Governor May Puts an Expiry Date on His Political Career

Tabasco Governor Javier May has drawn a hard line under his political career, telling reporters he will leave public life entirely once his six-year term ends in 2030. The declaration came during a combative press conference in which he also dismissed claims of failing health and pushed back against criticism of his travel habits.

May, a member of the ruling Morena party, was filmed by opposition figure Lorena Beaurregard sitting in a first-class airline seat, prompting accusations that he was living well while Tabasco struggled with economic hardship and insecurity. The governor insisted his lifestyle is modest and that his assets – which he said can be counted “on one hand” – are publicly listed. He pointed to the austere example of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador as his model.

The governor also moved to quash rumours, circulated by ex-governor Manuel Andrade Díaz, that his health was deteriorating and that he might leave office prematurely. May said he was working “every day” and joked that reports of his political death were exaggerated. He reserved his sharpest words for Andrade, suggesting the former PRI governor needed psychiatric help and accusing him of being unable to step away from politics with dignity.

Why May Is Talking Retirement Now

The Political Calculus Behind an Early Retirement Pledge

By announcing his exit more than three years before his mandate ends, May removes himself from speculation about re-election or a future federal role. For a governor under fire for his travel habits and facing persistent health rumours, it also signals that he is focused on governing, not on building a career after office. The move echoes the voluntary retirement rhetoric that has become part of Morena’s brand, linking personal modesty to the movement’s anti-establishment roots.

The Feud with Manuel Andrade as a Public Performance

May’s decision to name Andrade – a former governor who left the PRI and later joined the PRD – and to suggest he has a psychiatric condition was unusually personal. While the comments may deepen animosity between the two camps, they also serve to rally the governor’s base by portraying him as a target of old-guard attacks. The exchange highlights how political grudges in Tabasco can dominate public messaging, even when broader policy questions remain.