He served as governor of Michoacán from 2002 to 2008, representing the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD).

Prior to his election to that office in 2001, he had represented his home state in both the federal Chamber of Deputies[1] and the Senate.

Some PRD members criticized Cárdenas Batel for his lack of support for Andrés Manuel López Obrador during the 2006 presidential campaign; some even asked him to leave the party.

[4] On the night of election, according to The Wall Street Journal, Cárdenas Batel accepted a call from López Obrador's opponent and eventual winner, Felipe Calderón.

[6] On 11 July 2024, president Claudia Sheinbaum[7] announced that Cárdenas Batel would be serving as her chief of staff when her administration began.