Results from electoral authorities on Sunday night indicated a victory for Delfina Gomez in the State of Mexico that was confirmed a short time later by Alejandra del Moral’s concession speech. The result was a new low for the PRI, which governed Mexico uninterrupted for 71 years until losing power in 2000 and had ruled the State of Mexico for even longer until its loss Sunday.

A representative sampling of voting stations just hours after polls closed indicated Ms Gomez was likely to win between 52.1 per cent and 54.2 per cent of the ballots, compared with 43 per cent to 45.2 per cent for Ms del Moral, according to the National Electoral Institute.

“There is going to be a different governance,” Ms Gomez said late on Sunday night before cheering supporters in the state capital of Toluca. The state’s first female governor elect stressed her commitment to the mothers of missing people and victims of femicide, and called for the public to denounce corruption.

However, the PRI-led coalition appears to have held onto the governorship in the sparsely populated northern border state of Coahuila. At the time of writing, with most votes counted, the PRI coalition candidate Manolo Jimenez led by a massive 35 points over the Morena challenger. But losing the State of Mexico was a heavy blow to the political fortunes of the PRI.

The contest was closely watched, too, because of its potential implications for next year’s presidential elections. Even without having selected its nominee yet, Morena is considered the frontrunner in that national election, more so now with control of the State of Mexico.

The State of Mexico hugs Mexico City on three sides, encompassing urban sprawl and rural ranches, as well as stunning inequality, violence and corruption. For decades it has been the heart of the PRI. The loss of the State of Mexico is a stunning reversal for a party that ruled Mexico uninterrupted for seven decades even though turnout was only about half of eligible voters in the State of Mexico.

Adair Ortiz Herrera, an information systems student from Coyotepec, a rural area in the northern part of the state, said before the results were announced Sunday that he was sure “a new direction” was coming.

The result was a new low for the PRI, which held Mexico's presidency uninterrupted for 71 years until losing power in the 2000 elections; the party had governed the State of Mexico and its 17 million inhabitants for 94 years until its loss Sunday.

The PRI managed to hold on to the governorship of the sparsely populated northern border state of Coahuila, and governs the neighbouring state of Durango in coalition with other opposition parties. But the PRI is now a shadow of the old days when it ruled Mexico with a combination of hand-out programs and corruption.

PRI party leader Alejandro Moreno said Monday that speculation about the PRI's demise was wrong and that the party would survive, but as part of a broad opposition coalition of left, right and centre groups that will seek to field an alliance candidate in the presidential elections a year from now.

"Elections are won with total votes across the country, not with governorships," Moreno said, although state governments in Mexico historically have been a base to mobilize power and cash that can play a key role in federal elections.

The Morena party now governs 22 of Mexico’s 32 states, propelled by López Obrador's personal popularity — and more generous payments to the elderly and students than the PRI offered. The conservative National Action party governs five states, the Morena-allied Green party governs one and the small Citizens Movement holds two large states.

Citizens Movement party leader Dante Delgado dashed any hopes Monday that his centrist group would join the PRI coalition, comparing it a sinking ship, and calling Moreno, the PRI leader, "the one who dug the grave of the PRI."

López Obrador said he was pleased with Sunday's election results, but struck a magnanimous tone Monday, saying his administration would deal fairly with governors from all parties."We have to serve all citizens, whatever party they belong to, that is our responsibility," the president said.

Gómez celebrated her victory as the first woman to serve as governor in the State of Mexico."This is a victory for working families, this is a victory for us women, who have fought for years for the recognition of our rights," Gómez said in a victory speech late Sunday. The state has been plagued by a bloody series of killings of women in recent years, and widespread poverty among female-headed households. (IPA Service)