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 the main leader of the state of Baja California, Mexico. Think of them as the "president" or "CEO" of the state. They are in charge of the executive branch, which means they make sure the state's laws are followed and that public services run smoothly.

The official name for Baja California is "Free and Sovereign State of Baja California." The governor is chosen by the people through an election. They serve for six years and 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 six years later on October 31st. Recently, the rules changed so that state elections happen at the same time as national elections. This meant there were special elections in 2019 and 2021. After 2024, the six-year term will return to normal.

History of the Governor's Role

How Baja California Became a State

Baja California wasn't always a state. In 1888, the president of Mexico, Porfirio Díaz, divided the large Baja California area into two parts: a northern district and a southern district. The northern part was quite isolated by deserts and the sea.

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

Changes Over Time

In 1917, Mexico's constitution kept the two districts. It also changed the title of the chief leader 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." This was a big step! From 1953 onwards, the governor of this new state was elected by the people for a six-year term.

Recent Changes to Term Length

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 some changes for Baja California's governor terms.

For example, there was an election in 2019 and another in 2021. One governor, Jaime Bonilla, who started his term in 2019, believed he was elected for five years. There was a public vote to extend his term, which passed with many votes, but only a small number of people actually voted. The state's lawmakers then approved this extension.

However, Mexico's highest court, the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, decided in 2020 that this extension was not legal. They said that Governor Bonilla's term would end in 2021, not 2024. So, in the 2021 election, Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda was elected as the new governor.

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

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

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Gobernantes de Baja California para niños