Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico will be featured alongside Utah Governor Spencer Cox in the next installment of the “Common Ground Forum,” a series organized by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute to promote civil dialogue and bipartisan cooperation. The event, scheduled for Tuesday and moderated by Steve Hayes of The Dispatch, aims to highlight strategies for bridging political divides and fostering civility in governance, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.
According to a news release, the forum will explore “how bipartisan collaboration, mutual respect and the ability to navigate healthy conflict can strengthen American democracy.” The event touts Lujan Grisham and Cox as two leaders from “opposite sides of the aisle” who have allegedly found ways to work across political divides.
But the governor’s inclusion in such a forum has raised eyebrows, particularly given her repeated use of inflammatory language that has alienated both conservatives and members of her own party.
During a 2021 campaign event, Lujan Grisham mocked protesters critical of her policies—many of whom were supporters of President Donald Trump—by derisively calling them “QAnon lizard people.” She said, “I’m sorry that we picked the same location that the QAnon lizard people meeting was at,” a remark widely seen as ridiculing and dehumanizing constituents who disagreed with her pandemic mandates and political agenda.
Lujan Grisham has also dismissed criticisms from Republican lawmakers and conservative groups by labeling their concerns as “anti-science,” “dangerous,” or “extremist,” particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In multiple interviews and press conferences, she painted political dissent as a threat to public safety, once saying opponents of her lockdown policies were “risking lives to make political points.”
Her language hasn’t been reserved solely for Republicans. In 2023, members of her own Democratic Party expressed frustration over her strong-armed approach to policy negotiations, with some describing her governing style as “combative” and “unilateral.” Tensions flared when she vetoed parts of legislation favored by progressive Democrats.
Adding to the irony of her participation in a civility-focused event, the governor triggered a national controversy in 2023 when she issued a temporary executive order suspending the right to carry firearms in public in Albuquerque, citing a public health emergency. The move was denounced across the political spectrum—including by members of her own party—as an unconstitutional overreach, prompting lawsuits and protests.
After the most recent legislative session, Lujan Grisham vetoed the most benign bills that passed both the state House and Senate unanimously to spite Democrats who did not fully carry out her agenda in the 60-day timeframe.
Just in the past few weeks, Lujan Grisham has taken to the airwaves to inflame and distort regarding issues surrounding Medicaid and illegal immigration, spreading blatant falsehoods about what congressional budget proposals will do and the state of the country’s border, which is now secure under President Trump, no thanks to her.
While Utah Governor Spencer Cox will also speak at the event, his record, though often described as moderate (not very conservative at all despite his conservative state), has included the veto of a transgender sports bill, followed by later support for legislation limiting access to gender-specific spaces. However, criticism focuses on Lujan Grisham’s incongruous role in an event dedicated to civil discourse.
The governor’s idea of modeling “principled governance” and “bipartisan collaboration” may sound noble, but to many New Mexicans who have been the recipients of her incendiary rhetoric, it rings hollow.
This sounds just like ‘ecumenical’ councils/meetings with Muslims ‘for the benefit of all’, worthless opportunities to expound lies and propaganda, which nobody believes. Too late, MLG.
WAY TO LATE! YOUVE RUINED THE STATE BEYOND REPAIR!!
this sounds like a plan to help give democrats a selection of folks to run in 26. All I can say if you put lip stick on a pig it is still a pig!
I do not mean to insult pigs.
This woman cares about infant mortality? Since when? She cares about access to medical care? Really? All the while she advocates for her legislators to make laws that cripple care facilities because of the highest amount of monies allowed in law suits. Oh, I’d rather be called a lizard than a snake!!
The ugly, bitter, crotch grabbing TOAD has spewed more incoherent rhetoric. Someone should inform her that Quanon hasn’t been a thing for several years. Most of what this offensive little-brained, troll has done office is offensive and unconstitutional. Why do the extreme lefties in NM insist on continuing to embarrass our state by electing this type of worthless leadership!
I have tried multiple times to get constituent services from Lujan-Grisham, but because I am not a Democrat, they don’t respond to me. I’m being taxed without representation.
she is not a leader, or a unifier. She cant even give a good speech. every word is forced. she has no personality, no charisma. why did NM elect this nothing ? i guess the voters are mindless
Dominion voting machines helped get her placed
She has run this state as a total autocrat ignoring or politically punishing anyone opposed to her Marxist views. As for bipartisan collaboration with the “other “ party , that’s laughable since the only real conservatives in the house are Rep. Lord and Rep. Block. The rest of the republicans are disappearing rinos or democommies disguised as republicans. Is this a Saturday night live skit??
Her twisting words. Except calling us Lizards.
Maybe one way to START to unify people is to stop with the ugly name calling. Lizard people REALLY? Being called that would really endear me to MLG. NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That woman has no concept of the truth, all she can spout are lies, lies, and more lies. Not every New Mexican voted for her. Sadly there aren’t enough of the level headed people living in NM to vote her out. I’m so sorry I moved here but now I’m stuck.
Thank God she’s termed out!
MLG needs to be called out publicly and stopped before she commits this fraud.
When she starts talking at the forum, everyone there will cringe! Both her condescending whiny voice and the content of her speech.
She is a snake, don’t trust her one iota.
She is as worthless as they come, don’t go away mad just go away.
She is advocating for democracy. Democracy is mob rule. The United States is a representative republic. We are supposed to be represented by the people we elect. However, the democrat party has members who represent the “party”. This is the same as communist loyalists. Be true to the party and the party only. Citizens be damned.
Thank God she’s termed out!
MLG has zero good intentions for New Mexico! Never gas, never will!
Some say, “a little too late!” but I think it was way too late the minute she (the evil MLG) was elected as Governor, and to add insult to injury she (the evil queen) not just once, but 2 times. What is wrong with people who keep voting in the far left communists to legislature of NM. Wake up NM and vote out all these comrades of the evil and ungodly MLG.
I will keep praying for people here in NM to wake up and stop voting in these corrupt and ungodly people into office.
You know the type..the older femdem that ruins all the avacodos in the bin by squeezing them to death…youve seen her…shes mad about her life,so we all get bruised avoc.
You can always tell when she is lying, because her lips are moving.
She is the most vile, odious individual to serve in the office in my lifetime. She should have a house dropped on her.