CULIACÁN, SINALOA, Mexico — The State Congress of Sinaloa has appointed Graciela Domínguez Nava as interim governor, filling the leadership void left by former Governor Rubén Rocha Moya following his indefinite leave of absence. The decision was finalized during an extraordinary session of the 65th Legislature, as reported by El Financiero.
A Decisive Legislative Session
Domínguez Nava officially took the oath of office on Tuesday morning, August 25. Her term as interim governor will run through October 31, 2027, completing the remainder of the current executive mandate.
The appointment passed through the state legislature after the Governance and Constitutional Points Commission presented the official nomination. Out of 40 total legislative seats, 36 lawmakers attended the session. While the governing coalition secured the majority, opposition lawmakers from the National Action Party (PAN) and the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) cast votes against the resolution.
The leadership transition followed Rocha Moya’s request for an indefinite leave of absence exceeding 30 days, prompting constitutional mechanisms requiring congress to appoint an interim executive to ensure institutional continuity.
Political Background and Presidential Support
Domínguez Nava brings extensive political experience in local and federal government to the governorship:
- Executive Experience: Served as the Secretary of Public Education and Culture (SEPyC) under Rocha Moya’s administration.
- Legislative History: Formerly a local deputy for the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) before joining Morena in 2018, where she went on to serve as a federal deputy for the 2024–2027 term.
- Academic Background: Born in El Rosario, Sinaloa, she holds a degree in Sociology from the Autonomous University of Sinaloa (UAS).
President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the appointment during her daily morning press briefing, expressing firm federal backing for the new interim governor. Sheinbaum characterized Domínguez Nava as an honest public servant with a long-standing history of fighting for social justice, pledging federal coordination to support Sinaloa’s governance, public peace, and institutional stability through the remainder of the term.
Source: El Financiero
