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Lujan Grisham accused of political retaliation by one of her own

16 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

New Mexico Democrats are again at each other’s throats, this time in a public feud that lays bare the fractures within the party’s ranks. Freshman Rep. Sarah Silva (D-Las Cruces) ignited a firestorm on social media this week, accusing Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of retaliating against her district after Silva championed a bill aimed at restricting free speech through lobbying at the Roundhouse.

Silva, in a fiery post, showcased a photo of what she called a “massive pile of swag” — minor gifts from lobbyists that have no real value, allegedly meant to sway her during the recent legislative session. Valuing the freebies at up to $2,000, Silva claimed, “It’s an example of the influence professional lobbyists and their employers have at the Roundhouse that you do not.”

The Democrat lawmaker says her pushback came in the form of House Bill 143, which would have required lobbyists to disclose their positions on legislation and promptly update that information if their stance changed. The bill passed both chambers despite bipartisan opposition. But it never made it into law.

“Unfortunately, the governor vetoed the bill,” Silva wrote, before twisting the knife: “Ironically, HB 143 would have given us information about who lobbied the governor to veto it. Without it, we have no way to know.”

Then came the real bombshell: Silva accused Lujan Grisham of retaliating by gutting funds Silva had secured for her district. Specifically, the governor used her line-item veto pen to kill $1 million earmarked for a public safety facility in Chaparral and another $100,000 for a study on incorporation and local governance, clearly targeted retaliatory measures due to HB 143 or some other reason, exposing massive cracks in the Democrat Party.

“Frankly, I’m pissed off,” Silva admitted. “It appears to me that the governor’s Chaparral vetoes were at least in part retaliation for my attempt to bring transparency to the work of her lobbying buddies.”

While Silva’s bill may have raised eyebrows — critics point out it imposed vague and burdensome mandates on both lobbyists and possibly lawmakers themselves — the governor’s veto doesn’t appear entirely above board either. Instead of offering technical amendments or working to clarify the bill’s flaws, Lujan Grisham simply tanked it and, if Silva’s claims are to be believed, punished a fellow Democrat in the process.

A spokesperson for Lujan Grisham brushed off the allegations as “obviously unfounded,” saying the governor supports more transparency, not less. “She would like even more transparency than HB 143 would have required,” claimed Lauren Dodd Thorp, suggesting the governor wants those same standards applied to herself and the Legislature.

That statement rings hollow to many watching the drama unfold. If the governor truly wanted more transparency, why veto the bill outright instead of working to improve it? And why yank funding for Chaparral — a move that just so happens to undercut one of the bill’s sponsors?

Also, after the 2025 Legislative Session, Lujan Grisham ferociously vetoed multiple benign bills, including one to increase optical care access in the state, a bill to create new license plates for lowriders and motorcyclists, as well as a bill to create the “state bread,” which was championed by a young girl in Las Cruces. All of these measures the governor rejected with a stroke of a pen because Democrats in the Legislature refused to deliver her agenda across the finish line, as she admitted in her toxic veto messages.

For conservatives and critics of Santa Fe’s one-party rule, the feud could be a moment of schadenfreude. Silva and Lujan Grisham are exposing the ugly side of their party’s internal politics — a mix of heavy-handed lobbying, bruised egos, and backroom power plays.

Ultimately, Silva may have inadvertently revealed more than any bill ever could about how some Democrats, at least the governor, treat dissent in their own ranks. And if the governor’s actions weren’t retaliatory, they sure look like it.

Vindictive MLG vetoes ‘State Bread,’ license plate bills to punish Dems

Lujan Grisham accused of political retaliation by one of her own Read More »

MLG, Dems livid after U.S. House passes Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

24 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In a triumphant moment for conservatives and the America First movement, President Donald J. Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill” (BBB) passed the U.S. House by a razor-thin vote of 215–214, triggering an all-out meltdown from New Mexico Democrats and their allies on the far left. Contrarian Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) voted with Democrats on the bill on concerns of reckless spending, despite in 2023 voting to let Joe Biden raise the debt ceiling. Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) also joined Democrats and Massie in rejecting the bill that protects the Second Amendment and the country.

The historic legislation—a masterstroke of pro-growth policy, border security, and Second Amendment reinforcement—sent liberals into a frenzy. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and others unleashed emotional tirades over provisions prioritizing national sovereignty, economic opportunity, and constitutional freedoms. All of New Mexico’s U.S. House representatives rejected the monumental bill.

“The passage of this bill is a monumental win for American families, small businesses, gun owners, and patriots who believe in secure borders and free markets,” said Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA), who helped spearhead provisions to deregulate firearm suppressors. “This is a 2A victory and a direct hit on bloated bureaucracy.”

But while the rest of the country celebrates, New Mexico Democrats are in full panic mode.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham fumed, claiming the BBB “attacks Medicaid, jeopardizes food benefits for children, and undermines our progress on clean energy.” She failed to mention that the bill contains the largest middle-class tax cut in American history and reforms long-abused welfare programs to prioritize self-sufficiency and integrity. It does not, however, “attack” these programs.

Even more absurdly, Rep. Melanie Stansbury — red-faced and flustered during a press scrum — declared the bill’s funding of the border wall, Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense shield, and national security enhancements as dangerous.

The hysterics weren’t limited to Capitol Hill. The New Mexico Democrat Party joined in, issuing a statement that the bill “will be deadly,” conveniently ignoring that their own party added $6 trillion in debt under Biden with nothing to show but inflation, energy dependence, and open borders.

Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez chimed in with her own apocalyptic claims, accusing Republicans of orchestrating “the largest transfer of wealth from the working class to the ultra-rich in American history.” Her screed overlooked the permanent expansion of the small business deduction, protections for family farms, and tax cuts for tipped workers like waitstaff and drivers — real benefits already lauded by groups like the Job Creators Network and Uber.

Rep. Gabe Vasquez also chimed in with the same tired and discredited talking points, much the same as Fernandez and Stansbury.

In contrast to the doomsday rhetoric from Democrats, industry leaders and advocacy groups celebrated the bill’s provisions:

The National Rifle Association praised the removal of suppressors from the National Firearms Act, calling it a “monumental victory for Second Amendment rights.”

Farm Bureau, Cattlemen’s Association, and National Pork Producers Council highlighted reforms that support family farms and protect food supply chains.

Border Czar Tom Homan applauded new funding to expand ICE operations, enhance wall construction, and combat child and drug trafficking.

The American Petroleum Institute cheered restored American energy dominance and the rollback of Biden-era methane fees.

Claims that BBB will devastate Medicaid and SNAP are baseless fear-mongering. The bill implements eligibility reviews, anti-fraud measures, and streamlined assistance reforms backed by most Americans. Even the alleged $500 billion in Medicare “cuts” are nothing more than trimming waste and fraud, not touching a dime of guaranteed benefits.

And yes — the bill includes funding for the Golden Dome, a groundbreaking anti-missile defense shield to protect against threats like China, Russia, and rogue nations.

At the end of the day, the BBB is about America First. It’s about freedom, prosperity, and security. That’s why the radical left is screaming. They’ve lost control — and the people are taking their country back.

Now, the bill heads to the U.S. Senate. Americans across the nation are urging their senators to finish the job. Let the Democrats wail — the future belongs to those who build it, not those who tear it down.

MLG, Dems livid after U.S. House passes Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Read More »

NPR lauds woke Texas Dems quietly colonizing New Mexico

39 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

A recent article by the far-left outlet NPR highlights a growing trend of liberal Texans fleeing the Lone Star State for New Mexico — a move applauded by progressive politicians and activists hoping to transform the rural, resource-rich state into a safe haven for far-left policies.

According to NPR, over 34,000 Texans relocated to New Mexico between 2022 and 2023, more than from any other state. Many cited Texas’ conservative laws protecting unborn life, religious freedom, and children from radical gender ideology as reasons for their departure. The report framed these policies as “oppressive,” while praising New Mexico’s left-wing agenda.

Featured prominently in the piece were Nancy and Kent Fuka, self-described former proud Texans who now live in Santa Fe. They told NPR that the state’s “emphasis of fundamental religion” made Texas unlivable for them. “You couldn’t pay us enough to move back to Texas,” Kent said.

Another couple profiled, software developer Donovan Kolby and his partner Stephanie Bonzek, echoed similar sentiments. Bonzek, a family nurse practitioner, told NPR she was moved to tears by New Mexico’s progressive policies, calling it a state that “keeps trying to do the right thing.”

The article lauded far-left lame duck Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for actively recruiting left-wing transplants. Grisham has aggressively positioned the state as a “refuge” for abortion seekers, families with gender-confused children, and doctors wanting to escape red-state medical regulations. She has allocated at least $20 million in taxpayer dollars to build two abortion facilities, including one in Las Cruces, near the Texas border.

Grisham also advertised in Texas cities to recruit OB-GYNs, tweeting “This ain’t Texas.” Despite the marketing push, the article admitted only a few doctors have taken the offer, citing high malpractice insurance costs in New Mexico.

NPR portrayed the country’s political “sorting”—conservatives to Texas, liberals to New Mexico—as a natural outcome of polarization. However, it downplayed the concerns of longtime New Mexico residents, including those who say the influx is contributing to skyrocketing housing costs and political tension.

Democrat State Sen. Moe Maestas told NPR that many of the newcomers are “more progressive than the average Democrat” in New Mexico and warned that there is friction between local Hispanic Democrats and white liberals from out of state.

NPR also quoted residents protesting in front of the New Mexico Capitol against Donald Trump and Republican policies. One activist, Carol Norris, summed up the left’s view of the migration by declaring, “Don’t let them Texas our New Mexico, dammit.”

Despite the cheerleading from NPR and the progressive establishment, New Mexico’s transformation is far from settled. Trump has made gains in recent elections, and parts of the state remain solidly conservative, especially in the oil-producing southeast. In 2024, the president narrowly lost the state by a mere five points after previously losing the Land of Enchantment by nearly 11 points. 

As national media outlets continue to celebrate the leftward drift of New Mexico, conservatives warn the state could become yet another example of what happens when progressive ideology replaces traditional values.

NPR lauds woke Texas Dems quietly colonizing New Mexico Read More »

Largest private equity firm in the world enters deal to buy PNM’s parent co.

17 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

TXNM Energy, the parent company of Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Blackstone Infrastructure, a business unit of Blackstone Inc., run by CEO Stephen A. Schwarzman. This landmark $11.5 billion transaction will significantly shape New Mexico’s energy landscape. Blackstone is the largest private equity firm in the world. Under the deal, TXNM shareholders will receive $61.25 per share in cash, with the purchase funded entirely through equity and existing debt.

PNM, a cornerstone of New Mexico’s energy infrastructure and a subsidiary of TXNM Energy, currently serves over 550,000 customers across the state. Known for its role in transitioning New Mexico toward “clean energy,” PNM has committed to “carbon-free electricity” under the state’s burdensome Energy Transition Act and has already achieved supplying over two-thirds of its power from carbon-free sources. TXNM’s other major subsidiary, Texas-New Mexico Power (TNMP), provides electricity to more than 260,000 customers in Texas and has experienced double-digit demand growth in recent years.

“This transaction gives us the long-term capital we need to continue investing in a clean, resilient grid that supports economic prosperity in New Mexico,” said Pat Collawn, Chair and CEO of TXNM Energy. “Blackstone Infrastructure shares our commitment to customer-focused investment and will be a true partner as we navigate the energy transition.”

Blackstone Infrastructure, with $60 billion in assets under management, specializes in long-term investments in critical infrastructure sectors. The firm’s approach, characterized by “patient capital,” means it has no obligation to sell its assets within a defined time frame, positioning it well to support the sustained growth of energy systems in New Mexico and Texas.

Crucially, the acquisition comes with key assurances for New Mexico customers and workers. PNM will remain headquartered in Albuquerque, and local management will continue to lead operations. All current employees will be retained, and existing labor agreements with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) will be honored.

Electricity rates for customers will still be determined by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC), preserving regulatory oversight. Additionally, Blackstone and TXNM Energy have pledged to engage stakeholders and develop a detailed package of customer and community benefits, to be outlined in filings later this year.

TXNM Energy has also emphasized that it will continue economic and charitable outreach across New Mexico, including support for tribal and pueblo communities. These commitments align with the company’s current community-focused ethos, which Blackstone has vowed to uphold.

Sean Klimczak, Global Head of Blackstone Infrastructure, noted, “We are long-term partners committed to helping New Mexico grow. We look forward to working with TXNM’s leadership and the communities they serve to deliver on shared goals of grid modernization and clean energy reliability.”

The deal includes a $400 million private placement investment by Blackstone, with an additional $400 million in equity to be raised before the transaction closes. TXNM expects the acquisition to finalize in the second half of 2026, pending shareholder and regulatory approvals, including from the NMPRC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Upon closing, current CEO Don Tarry will lead TXNM Energy, while Pat Collawn will retire from her role as Executive Chair.

With this acquisition, Blackstone Infrastructure positions itself as a long-term steward of New Mexico’s energy future—providing capital, continuity, and a commitment to a cleaner grid for the Land of Enchantment.

Largest private equity firm in the world enters deal to buy PNM’s parent co. Read More »

Governor who calls opponents ‘lizard people’ now trying to pose as unity leader

32 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico will be featured alongside Utah Governor Spencer Cox in the next installment of the “Common Ground Forum,” a series organized by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute to promote civil dialogue and bipartisan cooperation. The event, scheduled for Tuesday and moderated by Steve Hayes of The Dispatch, aims to highlight strategies for bridging political divides and fostering civility in governance, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.

According to a news release, the forum will explore “how bipartisan collaboration, mutual respect and the ability to navigate healthy conflict can strengthen American democracy.” The event touts Lujan Grisham and Cox as two leaders from “opposite sides of the aisle” who have allegedly found ways to work across political divides.

But the governor’s inclusion in such a forum has raised eyebrows, particularly given her repeated use of inflammatory language that has alienated both conservatives and members of her own party.

During a 2021 campaign event, Lujan Grisham mocked protesters critical of her policies—many of whom were supporters of President Donald Trump—by derisively calling them “QAnon lizard people.” She said, “I’m sorry that we picked the same location that the QAnon lizard people meeting was at,” a remark widely seen as ridiculing and dehumanizing constituents who disagreed with her pandemic mandates and political agenda.

Lujan Grisham has also dismissed criticisms from Republican lawmakers and conservative groups by labeling their concerns as “anti-science,” “dangerous,” or “extremist,” particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In multiple interviews and press conferences, she painted political dissent as a threat to public safety, once saying opponents of her lockdown policies were “risking lives to make political points.”

Her language hasn’t been reserved solely for Republicans. In 2023, members of her own Democratic Party expressed frustration over her strong-armed approach to policy negotiations, with some describing her governing style as “combative” and “unilateral.” Tensions flared when she vetoed parts of legislation favored by progressive Democrats.

Adding to the irony of her participation in a civility-focused event, the governor triggered a national controversy in 2023 when she issued a temporary executive order suspending the right to carry firearms in public in Albuquerque, citing a public health emergency. The move was denounced across the political spectrum—including by members of her own party—as an unconstitutional overreach, prompting lawsuits and protests.

After the most recent legislative session, Lujan Grisham vetoed the most benign bills that passed both the state House and Senate unanimously to spite Democrats who did not fully carry out her agenda in the 60-day timeframe.

Just in the past few weeks, Lujan Grisham has taken to the airwaves to inflame and distort regarding issues surrounding Medicaid and illegal immigration, spreading blatant falsehoods about what congressional budget proposals will do and the state of the country’s border, which is now secure under President Trump, no thanks to her. 

While Utah Governor Spencer Cox will also speak at the event, his record, though often described as moderate (not very conservative at all despite his conservative state), has included the veto of a transgender sports bill, followed by later support for legislation limiting access to gender-specific spaces. However, criticism focuses on Lujan Grisham’s incongruous role in an event dedicated to civil discourse.

The governor’s idea of modeling “principled governance” and “bipartisan collaboration” may sound noble, but to many New Mexicans who have been the recipients of her incendiary rhetoric, it rings hollow.

Governor who calls opponents ‘lizard people’ now trying to pose as unity leader Read More »

Wokera: NM taxpayers being forced to fund ‘queer,’ Israel-hating veggie farm

33 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

New Mexico’s Economic Development Department (EDD) has awarded $25,000 in taxpayer funding to an Albuquerque-based farming operation, Ashokra Farm, under the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) program. But what at first glance appeared to be a minor example of questionable spending has become a window into the state’s support for increasingly radical and political causes.

According to a press release from EDD, Ashokra Farm was given the grant “to support agricultural and community-based initiatives,” and was praised for being a “culturally significant okra farm.” 

That descriptor alone raised eyebrows at the Rio Grande Foundation (RGF), a non-partisan research institute focused on limited government in New Mexico. “We thought it was a funny story involving a (relatively) small amount of wasteful spending,” RGF noted in a commentary, “until we were alerted to the Farm’s Facebook page.”

The farm, according to its own promotional materials and a profile in The Guardian, identifies as a “queer and people of color farm.” Its mission includes protecting people from “homophobia, transphobia, racism, and sexism.” While the rhetoric might appeal to progressive circles, critics argue that such identity-based messaging has little to do with economic development or agriculture, and even less with responsible use of public funds.

But the concerns go deeper than identity politics. On Ashokra Farm’s Facebook page, the farm posted a call to “boycott these companies in support of a FREE PALESTINE AND END TO THE GENOCIDE that is currently being funded by Israel and the United States.” The post goes on to name several agricultural firms with ties to Israel, calling for a boycott of companies allegedly connected to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

In the current global context, where violent anti-Israel protests and campus takeovers have been dominating headlines, the farm’s stance reads not merely as political but explicitly partisan and inflammatory. 

The taxpayer-funded grant has thus become a flashpoint. “If you are concerned about your tax dollars going to radical causes like this,” RGF urged in its Errors of Enchantment post, “I’d recommend sharing this story with your local newspaper or TV station.”

The issue raises broader questions about how EDD evaluates grantees and whether ideological agendas are being subsidized by public money. The department is led by Secretary Rob Black, who can be contacted by concerned citizens at rob.black@edd.nm.gov.

This incident follows mounting criticism of the Lujan Grisham administration’s selective funding of politically aligned organizations under the guise of economic development. The grant to Ashokra Farm highlights what some see as a growing trend of activist causes being quietly bankrolled by taxpayers.

As New Mexico approaches the 2026 gubernatorial election, voters may increasingly demand greater accountability over how economic development dollars are allocated—and whether they’re being used to support agriculture or activism.

Wokera: NM taxpayers being forced to fund ‘queer,’ Israel-hating veggie farm Read More »

Summer is coming—and so are higher PNM rates under NM’s Green New Deal

24 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

New Mexico residents served by Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) will soon pay more for electricity, following the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) approval of a phased rate increase. As reported by KOAT News 7, the average residential customer will see their monthly bill rise by $6.23, split between two increases—one in July 2025 and another in April 2026.

PNM says the rate hikes are necessary to support infrastructure upgrades and meet the demands of New Mexico’s state-imposed energy mandates. “This outcome ensures we can continue investing in the infrastructure and technologies necessary to meet our customers’ needs and support New Mexico’s clean energy future,” said Don Tarry, PNM’s president and CEO. “We are grateful to the other parties who worked with us to reach a fair settlement.”

The rising costs are directly tied to the state’s Energy Transition Act (ETA)—legislation passed in 2019 and signed into law by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. The ETA mandates that New Mexico’s utilities shift to 50% renewable electricity by 2030 and 100% carbon-free generation by 2045. As a result, utilities like PNM have shuttered affordable baseload power sources, such as coal-fired plants like the San Juan Generating Station, and replaced them with higher-cost solar, wind, and battery storage infrastructure.

These new technologies require substantial upfront investment, which PNM is now possibly recouping through customer rate increases. The costs of building new transmission lines, acquiring battery storage systems, and integrating intermittent power sources have added billions to utility budgets—burdens that are now being passed on to ratepayers.

According to filings with the PRC, utilities are justifying rate hikes by using them to fund capital investments in renewable resources and “grid modernization.” But for many New Mexicans, this green energy push has translated into growing monthly expenses, even as the reliability of the electric grid faces new challenges.

The Energy Transition Act also allows utilities to recover costs through a mechanism known as “securitization,” in which utilities are allowed to issue bonds backed by ratepayer obligations. This financial structure was promoted as a way to lower the cost of transition, but in practice, it has contributed to long-term repayment obligations that lock consumers into decades of higher bills.

In effect, New Mexico’s attempt to implement its version of the “Green New Deal” is coming at a steep price. While PNM and the state tout environmental progress, ratepayers are being forced to fund the transition, regardless of whether they can afford it.

To make matters worse, during the 2025 Legislative Session, Democrats passed legislation that would also permit utilities to have socialist rate structures for low-income consumers to have low rates that middle-class and higher-income New Mexicans would be forced to pay with higher rates, further increasing the cost of utilities in the state.

The first PNM rate hike will hit in July 2025, offering New Mexicans an unwelcome reminder of how state-mandated energy policy directly impacts their pocketbooks. For PNM rate information, click here.

Summer is coming—and so are higher PNM rates under NM’s Green New Deal Read More »

Marijuana kingpin plots $2M GOP bid for New Mexico governorship

35 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Duke Rodriguez, the 67-year-old president and CEO of Ultra Health, is contemplating a Republican bid for New Mexico governor in 2026. While widely recognized for leading the state’s largest cannabis company, Rodriguez is keen to highlight his extensive experience in healthcare and public administration as he evaluates a potential campaign.

“I’m not hiding the fact [that] I’m developing this conversation. It’s a real, honest possibility,” Rodriguez stated, expressing over 90% confidence in joining the race. He has engaged in discussions with national Republican groups and local GOP officials to assess the viability of his candidacy. 

Rodriguez emphasizes that his interest in the governorship stems from a desire to effect meaningful change rather than personal ambition. “This is sincere. I don’t need the title,” he remarked, underscoring his commitment to public service.

Courtesy Portrait of Duke Rodriguez

Before founding Ultra Health in 2010, Rodriguez served as secretary of New Mexico’s Human Services Department under former Governor Gary Johnson and held a senior executive role at Lovelace Health System. His professional background also includes experience in the pharmaceutical industry.

Rodriguez is prepared to invest $2 million of his own funds into a gubernatorial campaign, contingent upon his confidence in securing a majority vote. “We see Republicans get to 45, 46% in general elections. I have to know I can get to 50% plus one,” he stated.

His policy priorities include reforming and stabilizing Medicaid and public pension programs. Rodriguez advocates for stronger Medicaid verification and eligibility requirements, particularly concerning non-citizens, to ensure responsible allocation of resources.

In the Republican field, Rodriguez would join Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, who has officially declared his candidacy. Other potential GOP contenders include retired state Supreme Court Justice Judith Nakamura and former Lieutenant Governor under former Gov. Susana Martinez, John Sanchez. 

On the Democratic side, the race features prominent figures such as former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman. Former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima is expected to announce his candidacy on May 27, while Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales is also considering a run.

Rodriguez’s potential candidacy brings a unique perspective to the gubernatorial race, blending his experience in healthcare administration, public service, and the cannabis industry. He plans to make a final decision regarding his campaign by September 2025.

As the 2026 election approaches, New Mexico voters can anticipate a dynamic and multifaceted contest, with candidates from diverse backgrounds vying to lead the state into the future.

Marijuana kingpin plots $2M GOP bid for New Mexico governorship Read More »

Democrat lawmaker demands taxpayer-funded salary after trashing public funds

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New Mexico State Rep. Micaela Lara Cadena (D-Mesilla), best known this session for squandering public funds on a one-line constituent letter and burning bridges with her own party, is now blaming her embarrassing performance on one thing: the lack of a paycheck.

In a stunning display of entitlement, Cadena, who chose to send taxpayers a single sentence reading “The people of New Mexico deserve better” as her only official communication after the session, says it’s all because the legislature doesn’t provide her a cushy, taxpayer-funded salary.

At one point during the session, Cadena (who has the lowest attendance record of any legislator) angered House Democrats so much that she drove home during the legislative session and abandoned constituents on key votes due to her temper tantrum. Her latest antics, including attacks on legislators of both parties, could very well cost her a vice-chair seat on the House Taxation and Revenue Committee. It also would not be surprising if the Democrat Party fields a candidate to primary challenge her in the 2026 election, if she decides to run.

“Who we send to Santa Fe does not represent the incredible depth and diversity and insight and expertise of families across our state,” Cadena complained to KRQE News, arguing that only the “powerful, wealthy, or retired” can afford to serve in New Mexico’s citizen legislature. But critics say that’s just a cover for her lackluster work ethic and political ambition.

Her one-liner letter came after weeks of alienating her Democratic colleagues and voting against key legislation supported by her own party. Rather than owning up to her decisions, she’s playing the victim and lobbying for a paycheck, turning the ideal of public service into a career track.

“That body, in my perspective and insight, does not represent the New Mexicans that I try to show up for every day,” she added, even as she failed to do just that. Ironically, her own actions—minimal constituent engagement, burning political goodwill, and spending public money for essentially nothing—are the very example of what New Mexicans don’t want from their representatives.

State Rep. John Block (R-Alamogordo), the editor of the Piñon Post, wrote in response to her letter, “Honestly, shame on her. The taxpayers fund these letters, and she wasted it by writing one single line — a line, mind you,  that FALLS ENTIRELY ON THE DEMOCRAT PARTY WHO HAVE BEEN IN POWER FOR NEARLY A CENTURY — because she’s lazy and didn’t want to write a REAL letter, like I did to my constituents,” sharing photos of his robust correspondence to those he represents in contrast to hers.

Rep. Angelica Rubio, another Democrat who backed the failed legislative salaries push, co-sponsored HJR 18 and SJR 1 this year. Both bills aimed to add legislative pay in a state that has proudly maintained a volunteer legislature since its founding. Their efforts failed, with SJR 1 not even making it to a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee.

Democratic Sen. George Muñoz (D-Gallup), who chairs the committee, pushed back strongly on the idea. “I see a wide variety of people there. I see teachers who have jobs that leave the schools for 60 days. I see non-profit organizations that have people that are elected, I see retirees, I see ranchers,” Muñoz said. He argued that paying lawmakers wouldn’t enhance representation—it would attract people looking for a paycheck, not those looking to serve.

“Now, will it open it up to an array of people? Sure it will,” Muñoz said. “It will get people running for a job, and it will not be for service to the state or for service to their constituents.”

That statement hits especially close to home for Cadena and Rubio, who seem more focused on padding their resumes than doing the people’s work. Their push to transform the Roundhouse into a salaried political class undercuts the very spirit of citizen government, replacing service with self-interest.

NM legislator’s past conflicts of interest contradict current ethics rhetoric

Democrat lawmaker demands taxpayer-funded salary after trashing public funds Read More »

MLG uses national TV spot to spread strange border lies and Medicaid panic

29 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In a revealing interview on CBS’s Face the Nation Sunday, lame duck far-left Democrat New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham doubled down on failed progressive policies while lobbing partisan attacks at Republicans, defending a bloated Medicaid system, and criticizing common-sense border security initiatives championed by popular President Donald Trump.

Grisham, who governs the state with the highest Medicaid enrollment per capita, railed against proposed Republican Medicaid reforms, calling them a “disaster” and accusing conservatives of wanting to “destroy health care as we know it.” Despite acknowledging that over 70% of her state’s Medicaid budget comes from federal funds, she offered no realistic plan for sustainability—only vague assurances that New Mexico would “do everything they can” to fill the gap.

In a fearmongering tirade, Grisham claimed that rolling back Medicaid would result in hospital closures, higher maternal mortality, and even child deaths, stating, “People will die. Children will die.” This doomsday rhetoric ignored the legitimate fiscal concerns of a rapidly growing Medicaid system that critics argue has become bloated, wasteful, and riddled with fraud.

Rather than consider accountability or reform, the governor shifted blame and evoked the name of her Republican predecessor, Susana Martinez, accusing her administration of gutting behavioral health services during a recession—an assertion that oversimplifies a complex financial crisis the state faced at the time.

Grisham’s comments also took aim at the Trump administration’s newly declared National Defense Area along the New Mexico-Mexico border, a move aimed at cracking down on illegal crossings and enhancing national security. The governor dismissed the military’s involvement in securing the border as “disconcerting,” bizarrely likening the display of American tanks to constitutional violations.

She further insisted that immigration enforcement efforts—particularly ICE raids—are a larger concern than actual illegal border crossings, which she falsely claimed are at “the lowest” levels in years, despite record surges and mass releases under the Biden administration.

“I don’t think it is,” Grisham said when asked if the new military-secured zone helped address illegal immigration. Instead, she offered vague calls for more asylum access, suggesting that border policy should not “just be doing that to South Africans,” a non-sequitur that confused even some viewers.

The governor’s tone-deaf interview highlights how out of step she remains with voters who want secure borders, responsible governance, and fiscal reform, not more fearmongering, excuses, and ideological obstruction.

MLG uses national TV spot to spread strange border lies and Medicaid panic Read More »

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