The state leadership of Morena in Jalisco has publicly distanced itself from Diego Rivera Navarro, the former mayor of Tequila, after his arrest last week due to federal investigations into alleged extortion and potential connections to organized crime. Erika Pérez, the state leader of Morena, emphasized that neither she nor the current local leadership endorsed Rivera's candidacy, clarifying that electoral decisions are based on internal mechanisms and guided by polls.

In a press conference, Pérez explained that the decisions concerning candidates in previous electoral processes were indeed guided by polling data, reinforcing the party's commitment to using this methodology to shape its electoral strategies. She contextualized Rivera's candidacy, noting that the decision to endorse him fell outside her tenure as party president, which further removes the current leadership from association with controversial figures like Rivera.

Pérez also pointed out that Morena plans to implement stricter evaluations of candidate profiles for upcoming elections in the wake of Rivera's situation. This indicates a proactive approach by the party to ensure better vetting of candidates and to maintain its integrity in the face of potential scandals, aiming to reinforce public trust and adhere to a higher standard of accountability within its ranks.