Mary Hernández Aims for Quintana Roo Governorship in 2027

Chetumal — Mary Hernández, the municipal president of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, has reentered the political spotlight after publicly acknowledging that her goal is not to compete for the federal deputyship of District 2 but to advance toward a greater aspiration: the Morena party’s candidacy for the governorship of Quintana Roo in 2027.

In recent weeks, the mayor—one of the worst-evaluated in the state who nearly lost her reelection in 2024—has intensified her political activism. She has held meetings with minor figures within Morena and regional operators with whom she seeks to rebuild alliances and gather support. However, what drew the most attention was her meeting with former PRI governor Mario Villanueva Madrid, who is currently under house arrest for crimes linked to drug trafficking. The photograph of the encounter caused surprise even within Morena’s ranks, as Villanueva represents precisely what Morena claims to disavow: old pacts, corruption, and ties to organized crime.

Interviewed upon leaving the Congress after submitting the 2026 revenue and expenditure budget initiative of her government, she stated, “A politician who does not aspire is condemned to stay there. I consider myself a young politician. I have had to build from a very young age, not just the party; I come from a family that has also grown in politics.”

When directly asked if she is seeking the governorship, the municipal president left the door open: “I do not rule it out, right? But that will be determined by the work of construction. I do not want to do it with premature steps or premature proselytism.”

Mary Hernández affirmed that her bet is not on the deputyship, for which she would compete internally with the mayor of Tulum, Diego Castañón Ruiz, who also nearly lost his reelection.

“The federal deputyship is not the objective. I believe the south is capable of more; an organized south…”

The mayor insisted that the real work must be built from the ground up, with unity and political articulation: “I want to do it from organization, from dialogue, and from real unity, which is what should prevail.”

Mary Hernández also acknowledged that Morena faces wear and tear from the exercise of power and a loss of citizen support.

“The disillusionment of a percentage is seen in the numbers; I have always been very realistic about that.”

Nevertheless, she affirmed that the Fourth Transformation (4T) retains sufficient territorial bases to retain the governorship: “Morena will win the next governorship.”

She explained that the greatest challenges are in the municipalities, where it will be necessary to rebuild structures and reconcile political groups: “That is where we must begin the construction and this reintegration of our groups emanating from Morena.”

Questioned about her approach to Mario Villanueva, the mayor said she maintains relationships with various leaders to “know where the problem begins, if there is one.” She explained that, although she does not neglect her government agenda, she uses available spaces to strengthen her state presence:

“This is not new; for weeks my name has been mentioned for the governorship, and it was well received.”

Mary Hernández assured that her project does not confront Governor Mara Lezama, whom she described as a central piece of the movement:

“To speak of Mara is to speak of Morena. There must be unity around who is today our political and moral leader.”

Regarding whether the candidacy should fall solely on founders of the movement, she rejected that idea: “I do not believe it should be only a founder. What we ask is that the bases be taken into account, from the municipalities to the congresses.”

Finally, she recalled that Chetumal and the south will be decisive in the 2027 election: “Chetumal is a priority for our party. Historically, it has shown that it can define an election.”

Although 2027 seems distant, Mary Hernández summarizes it clearly: “It is not. The internal processes begin soon, and we must arrive organized and united.”

Before Mary Hernández openly expressed her intentions to seek Morena’s gubernatorial candidacy, the aspirants already noted include Senator Eugenio Segura Vázquez, president of the Senate Tourism Commission; Estefania Mercado, the municipal president of Playa del Carmen, the best-evaluated in the state and one of the most prominent nationally; the director of the National Customs Agency, Rafael Marín Mollinedo; the municipal president of Benito Juárez, Ana Patricia Peralta De la Peña; Castañón Ruiz; and the also mayor of Isla Mujeres, former PAN member Atenea Gómez Ricalde.