Fayad was born on 26 August 1962 in
Zempoala, Hidalgo, to a Lebanese father and a Mexican mother. He obtained his law degree from the
National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in 1985. After his brief spell in
Congress, Fayad returned to the Hidalgo state government, serving as Secretary of Agriculture (2003–05) and Secretary of Social Development (2005–06). In 2006, he ran for and won the municipal presidency of
Pachuca. During his mayoral spell, he presided over Mexico's association of mayors. Three years later, he ran and won a campaign for
Senate, where he would serve in the
LXII and
LXIII Legislatures. He served on an array of commissions, including Public Safety, which he presided. Fayad was strongly criticized in October 2015 when he attempted to introduce a new law against
cybercrime that also criminalized the freedom of expression. One organization billed it "the worst Internet-related bill in history". On 2 February 2016, Fayad left the Senate in order to seek the PRI nomination for
Governor of Hidalgo. He won the gubernatorial election later that year and was sworn-in as governor on 5 September 2016. ==Personal life==