state authorities say murietta was deliberately targeted but don't know by whom. suspects or not, though, it's just further proof that, in mexico, politics can be deadly. from september of last year, through may 25th, at least 88 politicians or candidates have been killed, according to mexican-consulting firm. they are a part of the more than 565 politicians or candidates, overall, that have been targeted by some sort of crime. ranging from murder to assault to threats, the firm says. the government says it believes both numbers are actually far lower, though they don't say how they tallied their numbers. but still, it admits, there's a problem. it's a difficult time for these campaigns, says mexico's president, we are going to keep protecting them. though, mexico has consistently failed to protect its candidates. political assassinations have been a problem for decades. but this year, is particularly bad. >> i do think that this is going to be considered one of the most violent elections in mexican history. >> reporter: security experts, like anna maria sal ys cr

state authorities say murietta was deliberately targeted but don't know by whom.proof that in mexico, politics can be deadly. from september of last year through may 25th, at least 88 politicians or candidates have been killed, according to mexican consulting firm. they're a part of the more than 565 politicians or candidates overall that have been targeted by some sort of crime ranging from plmurder to assault to threats, the firm says. government says it believes both numbers are actually far lower though they don't say how they tallied their numbers. still, it admits there's a problem. it's a difficult time for these campaigns says mexico's president. we're going to keep protecting them. though mexico has consistently failed to protect its candidates, political assassinations have been a problem for decades but this year is particularly bad. >> i do think that this is going to be considered one of the most violent elections in mexican history. >> reporter: security experts like ana maria says criminal groups want their preferred candidate in office so they migh

one of them is abel murietta, a mayoral candidate for a city in northern mexico.l to his campaign. a day after filming that message, he was shot to death in the street. then this is alma barragan. she was calling for supporters tojoin her at a rally in central mexico. minutes later, she was shot dead, microphone in hand. well, this is president andres manuel lopez 0brador casting his vote. he, of course, has far better secruity. early results suggest his governing morena party and its allies will be the largest bloc, but will not retain its two thirds majority. and all parties are being judged by how they propose to combat crime. this is one voter. | translation: we believe that this | new government will change things, but in the end, it's the most corrupt. more than 90 candidates have been killed in this election period, so i think it's very important to go out and vote. myself and everyone around me are very angry. the stories of politicians being assessed remain shocking even if they are not surprising.— they are not surprising. that's ri . ht. they are not su