Abstract

ESPINOSA SANTIAGO, Orlando  and  MACIAS REYES, Emilio. Restriction Levels and Political Experience: Independent Candidacies for Governorships in Mexico (2015-2018). Foro int [online]. 2022, vol.62, n.2, pp.393-431.  Epub May 09, 2022. ISSN 0185-013X.  https://doi.org/10.24201/fi.v62i2.2876.

While studies assert the strong restrictions on independent candidates due to their electoral success, this paper argues that the least restrictive requirements and political experience favor independent candidacies. To show this, the 31 states of Mexico are classified by restriction levels, and the proportion of independent candidates by level, and the political experience of the 97 candidates for governor in Mexico between 2015 and 2018 are examined. The principal findings are: 1) the predominance of states with a low restriction level that present the highest proportion of candidates and successful candidacies, and 2) the predominance of candidates with political experience.

Keywords : Mexico; independent candidacies; electoral requirements; candidates; governor elections.