Activist Julián LeBarón, leader of a Mormon community in Chihuahua, announced on February 4 that he is willing to run as an independent candidate for the state's governorship in 2027, competing against Morena senator Andrea Chávez. In a radio interview, he said people have approached him to lead a political project amid social frustration with current governments.
Julián LeBarón, a prominent activist for peace and justice in Chihuahua, revealed in a radio interview on February 4 his willingness to launch an independent candidacy for the state's governorship in the 2027 elections. This positions him as a potential rival to Morena senator Andrea Chávez, who also seeks the position. LeBarón, a member of the LeBarón community in the municipality of Galeana, stressed that while nothing is set, they are organizing a political project that includes not only the governorship but also candidacies for deputies.
"Many people have approached me to lead a political project for 2027 and we will surely do it for 2027. It won't just be the governorship; there are also deputies, but we are seriously considering the governorship," LeBarón stated. He added that these approaches reflect social fatigue with government outcomes and a search for alternatives outside traditional parties.
His activism started in 2008 after his brother Eric's kidnapping, when the community chose protests over paying ransom, securing his release. However, months later, another brother was kidnapped and killed. In 2019, LeBarón gained more visibility following the murder of nine family members—three women and six children—by organized crime on a road between Chihuahua and Sonora on November 4. This incident, near Rancho La Mora in Galeana, fueled his political aspirations, driven by violence and state omission.
LeBarón joined the Movimiento por la Paz con Justicia y Dignidad, founded by Javier Sicilia, traveling Mexico to meet victims of the 'war on drugs' under former President Felipe Calderón. Later, he focused on his Mormon community, unaffiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with roots in families exiled for polygamy in the late 19th century. The LeBarón family engages in agriculture, livestock, and commerce in northwestern Chihuahua.
Recently, LeBarón dedicated a poem to the family of Uruapan's assassinated mayor, Carlos Manzo, emphasizing values of love and example. His potential candidacy represents a voice from direct experience with insecurity in the region.
