The fatal shooting of Temoac Mayor Valentín Lavín Romero on Wednesday has once again highlighted the deadly violence targeting local government officials in Mexico.
According to Mexican media reports, at least 122 mayors have been killed over the past 26 years, averaging nearly five municipal leaders every year, or one every 76 days.
Lavín was shot and killed inside Temoac City Hall in the state of Morelos. His death brings the number of mayors killed during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration to 14, including three in 2024, eight in 2025, and three so far in 2026, according to Uno TV.
The growing toll has raised concerns because Sheinbaum still has four years remaining in her six-year term. The deadliest administration for Mexican mayors was that of former President Enrique Peña Nieto, during which 42 mayors were killed, followed by Felipe Calderón with 37 and Andrés Manuel López Obrador with 26, according to data cited by El Universal.
