Political candidates in Mexico City have begun installing promotional fences, billboards, and flyers before the official campaign period has started [1, 2].
These early activities challenge electoral regulations designed to ensure a level playing field for all candidates. By initiating visibility efforts now, certain parties may gain an unfair advantage in name recognition before the legal window for campaigning opens.
Promotional materials have appeared across Mexico City, with a notable concentration in neighborhoods such as Iztapalapa [1, 2]. The efforts include the use of "bardas" — large painted fences — as well as traditional billboards and the distribution of flyers [1, 2].
Several candidates are involved in these early promotions, including Jesús Esma, Gabriel García, Martha Ávila, and Ángel Luna [1, 2]. The activity spans multiple political organizations, including Morena, PAN, and Verde [1, 2].
To avoid legal penalties, candidates said these materials are community projects or civic initiatives [1, 2]. This framing allows them to maintain a public presence while technically distancing the materials from official electoral campaigning.
Despite these justifications, the content of the advertisements serves as direct promotion for the individuals running for office [1, 2]. The use of these tactics is a common strategy in regional politics to bypass strict campaign timelines.
“Candidates have installed promotional fences, billboards, and flyers before the official campaign period.”
The use of 'civic initiatives' to mask early campaigning highlights a recurring tension between electoral law and political practice in Mexico. By rebranding campaign ads as community service, candidates attempt to build brand equity without triggering sanctions from electoral authorities, potentially skewing the competitive balance of the upcoming election.
