Leaders from both Americas have extended their congratulations to Claudia Sheinbaum, whose decisive victory in Mexico’s national election marks her as the first woman to be elected president in the country's history.

Officials from nations such as Brazil, Chile, and the United States have offered commendations for the new president-elect, who secured Sunday's election with over 59 percent of the votes.

Sheinbaum is set to lead the left-leaning National Regeneration Movement (Morena) party when she takes office on October 1.

“Congratulations to Claudia Sheinbaum on her landmark election as Mexico’s first female president,” stated US President Joe Biden in a Monday press release. “I look forward to collaborating closely with President-elect Sheinbaum, reflecting the ongoing bonds between our countries in a friendly and cooperative manner.”

Sheinbaum will follow the current president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, known as AMLO, who founded the Morena party. Throughout her campaign, Sheinbaum vowed to continue his key policies during her six-year term.

Lopez Obrador will leave office in September as one of the most popular global leaders, maintaining an approval rating consistently above 60 percent. Morning Consult ranked him third, trailing only India’s Narendra Modi and Argentina’s Javier Milei in popularity.

His administration has pushed progressive agendas like expanding social programs for the disadvantaged. However, Lopez Obrador has also led contentious initiatives such as expanding the military's role and enforcing measures to control northward migration in collaboration with the US.

Sheinbaum shares a strong professional rapport with Lopez Obrador, who appointed her as his secretary of the environment during his tenure as Mexico City’s leader starting in 2000.

Support from Latin America’s Left

Left-leaning leaders across Latin America, with whom Lopez Obrador has nurtured close relationships, expressed hopefulness after Sheinbaum’s substantial win over a right-leaning coalition in Sunday’s vote.

“I am delighted with her triumph as she represents my dear friend Lopez Obrador, who has led an exemplary administration,” Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva remarked Monday, expressing his hopes for stronger economic ties between the nations.

Chile’s President Gabriel Boric's administration also issued a statement, expressing hope that Sheinbaum’s election will foster a more “inclusive, just, resilient, and peaceful region.”

Sheinbaum’s victory for the Morena party signifies a moment of resilience for the Latin American left, which has faced numerous setbacks in recent times and positions the party to potentially broaden its legislative majority.

In contrast, left-leaning presidents in Colombia and Chile have seen dwindling approval ratings due to challenges in achieving significant policy goals. Conversely, conservative figures have triumphed in presidential races in Ecuador and Argentina over the past year.

Obstacles Ahead for Equality

Sheinbaum’s election is historic as she becomes Mexico’s first female president and the first Jewish leader of the nation.

A scientist and energy engineer, Sheinbaum also contributed to a 2007 climate-change report that received a Nobel Peace Prize that year.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in acknowledging Sheinbaum’s victory, highlighted the potential impact of her leadership on women's and environmental issues.

“By joining forces, we can improve the lives of our citizens by addressing climate change, enhancing international peace and security, promoting gender equality, and furthering reconciliation with Indigenous communities,” Trudeau stated.

Observers have pointed out that Mexico's election of a female president is a landmark achievement that its northern neighbor, the US, has yet to experience, even though full suffrage was granted to women in 1920 in the US and in 1953 in Mexico.

Nonetheless, activists caution that Sheinbaum’s election does not signify an automatic shift in the status of women's rights within the nation. Women in Mexico face high levels of violence and gender-based discrimination, with the United Nations reporting an average of 10 women killed daily due to femicide.

Similarly, regarding climate change, critics remain skeptical about Sheinbaum’s commitment, noting her promise to uphold her predecessor’s support for the state-run oil corporation Pemex.