Gloria Palacios, 84, runs a tiny sidewalk stand in Mexico City, selling peanuts, gum, and snacks. On a good day, she makes just 100 pesos — about $5. What keeps her and her disabled son afloat is a government cash transfer program for seniors, started under former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO).

Gloria’s story is just one example of how AMLO’s policies helped millions of Mexicans escape poverty. When he took office in 2018, nearly 52 million people lived below the poverty line. By the end of his six-year term, that number had dropped by 13.4 million — a 26% decrease. Minimum wages also tripled, lifting not just formal workers but even those in the informal economy.

Experts are calling it historic. “There has never been a single six-year term in which poverty has been reduced so significantly,” said policy analyst Viri Ríos.

Still, the progress wasn’t perfect. Extreme poverty fell at a slower rate, and health care access actually worsened — with over 44 million people now lacking medical services. For Gloria, the rising cost of medicine is crushing.

Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, admits the work isn’t finished. But for millions like Gloria, AMLO’s legacy is clear: his focus on the poor made a real difference.