Baja California Morena figure declines questions on alleged cartel-linked associates
Original reporting: El Financiero
What happened
Julieta Ramírez declined to answer questions about alleged Sinaloa Cartel ties involving people around her political team as she emerges as a possible 2027 Baja California gubernatorial contender.
Reporting and context
Morena politician Julieta Ramírez Padilla did not answer reporters who asked about alleged links between members of her political team and the Sinaloa Cartel. El Financiero reported that Ramírez is being considered as a possible candidate for governor of Baja California in 2027 and that the question followed U.S. authorities’ allegations involving people around her political operation.
The report focused in part on Rafael Buenrostro Martín, an entrepreneur and political operator who attended the September 15 event where Morena presented Ramírez as its state coordinator for the Defense of Transformation and National Sovereignty in Baja California. According to El Financiero, Reforma reported on October 6 that Buenrostro helped organize supporters and photographs for the event and was identified as an economic promoter of Ramírez’s political activities.
The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control identified Buenrostro over alleged ties to Los Mayitos, a faction associated with the Sinaloa Cartel. The Treasury Department reportedly described him as a possible political-influence link who may have received bribes to favor criminal operations attributed to José Ángel Rivera Zazueta, whom authorities have identified as an alleged cartel operator in Baja California.
The source also described allegations involving Pedro Mendívil, a former Mexicali public-security director, and political promoters connected to Ramírez. Ramírez denied a separate September report that she had signed a proffer agreement with U.S. authorities, calling the account “mitote” and saying it lacked supporting evidence. Morena announced her state coordinator role on September 15; she had requested leave from the Senate in June. The original report was published by El Financiero: https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/estados/2026/10/10/y-los-nexos-con-el-cartel-de-sinaloa-julieta-ramirez-evita-responder-por-senalamientos-contra-su-equipo.