Newsom, Bass and first lady Jill Biden attend inauguration of Mexican President

Gov. Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and U.S. first lady Jill Biden traveled to Mexico for the inauguration of the country’s first-ever woman president, Claudia Sheinbaum.

In addition to the California officials, two Hispanic U.S. Cabinet members of Mexican descent, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Small Business Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, attended Sheinbaum's inauguration with Dr. Biden as part of the U.S. presidential delegation, according to NBC News.

They were also joined by fellow Mexican Americans Ken Salazar, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, and Rep. Nanette Barragán, D-Calif., chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, as well as White House Social Secretary Carlos Elizondo. The mayor of Tucson, Arizona, Regina Romero also attended.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Tuesday called it an "honor" to witness the swearing in of climate scientist Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo as the first female president of Mexico.

Sheinbaum has ties to California, having spent four years researching at Berkeley Lab during the 1990s. There, she studied energy use in Mexico’s transportation and building industries, according to KCRA.

"Congratulations President Sheinbaum, and I look forward to our continued partnership as we continue to create safer and more equitable communities for those we serve, and to see all you will do for the people of Mexico," Bass said in a statement Tuesday.

Bass, who became Los Angeles' first female mayor in 2022, flew to the Mexican capital on Monday night, departing from Washington, D.C., following a White House celebration of Team USA for its achievements at the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden were on hand for that celebration.

The mayor had flown to Washington on Sunday, and is expected to return to Los Angeles on Wednesday, her office said.

Sheinbaum will serve a six-year term through 2030.

Bass previously met Sheinbaum, the former mayor of Mexico City, in October 2023. During their meeting, the two spoke about their shared priorities and efforts to strengthen the relationship between Los Angeles and Mexico, according to Bass' office.

In June, Sheinbaum -- the candidate of the Morena party, Labor Party and the Ecological Green party of Mexico -- received 33.2 million votes, or 59.4%, which was more than double her opponent, Xóchitl Glávez, candidate for the Democratic Revolution Party.

Additional reporting by City News Service.