Valentin Lavin, mayor of Temoac, was found dead in the city’s government building on Wednesday. The Morelos state prosecutor confirmed the body was identified as Lavin’s. He had previously survived an armed attack in January, according to local reports.
The town of Temoac lies in a corridor of cartels vying for control. Morelos state is close to Mexico City and has seen frequent cartel violence. Temoac is among several towns in the region where mayors have faced repeated threats.
According to official data, nearly 100 mayors have been killed in Mexico since 2006, when drug violence surged. The current government reports 14 mayors murdered since October 2024, three of them in 2026.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said homicide rates have dropped nearly 50% since taking office in October 2024. But attacks on politicians continue to rise in key regions. In November 2025, Carlos Manzo, a mayor in Michoacan, was shot dead during Day of the Dead ceremonies.
Last week, a husband of a councilwoman was killed in a drive-by shooting. The attack also injured the woman and her daughter. The family had been on their way to a graduation.