President Fox’s Party Sweeps Governor’s Race

Mexican President Vicente Fox’s party swept the governor’s race in Baja California, near-final poll results showed Monday, an unsurprising win after a lackluster election marked by apathy and low voter turnout.

The new six-year term would signal 18 years of uninterrupted power for the National Action Party, or PAN, in the Pacific coast state bordering California, the longest it has ruled anywhere in Mexico.

With results in from 93% of the state’s polling stations, PAN had 49% of the vote compared to 36% for the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, the State Electoral Institute of Baja California said.

PAN candidates for mayor also won in three cities, including Tijuana, according to preliminary returns, but were in close races in Tecate and Ensenada.