List Of Mexican PresidentsEdit

Mexico has a long and eventful presidential history, from the unstable early republics through the long decades of one-party rule, to a newer, more competitive political system. The office of the president is the constitutional head of state and government, with a six-year, non-renewable term. This arrangement, established in the wake of the 1917 constitution, has shaped how political power is exercised, how reforms are pursued, and how Mexican politics has interacted with global markets and regional dynamics. The list of presidents therefore reads like a political timeline: caudillos and reformers in the 19th century, a modernization drive under the early to mid-20th century, decades of PRI dominance, and the more recent competition among PAN, MORENA, and other parties. President of Mexico Constitution of 1917 Mexico

The presidency and the institutions

The Mexican president is both chief executive and commander-in-chief, with authority over foreign policy, the public administration, and the armed forces, subject to a system of checks and balances on the legislature and judiciary. The six-year term (no reelection) is designed to prevent the entrenchment of power and to encourage decisive leadership within a single mandate. See how this system evolved alongside the country’s federal structure and the balance between central power and states’ rights. Constitution of the United Mexican States Federal Republic of Mexico
Political parties in Mexico have shifted the landscape over time. The era from 1929 to 2000 is widely associated with the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which built a corporatist, highly organized political machine that combined state-led development with controlled elections. Critics point to corruption and inflated stability, while supporters argue that the era delivered predictable policy, large-scale social investment, and relative macroeconomic stability. Since 2000, competition has intensified among the National Action Party (PAN), PRI, and newer movements such as MORENA, producing a more pluralist but contentious political arena. Institutional Revolutionary Party National Action Party (Mexico) MORENA
Controversies have punctuated each era. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, struggles between liberal and conservative factions defined presidencies and constitutional orders. The late 19th and early 20th centuries brought modernization alongside repression in some periods. The Mexican Revolution and the post-revolutionary settlement, culminating in the 1917 constitution, set the terms for a modern, but contested, political system. The late 20th and early 21st centuries feature debates over corruption, rule of law, security policy, energy reform, and social programs—areas where different coalitions offer sharply different remedies. For readers seeking a broader frame, see the histories of the Mexican Revolution, the Cristero War, and the reform-era debates. Mexican Revolution Cristero War

Notable eras and their presidents

Note: this section highlights representative leaders and turning points rather than reproducing an exhaustive roster of every term. The Mexican presidency has seen many officeholders, but the following figures are widely recognized for shaping policy and national direction.

The early republic and caudillo era (1820s–1870s)

Guadalupe Victoria (1824–1829) established the republic after independence and set early constitutional norms.
Antonio López de Santa Anna dominated politics through intermittent terms and shifting alliances, illustrating the volatility of the era.
Benito Juárez and Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada in the mid- to late-19th century pursued liberal reforms and the modernization of the state; their governments helped set the trajectory for reform and the centralization of power in later periods. Juárez’s resistance to foreign intervention remains a touchstone in national memory. Guadalupe Victoria Antonio López de Santa Anna Benito Juárez Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada

The Porfiriato and the revolution years (1876–1920)

Porfirio Díaz’s long rule (the Porfiriato) delivered modernization, infrastructure, and foreign investment, but also repression and political control. The regime laid groundwork for a strong centralized state and a disciplined, technocratic bureaucracy. Critics view the arrangement as a trade-off between order and individual political freedoms. Read about Díaz and the era for context on how centralized governance and economic modernization intersected. Porfirio Díaz
The Mexican Revolution brought dramatic transformation: leaders such as Francisco I. Madero and Venustiano Carranza helped inaugurate constitutionalism, while Álvaro Obregón, Plutarco Elías Calles, and others shaped the post-revolutionary order. The 1917 constitution, with its sweeping social provisions and limits on presidential power, became the foundational document for the modern state. Francisco I. Madero Venustiano Carranza Álvaro Obregón Plutarco Elías Calles Constitution of 1917

The consolidation of the state under the PRI (1929–2000)

Lázaro Cárdenas del Río (1934–1940) is often cited for land reform, nationalization of the oil industry, and a push toward social welfare within a strong state framework. The period that followed featured a succession of PRI presidents who maintained a stable, if tightly controlled, political system that fostered industrial growth and social programs while limiting competitive elections. Notable figures include Manuel Ávila Camacho, Miguel Alemán Valdés, Adolfo Ruiz Cortines, Adolfo López Mateos, Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Luis Echeverría, José López Portillo, Miguel de la Madrid, Carlos Salinas de Gortari, and Ernesto Zedillo. Each left a mark on governance, economics, education, and security policy. Lázaro Cárdenas del Río Miguel Alemán Valdés Carlos Salinas de Gortari Ernesto Zedillo

The modern party system and political opening (2000–present)

Vicente Fox (2000–2006) ended the PRI’s seven-decade hold on the presidency, symbolizing a major shift toward party competition and market-oriented reforms. Felipe Calderón (2006–2012) pursued a hard-line security strategy in the war on organized crime, with contested social and human costs. Enrique Peña Nieto (2012–2018) pursued structural reforms in energy, education, and governance, while facing significant protests and corruption inquiries. Andrés Manuel López Obrador (2018–2024) deployed expansive social programs and sought to reform corruption, security, and governance structures, drawing substantial support as well as sharp criticism. Claudia Sheinbaum won the presidency in 2024, continuing the contemporary shift within a competitive party landscape. Vicente Fox Felipe Calderón Enrique Peña Nieto Andrés Manuel López Obrador Claudia Sheinbaum