Ensenada Mayor Claudia Agatón Muñiz has been absent from her post for at least five days while vacationing in California, posting social media updates from Disneyland, Los Angeles, and Long Beach to celebrate her birthday. City hall never formally announced her departure from the country.
The mayor’s communications team recycled photographs from events held weeks earlier, with some images dating back to March, to create the appearance that Agatón remained active in Ensenada. The strategy unraveled when residents noticed the recycled content and contrasted it with the mayor’s own vacation posts.
Recycled Photos and Public Backlash
Social media users in Ensenada responded sharply. Residents pointed to potholed streets and unfinished public works while questioning whether public resources were being used for the trip. The mayor also posted photos of gifts that her city officials had left for her in her office, a detail that drew additional criticism.
Ensenada, a port city of roughly 330,000 on Baja California’s Pacific coast about 80 miles south of the U.S. border, is a major cruise ship destination and home to a large community of American and Canadian expats. The city’s municipal president is responsible for day-to-day governance including public safety, infrastructure, and services.
Broader Political Tensions
The unauthorized absence comes during an already tense political period. Deputy Mayor Ayerim Magallón Granados had recently accused Agatón of planning to exploit consecutive 15-day leave periods to pursue a Morena party gubernatorial candidacy for 2027 without formally vacating the mayoral office. Agatón later said she had abandoned that plan, but the allegation fueled suspicion about her commitment to the job.
Under Baja California municipal law, mayors must formally request leave from the city council (cabildo) before traveling outside the country. No such request was made public before Agatón’s California trip. The lack of a formal announcement means no acting mayor was officially designated during her absence.
The controversy adds to a pattern of friction between Agatón and members of her own government. Ensenada’s next municipal elections are scheduled alongside the 2027 gubernatorial race, making the mayor’s political ambitions a subject of constant scrutiny.
This story was first reported by Punto Norte.