Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo: Biography and Origins of Mexico's first female president

Claudia Sheinbaum: Political Career and Family Ancestry

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Published in 04-14-2025

Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo was born on June 24, 1962, in Mexico City. She comes from a middle-class family with strong ties to science and social activism.

Parents: Her mother, Annie Pardo Cemo, is a renowned biologist and professor emeritus at UNAM. Her father, Carlos Sheinbaum Yoselevitz, was a chemical engineer. Both have Jewish roots, with Lithuanian and Bulgarian ancestry.

Education: She studied Physics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where she also earned a master's degree and a Ph.D. in energy engineering. Part of her graduate studies took place at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the United States.

Scientific Career: Before entering politics, Sheinbaum was a researcher on environmental, energy, and climate change issues. She contributed as an author to reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.

The Jewish Origins of Claudia Sheinbaum: A Story of Immigration

Photo: Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo in X
Political Beginnings
Her political career began in 2000 when Andrés Manuel López Obrador appointed her as Mexico City's Secretary of the Environment. During this period, she led key projects such as:

Periférico Second Level: Oversaw the construction of this major urban highway expansion.

Metrobús: Introduced the articulated bus public transport system focused on sustainable mobility.

Later, she became one of the founding members of the political party MORENA.

Head of Government of Mexico City
In 2018, Claudia Sheinbaum was elected as the first woman to govern Mexico City by popular vote. During her term, she stood out for:

Mobility and Environment: Expanded bike lanes, renewed public transport units, and promoted the use of clean energy.

Social Programs: Strengthened support for vulnerable groups, especially youth and the elderly.

Pandemic Response: Managed the COVID-19 crisis through health campaigns, vaccination, and containment measures.

Metro Line 12: Faced criticism after a section of the metro collapsed in 2021, which led to investigations and corrective actions.

Photo: Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo in X
Sheinbaum has been seen as a continuation of Andrés Manuel López Obrador's political project, known as the "Fourth Transformation" (4T). This has allowed her to capitalize on the existing support for that movement.

Path to the Presidency
In 2023, Sheinbaum was selected as MORENA's presidential candidate after an internal contest. With the backing of Andrés Manuel López Obrador and strong grassroots support, she quickly became the frontrunner in the campaign.

Historic Victory
In June 2024, Claudia Sheinbaum won the federal election, becoming:

Mexico's First Female President
The First Person of Jewish Origin to Hold the Country's Highest Office

Her victory is seen as a continuation of the so-called Fourth Transformation political project, focused on social justice, austerity, social programs, and a strengthened state.