Preliminary results for Tijuana's mayoral election showed Juan Manuel Gastelum of the right-of-center National Action Party (PAN) slightly ahead of two other main contenders.
Mexico's National Electoral Institute said Gastelum had captured 23 percent of the vote. That's compared with 22 percent of the vote for René Mendívil of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which currently rules Tijuana and Mexico, and another 22 percent for Julian Leyzaola of the Social Encounter Party (PES), which is primarily composed of evangelical Christians.
Tijuana mayors have long come from either the PRI or the PAN, and this is the first time a candidate affiliated with a newer party has come so close. Leyzaola is a former police chief known for his heavy hand with the cartels, featured in the 2016 documentary "Mexico's Bravest Man."
Tijuana voters were selecting from a list of 12 candidates, including, for the first time, two people not affiliated with any political party. One of them, Gaston Luken, garnered about 8 percent of the vote, according to the preliminary results. His campaign was largely conducted through social media.
The final count is expected on Wednesday. Candidates could then appeal the final results, according to Jose Maria Ramos, a public administration expert at Mexico's border research institute Colef.
"The differences are minimal," he said in a telephone interview. "After six years of ruling Tijuana, the PRI may be interested in trying to maintain this city."
Voters in Tijuana want their next mayor to improve public safety, infrastructure such as transportation and the quality of local jobs.
Gastelum of the PAN has said he wants to improve public safety by boosting salaries for police, so that they will be more motivated to do their jobs better and less inclined to accept bribes or partake in corruption. His main competitor, Mendívil, called for improved community policing through apps as well as an increase to the number of police officers.
