Ebrard ran as the PRD's candidate for Head of Government in the Federal District election held on 2 July 2006, which he won with 47% of the votes.

He continued and expanded programs that Manuel López Obrador has initiated.
A new initiative was the Prepa Sí program, which granted scholarships to low-income students.
This reduced the school-dropout rate in the city to 6% and raised the grade point average from 7.2 to 8.2.

He expanded pensions for the elderly, so that it was a right of every inhabitant of Mexico City who had reached 68 years of age, sending an initiative to the Legislative Assembly of the Federal District, to elevate it to the status of law.

Among his actions having the greatest impact according to public opinion was the expropriation of properties and buildings that functioned as operational centers of crime.
This included a property in the Tepito neighborhood, supposedly a drug-trafficking center; a large area of the Iztapalapa delegation, involved in the sale of stolen car parts, and two more drug sales properties in Santa María la Ribera.
Although some in the business sector criticized these actions as an attack on private property — actions that received the support of the federal government — the initiative to seize ownership of these properties, as well as the introduction of video surveillance cameras, together with social development, helped reduce the crime index by 11% in Mexico City compared to 2006.
He also created a special intelligence unit to fight against money laundering.

Ebrard made significant changes to the Historic Center, returning it to the citizens of Mexico City and its visitors, by relocating the street vendors beginning in  mid-2007.
His action was classified by the press as one of his government's successes, since informal traders had significantly increased their numbers in recent years.
Some people criticized the decision of one of its dependencies to demolish historic buildings in the first square of the city to enable the relocation of street vendors, although it was supported by the National Institute of Anthropology and History.
He also rehabilitated the Monument to the Revolution and the Alameda.

In the area of health, he built hospitals in Tláhuac, Iztapalapa and Tlalpan and promoted the development of medical specialties that did not exist in Mexico City's public health system.

During his mandate, he was recognized for his actions in the fight against climate change, the construction of a mobility infrastructure, through the transformation of public transport with the EcoBici (bike sharing) system; the expansion by 350% of the Metrobús system and the construction of Metro Line 12.

In 2009 he was named president of the World Mayors Council on Climate Change and in 2010 he received the World Mayor award from the City Mayors Foundation.

Ebrard has stated one of his goals is the revival of the Nahuatl language.
His plan calls for city workers to learn the language as an initial effort at reviving the language.

Marcelo Ebrard was the first head of government of the Federal District to complete his six-year term as governor, starting on December 5, 2006, and ending on December 5, 2012.
Ebrard ran as the PRD's candidate for Head of Government in the Federal District election held on 2 July 2006, which he won with 47% of the votes.
He continued and expanded programs that Manuel López Obrador has initiated. A new initiative was the Prepa Sí program, which granted scholarships to low-income students. This reduced the school-dropout rate in the city to 6% and raised the grade point average from 7.2 to 8.2.
He expanded pensions for the elderly, so that it was a right of every inhabitant of Mexico City who had reached 68 years of age, sending an initiative to the Legislative Assembly of the Federal District, to elevate it to the status of law.
Among his actions having the greatest impact according to public opinion was the expropriation of properties and buildings that functioned as operational centers of crime. This included a property in the Tepito neighborhood, supposedly a drug-trafficking center; a large area of the Iztapalapa delegation, involved in the sale of stolen car parts, and two more drug sales properties in Santa María la Ribera. Although some in the business sector criticized these actions as an attack on private property — actions that received the support of the federal government — the initiative to seize ownership of these properties, as well as the introduction of video surveillance cameras, together with social development, helped reduce the crime index by 11% in Mexico City compared to 2006. He also created a special intelligence unit to fight against money laundering.
Ebrard made significant changes to the Historic Center, returning it to the citizens of Mexico City and its visitors, by relocating the street vendors beginning in  mid-2007. His action was classified by the press as one of his government's successes, since informal traders had significantly increased their numbers in recent years. Some people criticized the decision of one of its dependencies to demolish historic buildings in the first square of the city to enable the relocation of street vendors, although it was supported by the National Institute of Anthropology and History. He also rehabilitated the Monument to the Revolution and the Alameda.
In the area of health, he built hospitals in Tláhuac, Iztapalapa and Tlalpan and promoted the development of medical specialties that did not exist in Mexico City's public health system.
During his mandate, he was recognized for his actions in the fight against climate change, the construction of a mobility infrastructure, through the transformation of public transport with the EcoBici (bike sharing) system; the expansion by 350% of the Metrobús system and the construction of Metro Line 12.
In 2009 he was named president of the World Mayors Council on Climate Change and in 2010 he received the World Mayor award from the City Mayors Foundation.
Ebrard has stated one of his goals is the revival of the Nahuatl language. His plan calls for city workers to learn the language as an initial effort at reviving the language.
Marcelo Ebrard was the first head of government of the Federal District to complete his six-year term as governor, starting on December 5, 2006, and ending on December 5, 2012.
Marcelo Ebrard