XALAPA, Mexico — On the first day of campaigning for municipal elections in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz, armed men killed a mayoral candidate from Mexico’s governing party Tuesday and wounded others.

The killing of Anuar Valencia in the small rural town of Coxquihui was confirmed by his campaign and by Luisa Alcalde, the leader of the Morena party of President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Valencia had just finished an event launching his campaign and was preparing to hit the streets when more than two dozen gunmen opened fire at his campaign headquarters in northern Veracruz.

Veracruz state authorities did not immediately comment on the attack.

Before the killing, state interior secretary Ricardo Ahued Bardahuil, who has security responsibilities, said that candidates from various parties had made 20 reports to the state prosecutor’s office about security-related issues.

Municipal elections are scheduled in Veracruz’s 212 municipalities for June 1.

Local candidates are historically the most vulnerable to election violence as organized criminal groups seek to gain control of local governments.