JOSE GASPAR: In the land of machismo, Mexico set to elect first female president

Mexico is about to usher in a new political era. Come June 2, voters will go to the polls and it's almost a given that a woman will be elected as head of state. The leading candidates are Claudia Sheinbaum, representing the governing left-of-center party Morena; Xóchitl Gálvez, representing the three-party opposition coalition (PRI, PAN, PRD), and oh yes, there's a guy named Jorge Máynez from the Movimiento Ciudadano party. Most polls show Sheinbaum the clear favorite with a sizable lead over Gálvez and Máynez a distant third.

"I think it's historic, and the fact that they would elect a woman president before the United States does! What does that say about the U.S.?" said civil and labor rights leader Dolores Huerta.