Governor of Baja California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Governor of Baja California
Incumbent Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda since November 1, 2021
Inaugural holder	Alfonso García González
Formation	November 26, 1952

The governor of Baja California is like the main boss or leader of the state of Baja California in Mexico. This person is in charge of the executive branch, which means they make sure the state's laws are carried out. Baja California is officially called the "Free and Sovereign State of Baja California." The governor is chosen by the people in an election and serves for six years. They cannot be elected again right after their term ends.

For many years, from 1953 to 2019, a governor's term started on November 1st and ended on October 31st, six years later. Later, the law was changed so that state elections would happen at the same time as national elections. This meant there was an election in 2019, another in 2021, and the next one will be in 2027, going back to the six-year term.

How the Governor's Job Started

The area we now know as Baja California became a state much later than other parts of Mexico. Back in 1888, the president of Mexico, Porfirio Díaz, decided to split the large Federal Territory of Baja California into two parts: a northern district and a southern district.

At first, the main city of the North District was Ensenada. Each district had a political leader chosen by the government. Even though they were split, they were still considered one big territory.

In 1917, Mexico's constitution changed. It kept the two districts but changed the title of the leader from "Chief Executive" to "Governor." This setup continued until 1931, when the two districts officially became independent federal territories.

Finally, in 1952, the northern territory became the "Free and Sovereign State of Baja California." From 1953 onwards, the governor of this new state was elected for a six-year term by the people.

Changes to the Governor's Term

In the 2010s, Mexico's constitution was updated. It said that elections for state governors should happen at the same time as presidential elections. This meant that the election schedule for Baja California had to change.

So, a law was passed in 2014. It planned for an election in 2019 and another in 2021. After that, the elections would go back to the regular six-year cycle, matching the presidential elections (like in 2024, 2030, and so on).

A governor named Jaime Bonilla Valdez took office on November 15, 2019. He believed he was elected for a five-year term, ending in September 2024. There was a public vote to extend his term, which passed, but very few people participated. The state legislature also approved this idea with a law called the Ley Bonilla. However, Mexico's highest court, the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, decided on May 11, 2020, that this law was not valid. This meant Governor Bonilla's term would end in 2021.

In the 2021 election, Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda was elected as the new governor. She took office on November 1, 2021, and will serve until October 31, 2027.

List of Governors of Baja California

Here are the people who have served as the governor of the State of Baja California since it became a state:

Governors of the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California (1952–present)

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Gobernantes de Baja California para niños