New Mexico

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

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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.

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What you need to know before you vote Tuesday

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On Tuesday, New Mexicans will decide many key races in New Mexico to determine the trajectory of the state by selecting who will appear on the General Election ballot.

These races include the fight for the governorship, where five Republicans face off to challenge Democrat scandal-ridden alleged serial groper Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. These include Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block of Rio Rancho, state Rep. Rebecca Dow of Truth or Consequences, former television weatherman Mark Ronchetti of Albuquerque, former Mayor of Cuba Ethel Maharg of Albuquerque, and financial advisor Greg Zanetti of Albuquerque. On the Libertarian ticket, Karen Bedonie faces off against write-in candidate Ginger Grider Tuesday. 

There are multiple moderate Democrats facing off against far-left incumbents in the state House of Representatives, while some Democrats are facing off against primary challenges to the left. The most visible of these races is between one-term state Rep. Roger Montoya of Velarde who is being challenged by former State Rep. Joseph Sanchez, a pro-life, pro-Second Amendment Democrat. Montoya voted for abortion up to birth and backed most of the Democrats’ anti-gun measures.

On the Republican side, four moderate incumbents face off against conservative Republican challengers. State Rep. Larry Scott of Hobbs faces off against Elaine Sena Cortez, Randall Pettigrew of Lovington goes up against Rebecca Jill Jones, Rachel Black of Alamogordo faces Piñon Post editor and founder John Block, and  Jane Powdrell-Culbert of Corrales faces off against Frida Susana Vasquez. All of these challengers have focused their campaigns on the lack of representation from the current incumbents in the Legislature, as well as bad votes taken by these incumbents.

These include voting for the Democrats’ far-left 2022 budget, which Black and Powdrell-Culbert voted for. Also, Pettigrew voted for an anti-gun bill in a committee hearing, despite having the opportunity to kill the bad bill with one  Democrat who voted against the measure. 

All statewide elected state-level offices are up for grabs, including the lieutenant governorship, where Republicans Ant Thornton and Peggy Muller-Aragón face off. Two Democrats, Heather Benavidez and Laura Montoya face off for state treasurer, a seat currently held by term-limited Treasurer Tim Eichenberg. The winner of that contest faces Republican Harry Montoya. In the race for attorney general, Democrat State Auditor Brian Colón, who has the backing of retiring Attorney General Hector Balderas, is running against Albuquerque-area District Attorney Raúl Torrez, who has the backing of George Soros and Sen. Martin Heinrich. The winner of that primary contest faces Republican Jeremy Gay in November.

For state auditor, Democrat Public Regulation Commissioner Joseph Maestas faces former ombudsman under the Lujan Grisham regime and failed Albuquerque City Council candidate Zackary Quintero.

Totals as of Saturday from the Secretary of State’s Office show that Democrats have cast 59,718 votes early, Republicans trail slightly with 44,986 votes cast so far, and Libertarians casting 409 votes. Of those who voted early in person, Democrats made up 47,867, while Republicans had 39,907, and Libertarians had 368. Democrats lead in absentee ballots, with 11,851, Republicans with 5,079, and Libertarians with 41. 

To find your closes polling locations and to see your sample ballot, click here on the Secretary of State’s website.

In this primary election, independent (declined to state) voters are permitted to vote in either the Republican or Democrat primaries, so those who have not selected a party affiliation but are registered to vote can participate in either of the primary elections.

For all voting locations in your area, you can search the closest one here. If you have any questions before the June 7 primary, contact your local county clerk’s office or the Secretary of State’s Office, which can be reached here: (505) 827-3600. 

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Joe Biden coming to Santa Fe, NM next week

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According to a White House press statement shared by Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich, “On Saturday, June 11, [Joe] Biden will travel to Santa Fe, New Mexico. [He] will meet with New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, State and local officials, first responders and response and recovery personnel from FEMA and other agencies to receive a briefing on the New Mexico wildfires at the New Mexico State Emergency Operation Center.”

The visit follows the Federal Government starting controlled burns during high winds that caused wildfires across the state, including the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak fire, which has burned more than 310,000 acres — roughly the size of London, England.

The fire is the largest in state history, and it has been worsened by a lack of forest management, as well as environmental groups helping stop logging and cleanup through lawsuits to protect supposedly endangered animals.

According to the Western Journal, “The mismanagement of the burns adds to the cost. It costs $5 million a day to fight the fire; over $132 million has already been spent. Around 3,000 firefighters are combatting the blaze.”

The outlet further reported, “Governor Grisham called for compensation to New Mexico from the Federal Emergency Management Administration. Based on investigations showing the federal government’s involvement in starting the fires, Grisham wants Biden to authorize 100 percent funding for the needed recovery efforts.”

Joe Biden coming to Santa Fe, NM next week Read More »

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

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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.

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Toulouse Oliver spreads election lies with so-called ‘Rumor vs. Reality’ site

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On Tuesday, it was reported that far-left Democrat Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver was launching a new so-called “Rumor vs. Reality” page on the official Secretary of State website claiming to debunk falsehoods regarding elections.

Toulouse Oliver erroneously tries to falsely claim that the Dinesh D’Souza film, 2000 Mules, incorrectly describes ballot trafficking across the country. She claims, “The movie uses flawed assumptions and faulty data to try to prove its point about the 2020 election.”

She uses the false talking point that the 2020 election, which the 2000 Mules movie and multiple other data sources have debunked, “was the ‘most secure in history.” 

The Democrat Secretary of State also claimed that New Mexico’s voter rolls are “clean and up-to-date,” which is also a false statement. Despite the audit of the 2020 election in Otero County proving that 40% of ballots cast in 2020 had anomalies, she claims she has faith in Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). She claims the platform “uses information from motor vehicle departments, Social Security Administration records, and other databases to compare voters across all member states and securely shares this information with member states.”

ERIC was founded by the leftist Pew Charitable Trusts. 

Another false claim Toulouse Oliver makes is that vote tabulators are not connected to the internet, despite Otero County audit findings showing that is false. Toulouse Oliver claimed, “vote tabulators are prevented by law and process from being joined to a computer network or the Internet.”

Despite her claims, all three major vote tabulator manufacturers “have acknowledged they all put modems in some of their tabulators and scanners,” according to NBC News. 

Toulouse Oliver claimed that election results cannot be changed, citing so-called “safeguards,” such as risk-limiting audits that do not truly audit findings from an election. Also, since each individual absentee ballot, once separated from its enclosing envelope, is undetectable as a unique ballot tied to a specific voter. Therefore there is no way to claim with such certainty, as Toulouse Oliver does, that “safeguards” keep elections from being stolen.

There are other various claims the Secretary of State makes which are blatantly false. She appears to be using the official Secretary of State’s Office website for political gain by lying about 2000 Mules and other truths proving election fraud exists — especially in the state of New Mexico.

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Toulouse Oliver claims ‘conspiracists and extremists’ are ‘coming for our elections’

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On Tuesday, the final day to raise cash in the fundraising quarter, far-left Democrat Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver sent out a paranoid-sounding email claiming, “[c]onspiracy theorists are coming for our elections.”

“Extremists who believe the Big Lie that the 2020 election was rigged and stolen are not just posting on Facebook or ranting at the dinner table. They are running for office. And they are coming straight for the seats that control our elections,” claimed Toulouse Oliver, alluding to her Republican challenger Audrey Trujillo.

Trujillo believes in election integrity and securing New Mexico’s elections after widespread voter fraud has been proven in multiple states in 2020 — enough to swing the election in President Trump’s favor. According to analysis from the movie “2000 Mules” by Dinesh D’Souza, even by conservative estimates, illicit ballot trafficking alone contributed far more fraudulent votes than needed to overturn the election.

“It is my job to preserve the sanctity of each and every vote in New Mexico. And I take that job very seriously,” claimed Toulouse Oliver, despite her repeated attempts to weaken New Mexico’s election laws by killing protections to voter integrity. These include trying to push for policies allowing ballots to be counted even if they arrive the Friday following an election, widespread ballot harvesting, and “drop-boxes,” which are used to traffick contraband ballots.

“Let’s be clear, Big Lie believers are running for Secretary of State to disintegrate our democracy from within. It’s up to us to protect it,” the Secretary of State continued. 

“New Mexico continues to be a leader in pro-democracy practices — even while states across the country and our national democracy are being threatened by conspiracists and extremists who simply don’t like the results of our free and fair elections.”

Toulouse Oliver plainly ignores the fraud in New Mexico elections, which has been well-documented by the Piñon Post, and instead bashes anyone who disagrees with her assessment that her election system is “pro-democracy” or “free and fair” as “conspiracists and extremists.”

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Smear campaign launched against GOP lt. governor candidate Ant Thornton

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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.

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Biden’s ‘trans’ HHS official visits ABQ to promote ‘environmental justice,’ abortion

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Apparently, the Joe Biden administration’s top priorities are “environmental justice” and “equity,” with his Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Dr. “Rachel” Levine making a stop in New Mexico to talk about those priorities with local leaders, including far-left Democrat Mayor of Albuquerque, Tim Keller. Levine, a biological man who identifies as a “transgender woman” oversees the “Office of Climate Change and Health Equity.”

Levine, while speaking to a group at Wilson Middle School, appeared to blame the recent fires in New Mexico on fires (not forest mismanagement and controlled burns during high winds). 

Levine said, “We kept thinking of these health impacts as an existential crisis, which somehow implies that it’s something in the future. But as you are seeing this right now – we are seeing the impacts of climate change right now. And you’re seeing it right now in New Mexico, and in Albuquerque, with the heat emergencies that you’re talking about, with the fires and the smoke.”

“Heat is a problem in the middle of New York City, in Seattle, Washington, and in Albuquerque. … What are the commonalities? What are the differences? What did they all learn? And how can we serve to pollinate … those ideas across the country, ” Levine said in an interview with the Albuquerque Journal.

On Twitter, Keller posted, “It was a pleasure to have Admiral Rachel Levine of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services visit our city. As we keep witnessing the impacts of climate change on public health, it is vital that we strong federal partners who can support in us in navigating these issues.”

In a tweet by Levine, the Biden official wrote, “A very eye-opening visit today to Wilson Middle School to learn about how their garden tries to reduce the heat island effect and improve air quality in one of Albuquerque’s most densely populated neighborhoods.

Local relief is key to climate response and #environmentaljustice.”

Also while visiting New Mexico, Levine talked about abortion with KOB4, telling the television channel, “It is absolutely critical for New Mexico to continue to allow the full range of reproductive health services that women need, including abortion services.”Levine added regarding Roe. v. Wade likely being overturned, “If the decision follows the outline of the draft, then it’s going to severely impact women’s reproductive health rights and the ability to receive the full range of services in many states,” Levine said. “To be able to provide those services for women in New Mexico, and for many other states, they need to look to expand those services. We’ll work to support them.”

It is unclear the purpose of the trip other than to promote Biden’s radical pro-abortion agenda, but the cost of the trip is sure to have fallen on the American taxpayers.

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MLG used taxpayer money for reelection party at Governor’s Mansion: Report

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According to a report from the Santa Fe New Mexican, scandal-ridden alleged serial groper Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham used taxpayer dollars to fund a political event at the Governor’s Mansion promoting her reelection efforts.

“Documents obtained under a public records request show New Mexicans for Michelle, the governor’s campaign committee, issued the state a $1,837 check in December to pay for expenses stemming from a Democratic Governors Association party hosted by Lujan Grisham in Santa Fe,” the New Mexican reported.

The report continued, “Expenses reimbursed by the campaign include an $890 purchase from Colorado Party Rentals for 100 12-inch ivory-gold chargers, 100 10-inch ivory-gold dinner plates and stainless steel forks, knives and teaspoons.”

Despite the Governor’s contingency fund barring her from using it to purchase alcohol and the State Auditor’s Office finding previous violations, public documents show that Lujan Grisham made at least eight purchases of alcohol, including liquor, wine, and beer.

Previous reviews of the Governor’s spending show she has spent lavishly on $200/lb Wagyu beef steaks, wine and beer, and even personal dry cleaning with taxpayer funds. This is just the most recent abuse of power committed by Lujan Grisham.

But her campaign spokeswoman, Kendall Whitmer, claimed, “The campaign transparently and expeditiously reimbursed the state for an event hosted by the Governor as chair of the Democratic Governors Association.”

 “The largest wildfire in New Mexico’s history rages, but instead of the Governor being able to focus solely on the emergency response, Michelle Lujan Grisham faces yet another ethical scandal,” said Republican Governors Association spokesman Will Reinert. “Whether ‘crotch grabs’ or taxpayer money spent on luxury items, voters remain tired of the constant string of scandals coming out of Governor Lujan Grisham’s office and must demand new leadership who can focus solely on turning the state around.”

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NM Dems quickly politicize Texas school massacre, demand gun grabs

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On Tuesday, a gunman attacked Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas after posting on social media he had killed his grandmother and was coming to attack a school. The murderer ended up killing 19 children and two faculty members.

Despite the horrific nature of the schooting and the families of the victims having no time to process, much less grieve, Democrats nationwide descended upon a new anti-gun push, immediately blaming the firearm used to kill the victims and demanding it happen now.

Joe Biden said in a press conference Tuesday, “We as a nation have to ask when in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby.” 

At a Wednesday press conference with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, failed presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke who is running for Texas governor, yelled at the Governor and demanded gun bans.

On Tuesday, far-left Gov Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico wrote on her government Twitter account, “As elected officials, we must do everything in our power to reduce the number of firearms and deadly weapons on our streets to make sure that everyone in this country can live in peace and free of fear.”

On Wednesday on her campaign Twitter account, Lujan Grisham added, “It’s our responsibility as elected officials to do everything we can to reduce the number of deadly weapons on our streets. In New Mexico, we took action to keep guns out of the wrong hands and I will continue to champion common sense proposals to reduce gun violence.” 

First-term U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM-03) wrote on Twitter Wednesday, “We must turn our pain into action. The House has passed life saving gun safety legislation to expand background checks and close the Charleston loophole- it’s time for the Senate to do the same.” 

Fellow Democrat Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico’s First Congressional District got even more political, demanding an end to the U.S. Senate filibuster to pass radical gun-grabbing legislation. She wrote, “We must stop #GunViolence now. Full stop. Congress must act and #AbolishtheFilibuster.” 

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján wrote on Twitter, “After each mass shooting, the GOP distracts from the real issue & points to mental health. We’re no worse in mental health rates than any other nation. 90% of the country want background checks & 85% want red-flag laws. Right now we need to abolish the filibuster & pass H.R. 8.”

Sen. Martin Heinrich piled on, “We’ve known for far too long the devastating toll that gun violence has taken on American communities.” 

State-level leaders added on even more extreme measures, including state Rep. Liz Thomson who shared a tweet bashing law-abiding gun owners and demanding bans on “assault weapons,” which do not exist.

State Rep. Javier Martinez, the Democrats’ New Mexico House majority leader, wrote that Republicans “will hide behind the ‘don’t play politics’ charade while the next bloody tragedy is probably already underway. I’m glad @BetoORourke called the BS out. I will not sacrifice my children or anyone else’s for someone’s inexplicable protection of guns over people.”

Before many of the families affected by the tragic Texas massacre even heard the news of their loved ones being brutally slaughtered, Democrats weaponized the death of these innocent children and school administrators for political gain — all to ban guns, which has been one of their top legislative priorities.

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