Xochitl Torres Small is quick to claim she “works with President Trump” on issues while serving in Congress, but not even the left-wing media is buying that anymore, with KOB 4 fact-checking the freshman congresswoman for her deceptive language in campaign ads.
But the anti-Trump groundwork has already been set with Xochitl Torres Small, not too long ago bashing President Trump in a 2018 interview, claiming the President’s border plans are “clearly ill-informed.”
Xochitl voted for a radical Democrat bill to condemn President Trump’s tweets, and said President Trump is a “racist.”
But Xochitl doubled down on her Trump hate when despite herself saying Nancy Pelosi and the Radical Democrats’ impeachment was “not an explicit quid pro quo,” she voted for the partisan measure anyway — ignoring the will of New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, who voted for President Trump by a margin of 10 points in 2016.
A poll from New Mexico’s 2nd District shows that 66 percent wanted Torres Small to move past impeachment and focus on the work they elected her to do. More than half (56 percent) of all voters in the Second Congressional District opposed Congress impeaching President Trump.
Xochitl voted with Nancy Pelosi 95% of the time — bucking President Trump at every turn. It is a farse for Xochitl to claim she has every “worked with President Trump” when her votes, statements, and ultimately, her choice to impeach him in a partisan sham coup d’etat prove she is not willing to work for anyone but herself.
On Sunday, the Albuquerque Journal published an op-ed from New Mexico Party Chairman Steve Pearce, New Mexico House Republican Leader Rep. Jim Townsend, and New Mexico Senate Republican Leader Sen. Stuart Ingle nailing the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association (NMOGA) for putting out unrealistic expectations for the industry and for sticking their hand into political fights — where they do not belong, other than through their political action committee.
The Republican leaders chide NMOGA’s executive director Ryan Flynn, the former Secretary of Environment for the State of New Mexico under Gov. Susana Martinez, for “painting a very rosy picture about the projected recovery of the oil and gas industry in our state.” They claim Flynn has given a “false portrayal of the industry plays right into the hands of Democrats who want to keep spending as if nothing catastrophic has happened.”
Also, Flynn is criticized for sticking NMOGA into the 2nd Congressional District fight by praising Democrat Rep. Xochitl Torres Small on the same day that former Democrat Congressman Harry Teague endorsed Torres Small’s challenger, Republican former state Rep. Yvette Herrell for the seat.
Through an official statement from NMOGA, Flynn said of Torres Small that she “has stood up to those in her party who want to completely ban fracking.” But that is untrue, as Torres Small has “did the exact opposite, when just this past February, she joined with the radicals in Congress like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and voted for a fracking ban. Not only does Flynn’s statement embarrass NMOGA, its timing uncovers Flynn’s premeditated poor decision to use the association as a political weapon. Getting NMOGA involved in this race is not only unethical, but also potentially illegal and risks permanent damage to the association’s reputation,” write the GOP leaders.
Pearce, Townsend, and Ingle quote former NMOGA Chairwoman Claire Chase, who previously ran for the 2nd Congressional District in their criticism, writing that Chase “sent a campaign fundraising email titled ‘Xochitl Sold Us Out,’ which admonished her for voting ‘to give future presidents the power to ban fracking unilaterally and bankrupt our state.’ Incidentally, Chase has since endorsed Herrell and donated to her campaign.”
New Mexico Oil and Gas Associaton has also gotten ire from Republicans for their massive donations to the Democrat Party and Democrat Party officials, who consistently vote against the oil and gas industry, such as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s radical “Energy Transition Act,” (ETA) which is dubbed as “New Mexico’s Green New Deal” and supported by Xochitl Torres Small. NMOGA also took a neutral stance on the rabidly anti-oil and gas ETA, which will completely wipe out the energy industry by the year 2050.
The NMOGA PAC has given tens of thousands of dollars to anti-oil and gas Democrats just this election cycle, such as a $25,000 donation to Democrat House Speaker Brian Egolf’s PAC, which will help elect far-left members of the Legislature through its efforts.
NMOGA also gave Democrat then-Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham $5,500 for her 2018 gubernatorial bid.
The letter concludes as follows:
So, what is Flynn’s motive? We aren’t exactly sure, but this pattern of lies has effectively destroyed any trust we had in him to be a fair advocate for NMOGA. While we cannot dictate to NMOGA who should be running its organization, we would suggest the association consider putting a person in its leadership who does not spread misinformation and puts personal political preferences ahead of the interests of the oil and gas industry and the workers it supports.
NMOGA can repair its reputation as a reliable arbiter of factual information, but the choice is up to its board.
The Association has not released a public statement on the letter, however, it is a clear wake-up call that elected leaders who have been championing the energy industry, as well as candidates like Yvette Herrell, deserve the support to continue promoting oil and gas in New Mexico, not far-left anti-oil politicians such as Brian Egolf and Xochitl Torres Small.
In a campaign call for Rep. Ben Ray Luján’s U.S. Senate race titled “When We Vote, We Win! A Women for Ben Roundtable,” joined by Democrat Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, many topics were covered. The call was attended by many Democrat Party insiders, including State Auditor Brian Colón, former Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish, former Secretary of State Clara Padilla Andrews, multiple state representatives, candidates, and Democrat party officials.
Join @benraylujan for "When We Vote, We Win!" — a roundtable focused on mobilizing women voters!
While speaking about Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, Luján made a point to speak of her race being rated “the most competitive race in the U.S. House of Representatives,” going on to say that if Torres Small is not re-elected, it could affect his race, as well as that of other Democrats in the state. Luján claimed, “it could jeopardize many of our races here in New Mexico.” Torres Small is running against former New Mexico state Representative Yvette Herrell, who was declared the winner of the 2nd Congressional Race on election night 2018, however, absentee ballots came in swinging the election in Torres Small’s favor.
Torres Small said in the call that she has a “robust team of field organizers” who are working in the district to register voters, and ready to target people in “high-traffic areas.” She noted that her campaign had made 5,000 calls last week to voters.
Pamelya Herndon, the president of the New Mexico Democrat Party Black Caucus was also on the call, instructing people on the call that they should visit elderly people and drop off their ballots at polling locations, saying the law allows people to deliver “at least one absentee ballot to a polling location” from a person who is not themselves.
She said, “Go by and talk to your senior citizens. See if those ballots have been put in the mail, and if not, pick it up and take it to a polling location… you can take at least one absentee ballot for a member of your family to a polling location. We want every ballot counted, Congressman [Ben Ray Luján] because we want to see that you and Xochitl Torres Small and everybody on that ballot for the Democratic Party gets elected.”
When asked by a state senate candidate about the prospect of Roe v. Wade being overturned, Luján touted his high ratings from pro-abortion groups, saying, “I have an ‘A’ rating form planned Parenthood, a 100% scorecard from Planned Parenthood and NARAL.” He also said, “The clear answer is to only support candidates for the Supreme Court who will support reproductive health care,” meaning abortion.
Luján plugged Joe Biden’s campaign, bemoaning the fact that Donald Trump was elected in the 2016, saying, “Four years ago, we saw positive polling. I was all but certain that Donald Trump would not be president of the united states,” but that was not the case.
The rest of the call devolved into short speeches from the panelists trying to fire up the Democrat base, and squeak out a win for Democrats in the November election.
On Friday, candidate for New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, Yvette Herrell, rolled out her first television ad of the 2020 General Election cycle.
The ad shows Herrell in front of familiar places in the Second District, including in front of rural oil fields in southeast New Mexico, chile fields, the Sacramento Mountains located in Otero County, as well as other places.
Herrell says, “From chile fields to oil fields, farms, to your front yards, I’ve heard you. New Mexico is done with D.C. division. I’m Yvette Herrell. In Congress, I’ll work across the lines that divide us to safely reopen our economy, and I’ll promote innovation in health care to drive down costs and keep our families safe.” The ad ends with the friendly message, “No matter where you live, work, or play, I’ll stand with you.”
Watch our first TV ad of the general election! No matter where you live, work, or play across our beautiful Second District of New Mexico — I'll stand with you. Together we'll safely reopen our economy and continue the Great American Comeback! #nmpol#NM02pic.twitter.com/H2b6ZPRHXf
The ad comes out shortly after former Democrat Congressman Harry Teague endorsed Herrell for her race, a huge showing of bipartisanship for her run against incumbent Democrat Rep. Xochitl Torres Small.
Torres Small has attempted to portray herself as a moderate in the race, although she has voted with Democrat Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of California over 95%, and “Squad” member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez about 90% of the time.
Torres Small voted to impeach President Trump, who won the Second District by 10 points in 2016. She also refused to sign onto a proposal protecting infant abortion survivors who are born alive after a failed abortion attempt by giving them basic medical care, as well as far-left proposals such as universal background check legislation and anti-First Amendment bills.
On Wednesday, Tom Taylor Belts, Buckles, Bags shared a photo on Facebook of a maskless Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham at their Santa Fe Plaza store showing off her expensive Zia pendant.
The caption of the photo read, “New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham in our Santa Fe store showing off her new B G Mudd Zia pendant.”
According to the retailer’s website, the pendant costs $425. Other items from the downtown boutique range from the hundreds and well into the thousands for artisanal pieces.
Multiple commenters on the post pointed out that the Governor was not wearing a mask, which goes in stark opposition to her massive “Mask Up” and “Protect New Mexico” campaigns urging citizens to wear masks in public.
Lujan Grisham may or may not have been social distancing (6 feet apart) while having her photo taken in the jewelry shop. It is unclear what the jewelry shop’s capacity is, however, Lujan Grisham’s orders allow only for 25% maximum occupancy in any retail setting.
This is not the first time Lujan Grisham has defied her own public health orders, previously buying expensive jewelry from Lilly Barrack in Albuquerque, having the store (which was at the time closed as a non-essential business), reopen just for her so she could make a purchase.
National figures previously blasted her for the hypocrisy, including leading network television host Laura Ingraham, who described Lujan Grisham as a “fraud,” and ridiculed her “rules for thee but not for me.”
Thousands of New Mexico businesses, including restaurants and hotels, are hurting due to the Governor’s strict regulations, which include a mandatory 14-day quarantine for out-of-state visitors and no indoor dining allowed at restaurants. The restrictions have prompted the cancellation of hundreds of out-of-state reservations at hotels, and over 210 New Mexico restaurants to go into permanent closure. This week, the Governor won a lawsuit in front of the New Mexico Supreme Court allowing her to fine businesses $5,000 for bucking her orders, with one hotel, Trinity Hotel and Restaurant, racking up fines upwards of $100,000.
Lujan Grisham buying expensive jewelry while small businesses and working families suffer may not be the wisest choice.
UPDATE: The jewelry shop updated the post, claiming the photograph was taken in March of 2019, however, they did not explain why the caption said the Governor’s pendant was “new.” Later, the jewelry shop deleted the post altogether.
Similar jewelry to what was allegedly sold to the Governor can be seen in the below August 13 post from the Governor’s Twitter account. However, it cannot be immediately confirmed if this is the same jewelry allegedly sold to the Governor in March of 2019. If the jewelry was indeed purchased in March, it raises multiple questions including why was the photo just posted now, and why did the Facebook post indicate the jewelry was “new” if it was bought well over a year ago.
I had a wonderful visit today w/ @NMPED Sec. Stewart at Garfield Middle School in ABQ, seeing their vibrant STEM program and commitment to teaching innovation. STEM has the potential to open so many doors for students, which is why we’re expanding it in schools around the state. pic.twitter.com/fgWsMlPC2W
Once again, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham will be campaigning hard for Joe Biden as she vies for either the vice presidency or a cabinet position in his administration if he were to win in November. This time, Lujan Grisham will be plugging Joe Biden’s Latino agenda at a virtual roundtable in Pennsylvania (nearly 2,000 miles away from New Mexico), which will also be attended by Pennsylvania “leaders and advocates.”
“Biden’s comprehensive plan outlines the steps he would take as president to level the playing field for Latino families and ensure Latino communities in Pennsylvania are able to thrive,” says the link on the event page. Biden released his Latino agenda on Tuesday.
President Donald Trump’s campaign chided the hollow proposal, writing in a release, ““Joe Biden has made false promises to America’s Latinos for decades. His pro-China, anti-worker, globalist policies shipped our jobs overseas,” said Ali Pardo, Deputy Director of Communications for Trump’s campaign. “His support for illegal immigration depressed American workers’ wages, making it harder for everyone, including legal immigrants, to achieve the American Dream.”
“Many Latinos support President Trump because they understand that his policies actually help families like theirs,” Pardo continued. “The President doesn’t make empty promises – he supercharged America’s economy once, and he will do it again.”
On Thursday, a video was released of Biden praising the Latino community while bashing the Black community as not having a diversity of thought.
Joe Biden just said that Latinos have diversity of thought, unlike Black Americans…
— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) August 6, 2020
According to a Pennsylvania poll, “49% of Latino voters in Pennsylvania said that selecting Lujan Grisham as the running mate would make them ‘much more likely’ or ‘somewhat more likely’ to vote for Biden against President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, while 17% said that choosing the New Mexico governor would make them ‘much less likely’ or ‘somewhat less likely’ to vote for Biden, and 34% saying that it would have no impact on their vote for Biden.”
Out of the thirteen women in the running, Lujan Grisham is the only Latina in contention for Joe Biden’s vice presidential running mate. The virtual event will take place on Friday at 4:00 P.M. EDT or 2:00 MDT.
Lujan does not appear to have any overt ties to the state of Pennsylvania other than her Public Education Department cabinet secretary being from Philadelphia, and currently working in the state of Pennsylvania virtually during COVID-19.
Joe Biden previously endorsed Lujan Grisham for her 2018 gubernatorial race.
Vice President @JoeBiden is right: this election is too important to sit out. Tomorrow is Election Day and I need YOUR help to build a stronger, more prosperous New Mexico for all our families. Please visit https://t.co/YojqY6Ga1v for more information. #nmpolpic.twitter.com/QiKx95at5H
During the 2018 campaign for governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham made a lot of promises to the people of New Mexico, and some of those promises are coming back to bite her regarding her response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an August 2018 campaign ad, Lujan Grisham vowed to “promote small businesses and entrepreneurs,” and said “When I’m governor, we’ll be open for business.”
I see tremendous opportunity across NM which is why I’ve released 13 plans to make it a safer & more prosperous place. Together, we'll rebuild our public ed system & infrastructure, support #smallbiz growth & a clean energy economy, & make NM a hub for international trade. #nmpolpic.twitter.com/GL0dDfurpK
Lujan Grisham repeated this line in her campaign policy proposals, writing, “we will let industry leaders know that New Mexico is open for business.”
But with the state shut down, 14-day mandatory quarantine for anyone traveling out-of-state, and hundreds of small businesses closing for good, New Mexico does not look anything like the utopia Lujan Grisham promised. New Mexico not only is not “open for business,” it is bleeding for cash, as seen during the 2020 special session, where the Governor’s unsustainable budget was cut due to her irresponsible lack of fiscal responsibility. New Mexico’s largest tourism event, the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, is also cancelled, as well as countless revenue-generating events and opportunities.
Lujan Grisham also fined small businesses, which she supposedly supports according to her campaign ad, with up to $60,000 fines for non-compliance with her strict health orders, in stark opposition to her previous claims of support for such businesses.
Now, New Mexico, the most dependent state on federal dollars, could be being intentionally closed — not because of COVID-19, but because of the huge federal aide being offered for each COVID-19 patient. According to a study from Kaiser Health News, New Mexico is receiving $171,000 per coronavirus patient, which may be a reason Lujan Grisham is locking down the state — a stark violation of her campaign promise. New Mexico remains closed for business thanks to Gov. Lujan Grisham.
On Tuesday, Democrat Rep. Ben Ray Luján (NM-03) revealed a new ad using the narrative of his late father’s cancer battle to promote his U.S. Senate run.
Lujan, who is a supporter of the socialist “Medicare for All” proposal backed by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, used his father, who was an ironworker, to promote his health care plans.
“When my dad was diagnosed with cancer, mom and dad were fortunate to have insurance and good care for him during those trying days for our family,” Luján said in the ad. “That’s why I’ve worked in Congress to expand access to affordable, quality healthcare, and why I’ll bring that fight to the Senate to ensure every New Mexican can receive the affordable medical care they need.”
“I’m Ben Ray Luján. Mom and Dad were lucky to have insurance. To many, a cancer diagnosis means bankruptcy or losing your home,” the ad says.
When my dad was battling lung cancer, he was lucky to have insurance. But for many, a cancer diagnosis means bankruptcy or worse.
That's why my new ad focuses on my work to defend Medicare, expand Medicaid & protect those with pre-existing conditions. I'll always fight for you. pic.twitter.com/hQGtWgOBIg
According to Congress.gov., Luján has not passed a single bill with his name on it into law despite over 11 years serving in the House of Representatives. Now, it appears he is using the image of his well-known late father to boost his image on television commercials for his U.S. Senate run.
Luján’s father served as the Speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives from 2002 to 2012. Ben Ray Luján is running against Republican longtime television weatherman Mark Ronchetti for the U.S. Senate seat.
On Tuesday, the far-left New Mexico Supreme Court once again sided against the will of small businesses and restaurants and in favor of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s harsh sanctions on businesses violating her public health orders. The Court ruled that the Governor is allowed to issue costly $5,000 fines to businesses
The businesses suing, which included some restaurants argued that the $5,000 fines don’t apply to them and that “Public Health Response Act allows for those pricey civil penalties to be issued against hospitals and other healthcare facilities but not for them.” They also argued that the State of New Mexico should owe them compensation for the time they are shut down.
Lujan Grisham has so far fined 16 businesses with $5,000 sanctions.
Gov. Lujan Grisham’s attorney from her office, Matthew Garcia, argued that “The only tool we have currently to stem transmission of COVID-19 is social distancing, and so we need compliance, we need immediate compliance we can’t say ‘well hopefully you’ll comply eight months down the road’ we need compliance now.”
The Supreme Court sided with Lujan Grisham on the case, arguing that the New Mexico Legislature meant for $5,000 fines to apply to all businesses and that the State is not liable for compensating businesses while the State has shut them down.
Lujan Grisham responded on Twitter to the Court’s decision, writing, “The state shouldn’t have to fine anybody. Doing the right thing in a crisis shouldn’t be something we have to argue about. But anyone endangering the lives of New Mexicans will face the consequences. My thanks to everyone doing their part every day.”
The state shouldn't have to fine anybody. Doing the right thing in a crisis shouldn’t be something we have to argue about.
But anyone endangering the lives of New Mexicans will face the consequences.
On Tuesday, in a crippling blow to Democrat Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, former Rep. Harry Teague (D-NM), who used to represent the 2nd District, endorsed Republican challenger and former state Rep. Yvette Herrell for the race.
“Ultimately, it is time to vote for candidates that will protect and lead New Mexico no matter what their party tells them to do,” Teague said in a statement. “We must vote for candidates that have the interests of New Mexicans first, who will stand up to their party and put their personal ambitions aside for the best interests of New Mexico.”
“New Mexico must have a Congresswoman represent the 2nd Congressional district that knows and appreciates the impact the energy industry has on all New Mexicans,” Teague added.
Teague represented the District from 2009 to 2011, the only Democrat to do so in nearly 30 years.
Herrell commented on the influential endorsement, saying, “It’s a true honor to have Congressman Teague’s support – I am dedicated to bridging the gaps that divide us!”
Breaking news: former Democratic U.S. Congressman Harry Teague has endorsed our campaign! It’s a true honor to have Congressman Teague’s support – I am dedicated to bridging the gaps that divide us! https://t.co/DQxullOI2a#nmpol#NM02
