Cristina Torres on Morena’s List for Playa del Carmen Mayor Race

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — The race for Morena’s mayoral nomination in Playa del Carmen is heating up, with state government secretary Cristina Torres now in the running.

Torres, a former mayor and local deputy, raised her hand on Monday and has been on Morena’s candidate list for several days, according to local reports. She is among the aspirants being considered by Morena’s national leadership through its delegate in Quintana Roo, Carlos Ulloa, who has been touring municipalities to interview potential candidates for mayoral races.

Her entry appears to have strengthened her position, and she is said to have the backing of senior party figures.

The contest has also drawn attention to local deputy María José Osorio of the Green Ecological Party of Mexico (PVEM). Osorio is reportedly seeking to switch to Morena, though not for ideological reasons. The move comes amid expectations that the PVEM will cede Playa del Carmen to Morena as part of the coalition agreement.

Osorio, who is politically linked to former mayor and ex-gubernatorial candidate Mauricio Góngora, controls a faction of the PVEM in Quintana Roo. However, she is not seen as a strong contender within Morena, and her path to the nomination appears uncertain.

Meanwhile, current Mayor Estefanía Mercado has accelerated her reelection efforts, though her political environment has grown more complicated.

With candidate surveys for Morena’s municipal nominations expected soon, the competition in Playa del Carmen is likely to intensify in the coming weeks.