On Tuesday, the first day of the 118th Congress, the U.S. House of Representatives met at noon for inaugural ceremonies and to choose a new House speaker. After three ballots, there is still no new speaker in the newly GOP-led chamber. This came following Republican victories in the November 8 election that put Democrats in the minority.
Democrat New Mexico legislators drew extreme partisan gerrymandered maps that guaranteed three Democrat seats, which robbed the state’s lone GOP member, U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell, of her seat for progressive Gabe Vasquez in the Second Congressional District. Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the maps into law. They are currently in litigation, expected to reach the state Supreme Court for arguments on January 9, 2023.
All three of New Mexico’s delegation backed Nancy Pelosi ally Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) in the contest for speaker, while Republicans failed to successfully launch exiting House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to the speaker post. The Democrats unanimously cast 212 votes for Jeffries. The speaker needs 218 votes to earn the gavel.
Democrat Reps. Melanie Stansbury of the First District and Teresa Leger Fernandez of the Third District joined Vasquez in backing the New York Democrat for the speakership. Jeffries denied the 2016 presidential election and has been extreme on all issues, from abortion to policing.
The House is adjourned until Wednesday, when a fourth ballot will be taken for Republicans to come together and get to 218 with McCarthy or another nominee. Some have nominated Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) for the top spot, with some formerly McCarthy votes, such as Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), now backing Jordan.
UPDATE: On Wednesday, the U.S. House took its sixth vote, which also resulted in McCarthy losing with House Freedom Caucus members backing Donalds for speaker over the California Republican. The House is adjourned until another vote will be taken.
Gerrymandering maybe. The 2018 election was rift with proven election fraud but was never challenged. Shame on the GOP. Election fraud is real in NM, yet we avoid confrontation because of name calling. Now we have complete idiot losers serving in Congress.
Proven fraud? Show me a fact and not a conspiracy theory.
There is nothing statistically different is in the last several election cycles that indicates New Mexicans are voting any differently than they have for decades.
I agree entirely. We have a very ignorant, ill educated population in this state.
Cop hating Gabe Vasquez supposedly represents southern New Mexico, yet, in this district halfway between Deming and Las Cruces on I-10, lies a marker indicating the site where a young State trooper was brutally executed by a monster during a traffic stop. Flowers adorn the spot years after the tragedy occurred.
It would be interesting to know what Congressman Vasquez thinks as he travels this road during visits to his district.
Because of the corrupt socialist government in NM we are looking for a new state. Not having much luck and hoping New Mexicans pull their heads out of their butts. NM is a conservative state, we do not believe in big gov, nor killing babies, nor in permanent hand outs, not sure why NM is voting for socialists. But that is where we are. NO I am not collecting welfare of any sort, yes I am paying taxes, no I do not have children in school, yes I make more than double if not triple our towns average salary and when I go so does my tax dollar. NM is doing the same as California, slowly imploding.
Vasquez does not represent the conservative people or values of southern New Mexico; he is a fish out of water
None of the liberal politicians in this state represent the majority of the hard-working class citizens here in New Mexico. They are experts at propaganda and cheating. New Mexicans need to wake up and start shouting even louder than “Team Demoncrats”. We need to pray really hard because they are just taking over rapidly. P.S. If MLG thinks there is nothing wrong with our healthcare system, then why is she heading to Washington to have knee surgery? Furthermore, who is paying for these trips? My insurance does not allow me to go out of state.
None of these people represent this state. They will do whatever DC tells them to do.This is a complete disconnect on the people of New Mexico. They are under complete control and orders by the DC Democratic swamp. I really doubt that the NM Supreme Court is going to do one thing about the gerry mandering issue.
I would tend to disagree – they represent the majority of the ignorant voters in this state.
We are not alone, however, we have a new version of the “Three Stooges” in our congressional delegation (actually 5 if you count our senators). No wonder we are the worst state in the union in almost every category when we elect such inferior, ill educated, candidates.
Every year we seem to lose more and more elected positions. Why is that? We had some really good candidates, too. Like Mike (above) said, NM is a conservative state! Why do incompetent leftists run our government? There isn’t any conceivable reason for it but people like our US Congressmen/women are a disgrace and do NOT represent We The People. At. All.
Well, isn’t this just a real giggle.
Well, if a speaker is never selected, then these 3 will never get sworn in and can’t do any damage.
Following the footsteps of Hiney-lick and little Benny boy Loserjan, they turned their backs on New Mexico when they boarded the plane to Washington and have never looked back.