In theory, under the conditions of open electoral competition, an active civil society and institutions that guarantee accountability, clientelism and vote-buying lose their attraction and disappear in the long run. Based on an analysis of political processes in the Federal District, this article examines the survival and transformation of political clientelism in democratic Mexico. An attempt is made to evaluate the causes and consequences of the persistence and continued relevance of political clientelism, placing emphasis on the diversification of "client supply" in the context of local democratization. This diversification increasingly includes the provision of individualized benefits relating to public security, in exchange for political support. Adapted from the source document.