, a group of armed men attacked the bar El Paraíso in Puerto Aventuras with Molotov cocktails, sparking a fire and damaging two vehicles. No injuries were reported in the attack.

Just two days earlier, two men were shot in the irregular Valle Verde settlement in Cancún, where residents reported hearing gunfire. The victims were wounded and taken to a hospital for treatment.

These incidents are part of a broader pattern: at least seven shootings and six executions have been recorded across Quintana Roo in the first week of August, including in Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Bacalar.

Meanwhile, political maneuvering for the 2027 election cycle is underway. Ana Patricia Peralta, the mayor of Benito Juárez on leave, was granted a second 44-day leave to continue in the internal selection process. Senator Eugenio “Gino” Segura and federal deputy Marybel Villegas are also among those seeking to lead the ruling party’s project for governor.

On August 1, the four aspirants, including Rafael Marín Mollinedo, met with party leadership in Mexico City to discuss unity and the mechanism for choosing a candidate. No official nominee has been announced, but residents note that insecurity did not begin with the campaigns.

In interviews with residents, many expressed a shared sentiment: security has been neglected, and the recent spate of attacks has made the problem more visible. But they also said the issue is not new.

“While they are deciding who the candidate will be, we are still dealing with what happens in the neighborhoods,” said Germán Velázquez, a local resident. “But there is violence throughout the country.”

Some criticized elected officials for prioritizing personal ambitions. “In the case of Cancún’s mayor, why did she want the job if she was going to leave the municipality for her personal aspirations?” asked Horacio Morales, a lawyer. “That shows a lack of commitment.”

“They will always look out for their personal interest, not the public’s,” said Elvira García, another resident. “The insecurity problem is not new; many governments stopped doing what they had to do, and these are the consequences.”

For small business owners, extortion and “derecho de piso” — protection money demanded by criminals — remain the biggest daily threat. Gilberto, a merchant, and his wife Amelia said they have considered closing their deli because of the constant pressure.