Juan Antonio Meléndez, known as Tony Meléndez and vocalist of Conjunto Primavera, was announced by PRI leader Alejandro Moreno as a candidate for Chihuahua's governorship in 2027. The singer and federal deputy had topped the party's internal polls since 2025. Chihuahua is currently governed by panista Maru Campos.
Juan Antonio Meléndez Ortega, better known as Tony Meléndez, is the lead vocalist of Conjunto Primavera and a PRI federal deputy for Chihuahua's district 5, covering 14 municipalities in the eastern region. On March 19, 2026, during the PRI's presentation of candidates in 17 states, party leader Alejandro Moreno, known as Alito, announced him as a key profile for the 2027 Chihuahua governorship, alongside Alejandro Domínguez. Moreno called them “Defensores de México” at the event, emphasizing their role in the state currently led by PAN's Maru Campos since 2021. Meléndez had been among the top-ranked in PRI internal polls since 2025, as per a Quadratín interview. The party views him as a main bet. He has faced criticism for allegedly wanting to live off taxes, but he counters that his music career provides financial stability. “Yo con lo que genero con el grupo vivo afortunadamente bien, entonces mi paso por la política es exclusivamente para ayudarle a la ciudadanía” (With what I earn from the group I live comfortably, so my time in politics is solely to help the citizens), he stated. He voiced interest: “Obviamente, ¿a quién no le gustaría ser gobernador de nuestro estado?” (Obviously, who wouldn't want to be governor of our state?). Meléndez highlights his firsthand knowledge of issues like lack of potable water and electricity. Despite favorable polls, he describes himself as institutional and focused on his current San Lázaro duties: “Soy una persona institucional; por mucho que yo salga repuntando en las listas del partido, no me quita el rumbo” (I am an institutional person; even if I top the party's lists, it doesn't derail me).
