Far-left Dem official tries to sabotage Trump’s Thursday NM rally
The controversy surrounding President Trump’s upcoming rally in Albuquerque exposes New Mexico’s state leadership selectively blocking access to public spaces, sparking heated allegations of partisanship. Scheduled for Thursday at CSI Aviation, the rally faced logistical challenges when far-left Democrat New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard rejected the Trump campaign’s plan to use the Isleta Amphitheater’s parking lot.
After the Trump campaign coordinated with Live Nation to set up a parking and shuttle system, the state abruptly reversed course, blocking the use of the state-owned lot. This move is irrefutably politically motivated and, at its core, an infringement on democratic principles.
Garcia Richard deflected blame onto Live Nation, saying, “Their [Live Nation] contract is for the amphitheater…this is not of my creation.” However, her justification rings hollow to critics who believe the restriction stems from political bias rather than contractual constraints.
State Rep. Jim Townsend (R-Artesia) openly questioned the motives, remarking to KRQE 13, “This just doesn’t pass the smell test…This is clearly a political process.” Townsend pointed to prior exceptions for non-concert events, such as a church gathering, suggesting the state’s reasoning is inconsistent and selectively applied.
The dispute took on new weight when the Republican Party of New Mexico issued a public statement denouncing Garcia Richard’s decision as “sheer, naked, bitter partisanship.” Their outcry reflects growing frustration with state leadership they accuse of abusing authority to hinder Republican events, particularly with a high-profile candidate like Trump.
Further deepening the controversy, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller’s administration allegedly blocked the Trump campaign from securing the Albuquerque Convention Center, initially citing “major sewage repairs” as the reason. However, Councilor Dan Lewis, another vocal critic of this blockade, condemned the action, seeing it as an attempt to thwart a major event that some in the city leadership oppose ideologically. In response, Mayor Keller’s office rebuked Lewis, alleging his statements were false and accusing him of trying to politicize operational decisions.
Critics argue that Garcia Richard’s stance against the Trump rally goes beyond logistics, pointing to the timing and lack of precedent for such refusals as evidence of political interference. They view this as a calculated obstruction, wielding state power to stymie opposition voices. Given the state’s duty to ensure fair use of public resources, selectively obstructing the Trump rally reveals a troubling tendency among New Mexico officials to put political motives above democratic principles.
As the Trump campaign shuffles to find alternative parking solutions for the rally attendees, this incident raises broader questions about politicizing public resources. By placing obstacles in the path of only one political campaign, Garcia Richard and the administration she represents seem to be engaging in exactly the kind of partisan favoritism that they claim to be avoiding.
The Republican Party of New Mexico is urging citizens to call Garcia Richards’ office to ask her to stop her political sabotage and to stop trying to attack democracy:
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