Piñon Post

‘Political newbie’: MLG gets desperate as Ronchetti takes polling lead

8 Comments / New Mexico, Politics / By

On Saturday, scandal-ridden alleged serial groper Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s team sent out a panicked email ruthlessly bashing Republican gubernatorial nominee Mark Ronchetti with personal attacks and falsehoods.

The campaign claims Ronchetti, who is a political moderate, is a “far-right extremist who wants to bring MAGA values to New Mexico,” despite Ronchetti distancing himself from President Donald Trump.

Her team then went on to claim his policy positions are radical, brandishing him as “wishy-washy on climate science” and as someone who “wants to stall environmental action.” 

The Lujan Grisham campaign then hit him with a personal attack that also doubles as an attack on political outsiders running for office, writing, “And, he’s a political newbie with no public service experience – just like Donald Trump.”

She did not, however, lob this attack on people like U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), or other politicians in her own party who never held elected office before running.

“We need your help to show the GOP that New Mexico is NOT up for grabs,” the campaign wrote, referencing a KOB 4 poll showing Ronchetti trailing Lujan Grisham by a mere four points.

But most startling, this week, the Ronchetti campaign released an internal poll claiming it was leading the embattled governor by one point with 46% to Lujan Grisham’s 45%. According to the numbers released, the poll has a margin of error of four percentage points. 

Lujan Grisham also began attacking Ronchetti on television, using a Democrat ex-police chief to claim the GOP nominee, who is a former television weatherman, doesn’t know how to fight crime. Crime rates have hit their highest peaks in New Mexico under Lujan Grisham, especially in Democrat-run Albuquerque, where homicides have hit historic highs.

Libertarian gubernatorial nominee Karen Bedonie, a former Republican, is also in contention for the governorship.

Piñon Post’s John Block wins GOP primary for NM House seat

14 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Tuesday, Piñon Post editor and founder John Block of Alamogordo won the Republican primary for New Mexico’s 51st state House seat, defeating two-term incumbent state Rep. Rachel Black. Block got 1,540 votes (51%) to Black’s 1,494 (49%). The margin of victory was large enough not to go to an automatic recount.

Despite being outraised and outspent in the race, Block, who is running an America First campaign, organized hundreds of small-dollar grassroots donors and knocked on countless doors, with the help of volunteers, to earn the primary win. 

Block’s campaign focused on stopping Critical Race Theory in New Mexico schools, working to lower gross receipts taxes, protecting the right to life, and working to fix the border crisis by finishing President Donald Trump’s wall and banning sanctuary cities for criminal aliens.

After securing the win, Block wrote, “I am overwhelmed by the incredible support of Alamogordo. Tonight, we showed that we can bring change to our district.”

“Through our hard work and a lot of support, I am happy to say that with all precincts reporting, our America First campaign is victorious! I look forward to the General Election ahead, and I am blessed by all the support. I thank God for each and every one of you and our great city of Alamogordo,” he added.

In the race, Block raised $30,833.68 from mostly all small-dollar donors, while his opponent raised $39,445.00, nearly all from lobbyists and politicians, not including money she carried over from her previous campaign account. Black spent $42,698.05 while Block spent $26,659.94, according to filings submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office.

Block will go up against Democrat SharonLee Cummins in the November General Election. Block has the endorsement of President Trump’s U.S. Ambassador to Germany and former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard “Ric” Grenell. He also has support from the Oil & Gas Workers Association, Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block, Lea County Sheriff Corey Helton, Calibers gun store owner Louie Sanchez, former lt. governor candidates Isabella Solis and Anise Golden Morper, as well as GOP state treasurer nominee Harry Montoya and GOP secretary of state nominee Audrey Trujillo.

‘Revictimizing a child’: Dow, Block respond after Ronchetti’s scorched earth attack

16 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Mark Ronchetti, a Republican candidate for governor, recently sent out a mailer and aired a television ad making untrue claims about state Rep. Rebecca Dow (R-Truth or Consequences). The attacks from the Ronchetti campaign make claims regarding a lawsuit involving a sexual predator who assaulted children at a daycare, AppleTree Education Center, which Dow helped found.

In Ronchetti’s television ad and mailer, he claims Dow “promoted” the pedophile and then “bullied” the victim’s family. Despite Dow being cleared of all wrongdoing whatsoever in the case, Ronchetti, whose campaign is being run by scorched earth political consultant Jay McCleskey, appears to be weaponizing the child’s trauma for political gain. McCleskey is known for his “win at all costs” tactics, resulting in even lengthy litigation where he has paid hundreds of thousands to candidates he defamed.

“The only truth this ad revealed is that Mark is willing to do or say anything to gain power,” said Dow. “By revictimizing a child in his false ad he’s trying to score cheap political points at the cost of making that child relive one of the worst moments of his life. I was not involved in the day-to-day functioning of the Boys and Girls Club as a member of the Club’s board. To suggest that I enabled this horrific event is slanderous and beyond insulting as somebody who has dedicated their life to protecting children and helping them reach their fullest potential.”

Even fellow Republican candidate, Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block, who is critical of Dow, spoke out against Ronchetti’s attack that went too far, despite his disagreements with the state representative. 

“For Mr. Ronchetti, and of course Jay McCleskey — you know that evil guy — for them to do this over a Memorial Day weekend, is just… there’s no honor in that, Mark and Jay. You have no honor doing that to not just Mrs. Dow, but the family that has to relive this event over and over again because you sent that out and you did that for political gain. And you should be ashamed of yourself for what you did. That’s something I would expect from MLG,” referring to Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

“And when you sit there and you actually talk and lie to everybody about uniting the party, you’re full of you know what,” he added. You and Jay McCleskey are destroying the party and you are destroying the lives of many people that you are hurting, including by the way — look up a gentleman named Scott Chandler, a great American, who Mr. McCleskey by the way had to pay $400,000 in a defamation lawsuit.” 

Dow dispatched a new television advertisement responding to Ronchetti’s latest attack, with Dow saying: 

I’m Rebecca Dow and I approve this message.

It’s shocking how blatantly dishonest Mark Ronchetti will be to win an election.

His claims are false and slanderous, as I’m sure a judge will agree.

I’ve dedicated my life to helping children learn and grow, serving on dozens of children’s charity boards.

Mark Ronchetti knows I had no direct involvement in this incident.

But he’s so desperate for power he’s willing to use abused children and their families for political gain.

That is inexcusable.

The primary election is on Tuesday, June 7, and early voting goes through this Saturday, June 4.

Smear campaign launched against GOP lt. governor candidate Ant Thornton

6 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Thursday, mailers began appearing in mailboxes of Republican voters across the state smearing Anthony “Ant” Thornton as a “RINO,” short for “Republican In Name Only,” based on minor donations to the Obama 2008 campaign back before he left the Democrat Party. 

The piece inaccurately describes Thornton as a “Barack Obama-Joe Biden supporting liberal,” despite Thornton being active in the conservative Tea Party movement in the early 2010s and a strong supporter of the Republican Party. He has donated generously to Republican campaigns in the state in the past, including to state Rep. Stefani Lord (R-Sandia Park), one of the most conservative members of the state Legislature. 

Thornton, a former Democrat turned Conservative Republican, has been very open about his past experience walking away from the Democrat Party and registering as a Republican over a decade ago. 

Thornton, a Ph.D., and retired aerospace engineer is running for Lt. Governor against Peggy Muller-Aragon, a more moderate candidate, according to iVoterGuide.com — a leading conservative voting resource affiliated with the American Family Association Action. 

The entity responsible for the hit piece against Thornton calls itself “Americans for Strong Leadership.” Its website consists of a landing page with no contact information and a donation button that doesn’t work. 

According to the New Mexico Campaign Finance System (CFIS), which is run by the Secretary of State’s office, “Americans for Strong Leadership” is a political expenditure committee registered to an employee of a consulting firm based in Kentucky called RunSwitch PR. RunSwitch PR is known for being a consulting firm used by Mitch McConnell. 

The founding Partner of RunSwitch PR is a man named Scott Jennings, whose resume heavily consists of his work as a consultant and advisor for Mitch McConnell. He was also once the Executive Director for Bush-Cheney New Mexico back in 2004. He is a CNN contributor, who has praised the strategies of Republicans who have opposed President Donald J. Trump.

It is curious that a firm headed by a notable Bush-era operative, who has made comments distancing himself from Trump, is now attacking conservative Republican Ant Thornton on decades-old minor donations.  

Other America First candidates in New Mexico this cycle who have gone up against “Swamp”-backed candidates have seen similar independent expenditures made by “moderates” to try and defeat them.

Voters may question why these Swamp operatives are attacking candidates like Thornton. The only reasonable answer is that candidates like him are a threat to the establishment in some way, shape, or form.

Fmr. Trump cabinet member endorses John Block for state representative

4 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Tuesday, former acting Director of National Intelligence and Ambassador to Germany Richard “Ric” Grenell endorsed John Block in his race for New Mexico House District 51.

Amb. Grenell wrote the following:

“John is a proven conservative who fits the mold that President Trump forged with his America First movement. He has the Christian values, experience, and passion to serve New Mexico’s 51st House District well. John will be a strong fighter for the people of Alamogordo in Santa Fe, and I know he will never back down against the Radical Left. John is the best choice for state representative, and he has my full support.”

John Block responded to Grenell’s endorsement, writing, “I am honored and blessed to have the endorsement of Ambassador Grenell. He knows our campaign is the only true America First bid for this seat, and that speaks volumes about how strong our grassroots campaign is. It’s no wonder our campaign is the only bid in this district to receive a Trump official’s endorsement. Together, we will reclaim House District 51 from the Santa Fe Swamp and return a champion of the people to the Roundhouse.”

Ambassador Grenell served in the Trump administration from his U.S. Senate confirmation in 2018 to 2021. As acting Director of National Intelligence, Grenell oversaw the United States Intelligence Community.

The Block campaign told the Piñon Post that Amb. Grenell will have a virtual Q&A and discussion for Block on Tuesday, May 31 at 6:00 p.m. MT, which can be attended by donating $75 to John Block’s campaign for NM House District 51. The link to sign up is here. Invitations with virtual meeting links will be sent to attendees ahead of the event.

MLG slapped with yet another ethics complaint alleging illegal donations

3 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Monday, the group “Stop MLG” announced it had filed an ethics complaint with the State Ethics Commission against scandal-ridden alleged serial groper Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

The group wrote that Lujan Grisham “refuses to comply with state law again accepting illegal campaign contributions. The Governor has broken state campaign finance law by receiving campaign funds that exceed the legal limit.”

“The latest violation shows the Governor’s Campaign Committee reported a campaign contribution of $22,000 from the Pueblo of Santo Domingo. This donation exceeds the maximum donation permitted by law per N.M. Stat. § 1-19-34.7. The maximum contribution limit for Governor candidates is $20,800, split between primary and general elections,” read a press release from the group.

These alleged violations included aggregate donations by the Pueblo of Santo Domingo totaling $22,000. 

“New Mexicans are all too aware of the repeated unlawful acts by Gov. Lujan Grisham,” said Brett Kokinadis, the director of the group. ”Campaign finance and reporting violations, lawsuits against her office for alleged violations of the Inspection of Public Records Acts and from the legislature, questionable use of $222,000 of campaign donations to serve as hush money to silence sexual allegation claims and pay attorney fees all demonstrate the Governor’s refusal to comply with the law.  She believes she operates under her own proclaimed laws and policies.”

“New Mexican voters should be disturbed by all these actions, distractions, and repeated violations by the Governor who continues to believe she is above the law and untouchable,” he said.

This comes after the group filed a complaint in October 2021 against Lujan Grisham, which resulted in the Governor returning donations from the company “Intrepid Potash.” Other complaints have been filed against Lujan Grisham, including one filed in May 2021 by Piñon Post editor John Block, which involved the spending of campaign cash for the Governor’s hair and makeup — personal expenses according to state law and guidelines.

Read the latest Stop MLG complaint here.

Piñon Post’s John Block outraises opponent in NM House District 51

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During the first reporting period, the Piñon Post’s John Block outraised his opponent, Rachel Black, in New Mexico’s 51st state House District based in Alamogordo. Block’s America First Republican campaign received over 177 individual donations, 50% of them being smaller than $30. The average donation to the Block campaign was $62, with $20,977.56 raised in total.

On the other side, Block’s opponent, who voted for Critical Race Theory and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s $8.5 billion budget, had an average donation of $716.95, with 15 contributions totaling $8,200.

Rachel Black is relying heavily on donations from sitting politicians, including Republican Rep. Bill Rehm, who voted for the Green New Deal. Black even befitted from a $3,271.30 independent expenditure mailer paid for by Rehm that included her campaign logo and return address, making it appear to come from Black when it did not. 

Other contributions from politicians included $1,250 from Rep. Phelps Anderson, who voted for abortion up-to-birth and left the Republican Party, $500 from Rep. Zach Cook, who is retiring after his current term, $1,000 from Rep. Martin Zamora, and $2,500 from Rep. T. Ryan Lane, who also joined Black in voting for Michelle Lujan Grisham’s $8.5 billion budget.

After the campaign finance reports were posted, Block said, “The massive showing of support for our campaign from REAL people, not Santa Fe Swamp politicians, proves just how much of a grassroots movement this is. New Mexicans are fed up with being ‘represented’ by the same failed politicians who sell us out to the Democrats and now think they deserve to keep their jobs. We The People own this district and this state, not the politicians. It’s time for We The People to clean house.”

While John Block raised more in the first quarter, Black has thousands in cash on hand to try and defeat John. If you would like to support John’s campaign, please visit JohnBlock.com to send a donation and express support for his America First campaign.

John Block is a native New Mexican and proud Alamogordo resident. He’s the editor and founder of the Piñon Post, New Mexico’s #1 conservative news site. He has exposed waste, fraud, and abuse across the state while bringing a conservative voice to New Mexico media through the platform. As a legislator, John hopes to FINALLY send a fighter to the Legislature to battle the Radical Democrats and restore New Mexicans’ confidence in the political system.

Lujan Grisham celebrates killing babies through full-term abortions

6 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

As one of New Mexico’s neighboring states, Oklahoma, passed a bill this week to ban abortions of babies after 15 weeks gestation, scandal-ridden alleged serial groper Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham took to social media to celebrate New Mexico’s abortion up-to-birth and infanticide law that allows the killing of full-term babies without exceptions.

The embattled governor wrote, “As states around New Mexico continue their assault on reproductive health care, the action we’ve taken to protect and expand abortion access is more important than ever.” 

Lujan Grisham’s definition of “reproductive health care” is the opposite of abortion because killing a baby is the antithesis of health care. The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary lists “health care” as “The prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of mental and physical well-being through the services offered by the medical and allied health professions.” Killing is not in the scope of what is considered health care.

Furthermore, “reproduction” is defined as the “production of offspring by a sexual or asexual process.” Killing a child created through this reproductive process is exactly the opposite. Therefore, the term “reproductive health care” to refer to abortion is an oxymoron.

“Access to abortion is access to health care, and that won’t change here in New Mexico,” added Lujan Grisham.

But the governor, who signed an abortion up-to-birth and infanticide bill into law last year, faces tough reelection, with many Republican contenders vowing to protect the right to life in the state of New Mexico. She cannot promise that access to killing children through abortions “won’t change here in New Mexico.” It very well could change next election, especially if New Mexicans elect a pro-life majority to the state House of Representatives. 

Elisa Martinez, Republican candidate for New Mexico House District 27 wrote on Twitter, in response to Lujan Grisham,  “.@GovMLG: stop celebrating unsafe & unregulated abortions up to birth. One NM clinic alone has sent over 50 women to the ER including one death! 

This is NOT healthcare.” 

She shared a graphic with a screenshot of Albuquerque’s Southwestern Women’s Options abortion mill, which proudly advertises abortions up to and after 32 weeks.

Republican House District 51 candidate and Piñon Post® chief John Block, said in regard to the Governor’s social media post, “MLG is a shameless baby murderer. If elected to the legislature, I will fight day and night to save babies’ lives through life-affirming legislation!” 

Five House Republicans face primary challenges, many from the right

Leave a Comment / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Tuesday, legislative candidates filed their paperwork to get on the June 7 primary ballot, including five Republicans challenging incumbents for their seats in the Republican primary. 

Many of these candidates are running to the right of the GOP incumbents, such as Piñon Post’s editor and founder John Block, an America-First Republican, who is challenging the incumbent in House District 51 in Alamogordo. The current representative, Rachel Black, was the lone vote against tax relief for small businesses during the pandemic lockdown, voted for the Democrats’ $8.5 billion 2022 budget, voted to raise taxes, along with a laundry list of bad votes.

State Rep. Jane Powdrell-Culbert (R-Corrales) faces a primary challenge from Frida Susana Vasquez (Susan Vasquez) of Rio Rancho in House District 44. Powdrell-Culbert was also a Republican who voted for the Democrats’ $8.5 billion budget, which funds around $75 million in recurring spending for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s “free” (taxpayer-funded) college, among other waste, such as around $10 million for components of the “Green New Deal.”

State Rep. Larry Scott (R-Hobbs) faces off against Elaine Sena Cortez, also from Hobbs, who is running on a platform of getting “money and authority back to local communities,” while also focusing on public safety, small business, oil and gas, teachers, and the unborn, according to her website. Scott has been an active voice in the Legislature against enviro-Marxist bills and other bad measures that affect the Oil Patch-area in District 62. 

State Rep. Randall Pettigrew (R-Lovington), a first-term incumbent, is being challenged by Rebecca Jill Jones of Hobbs in House District 61. Pettigrew’s short tenure in the House gives better hope to Jones in her race, but it is unclear at the moment what issues will be key in her campaign.

Conservative Republican Tracy C. DeLaRosa of Roswell is challenging GOP state Rep. Greg Nibert, also of Roswell, for his District 59 seat. DeLaRosa has been a strong advocate against the policies of Joe Biden and Democrats and has been critical of Gov. Lujan Grisham, who was accused and later settled over $150,000 for sexual assault claims. Nibert, an attorney, works at a fairly large firm that has many contracts with the State of New Mexico. 

2022 is seen as a “shakeup” year for many in the Republican Party to clean house and elect conservative Republicans to replace moderate incumbents, especially in solid red areas of the state like Alamogordo, Hobbs, and Roswell. In total, 62 Republican candidates are running for the House, which is composed of 70 seats.

Eight Democrats face primary challenges from the left. According to the Albuquerque Journal, these Democrats are “Anthony Allison of Fruitland, Doreen Wonda Johnson of Church Rock, Eliseo Alcon of Milan, Roger Montoya of Velarde, Susan Herrera of Embudo, Kristina Ortez of Taos, Andrea Romero of Santa Fe and Ambrose Castellano of Las Vegas.” 

Find the full list of candidates who filed for state representative, among other offices, here.

FACT CHECK: Pro-Ronchetti PAC not connected to Rio Grande Foundation

2 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Friday, a political action committee (PAC) calling itself “Nuevo Rio Grande” sent an email to delegates to the state Republican convention endorsing gubernatorial candidate Mark Ronchetti.

Christina M. Brenner from the group wrote in a February 18, 2021, email, “New Mexicans have one real, reliable choice for governor this November: Mark Ronchetti.” 

She went on to tout Ronchetti’s employment as a television weatherman and wrote, “Nuevo Rio Grande PAC has chosen to move forward, full steam, in support of Mark Ronchetti’s efforts to not only free New Mexico, but to help its people build a better tomorrow.” 

Many delegates saw the email alarmed that it appeared the reputable Rio Grande Foundation (RGF) had endorsed the candidate. But “Nuevo Rio Grande” is in no way affiliated with RGF, despite it using the Foundation’s same logo, showing a river swishing through a cutout of the New Mexico state shape. But instead of the Foundation’s turquoise image, Nuevo Rio Grande PAC used the same logo in red. 

Rio Grande Foundation’s logo. Credit: Rio Grande Foundation website.
Email sign-off on Christina M. Brenner’s email sent to delegates on February 18, 2021.

As confirmed by the Piñon Post, Christina Brenner is the spouse of Patrick Brenner, who is RGF’s vice president.

“Patrick Brenner obviously works for the Foundation. He happens to support Ronchetti, which is fine, but he really stepped in it big time. And I told him in no uncertain terms if he’s going to do a PAC, he needs to brand it differently,” said Rio Grande Foundation president Paul Gessing. 

Gessing further distanced the organization from the PAC in a statement released via social media:

Recently, an email was sent out to GOP delegates to the upcoming pre-primary convention that included a logo and various branding that closely-resembled that of the Rio Grande Foundation. The group was calling itself “Nuevo Rio Grande” and its website (since removed) was at: https://nuevonewmexico.com/.

This organization was NOT affiliated with the Rio Grande Foundation and we have asked the organization to rebrand their efforts (they are in the process of doing so).

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