"Violence Strikes Mexico: Mayoral Candidates Assassinated Ahead of Elections"

Two mayoral candidates in the Mexican city of Maravatio, Miguel Angel Reyes Zavala and Armando Perez Luna, were shot dead within hours of each other in the violent state of Michoacan ahead of the June 2 national elections. This surge in violence is part of a growing trend in Mexico, where local politicians have become increasingly vulnerable to attacks, with more than 30 people killed in election-related violence since June last year. The killings are attributed to the influence of drug cartels, which are expanding their businesses beyond drugs and are expected to intervene in local elections in 2024.