Politics

MLG refuses to answer Hobbs newspaper’s candidate questionnaire

12 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In her latest snub to the conservative city of Hobbs in Lea County, Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham flatly refused to answer a simple candidate questionnaire from the newspaper, the Hobbs News-Sun. 

The questionnaire had relevant inquiries about the oil-rich part of the state, specifically if the candidate would support the industry and its high-paying jobs.

Republican nominee Mark Ronchetti responded, “ New Mexico’s oil and gas industry is the backbone of our state’s economy.” He added, “I’ll implement an oil and gas rebate program.”

Karen Bedonie, the Libertarian candidate and former Republican who left the GOP, said, “I am a realist and I realize the major role of the New Mexico oil and gas industry to the state and I definitely know the economic importance it holds in our economic future.”

According to the News-Sun, Lujan Grisham refused to answer the questions.

“A spokesperson for the Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham reelection campaign, Delaney Corcoran, informed the News-Sun about 10:22 a.m. on Oct. 4 [Lujan] Grisham will not answer the questions sent to her on Sept. 22,” the outlet reported.

This is not the first time Lujan Grirhsm has been hostile toward Hobbs. During her pandemic press conferences, she railed against the conservative community.

As we previously reported:

Lujan Grisham then went on to compare random photographs from Taos and Hobbs, one showing a sunny, bright day in Taos, where people were wearing face masks as far as the eye could see. However, the other photograph Lujan Grisham showed was one of an unnamed establishment in Hobbs, which appeared to be a snitch photo submitted to her office picturing people eating inside and not wearing masks. 

As well, she said, “I don’t think the individuals were trying to support a local business,” then claiming “we’re getting… those photos and many calls and many complaints, and we’re going out.” 

Other than threatening local law enforcers with fines and citations after her rant at the Hobbs business, Lujan Grisham then claimed, “Nobody wishes that restaurants have a situation where they have a situation where they are challenged to make it. Every business — every small business is worthy of New Mexico’s attention and support.” It may not appear that way, with the New Mexico Restaurant Associaton estimating that 20% of restaurants across the state will close forever.  

Lujan Grisham continued, saying, “And I know that New Mexicans also know we are also debating these issues in front of fact-finders — judges — statewide, and I believe in the independence and authority of judges. And we will adhere to whatever judicial action comes down any number of these. But we are citing. We are closing, and I will tell you this. For local law enforcement: where you are also — it’s bad enough that you won’t help us cite folks who aren’t wearing masks and organizations and businesses and restaurants following public health orders — if you are violating a public health order, there are civil and criminal tools at our disposal. And local law enforcement — including the sheriffs who have been posting photos of themselves eating returns — should expect to be cited as such and to be held accountable.”

After snubbing the Hobbs News-Sun, Power The Future’s Larry Behrens said, “Given Governor Lujan’s Grisham’s massive record of failure, particularly in energy policy, it’s not a surprise she has no response. Governor Lujan Grisham has never felt accountable to the people of New Mexico, especially those in the energy industry in southeast New Mexico. The cost of gas is shooting up again, massive inflation is hurting struggling families and all Michelle Lujan Grisham can offer are non-answers to accompany her non-accomplishments.”

MLG refuses to answer Hobbs newspaper’s candidate questionnaire Read More »

New Ronchetti ad torches MLG over groping scandal, hush money payments

17 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

A fiery new ad from Republican gubernatorial nominee Ronchetti hits Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham over her sexual assault payments where she shelled out $150,000 to an ex-staffer who says she poured water over his crotch area and then groped his penis through his clothes. 

The ad features news clips, including one report from CNN.

The CNN anchor said, “Tonight, New Mexico governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is battling a sexual misconduct allegation.”

An announcer reads, “The governor mocked the manhood of an openly gay staffer,” adding, “and then grabbed his crotch through his clothes.”

The ad then features the staffer, James Hallinan, in his own voice during an interview with KOAT 7 where he said, “I was pressured to not report it to law enforcement.”

An announcer adds, “The governor paid the staffer more than $150,000 to settle and forced him to agree to never talk about it again. Wouldn’t this get you fired?”

In 2017, former lieutenant governor candidate, state Sen. Michael Padilla, was accused of a decade-old sexual harassment charge. At the time, Lujan Grisham demanded Padilla drop out of the race for office. Padilla was just promoted to Democrat Senate Majority Whip.

She told the Associated Press, “My position on sexual harassment is clear: it is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated by me or in my administration. Michael Padilla’s actions were wrong.” She continued, “There is no room for excuses and he should withdraw his candidacy for lieutenant governor.”

Lujan Grisham didn’t live up to her own standard, flatly claiming, “There is no room for excuses.” Her excuse for the $150,000 was that she was busy during the pandemic and didn’t have time to fight the claims.

She said at the time, “I was focused on the pandemic, and I’ll stand by that decision [to settle] every minute of every day.”

Previously, a man came forward in 2018 before the gubernatorial election accusing Lujan Grisham of groping him at a party, which led to the end of his relationship. 

The man, Eddie Dehart, said of the 2005 groping incident, “In 2005, we have a party at my girlfriend’s house. It was an artisan party to showcase some art in Santa Fe and help the artists out to sell their products…During the game, it was Michelle’s shot. And she walked around the pool table and walked by me. When she walked by me she grabbed my crotch.” He said that Lujan Grisham exclaimed to his girlfriend that “you have a man here.”

“Michelle was asked to leave the party,” he said. “I didn’t do nothing [sic] to provoke it.” 

Dehart said that Lujan Grisham’s conduct led to a rift with his girlfriend. “Michelle’s drunkenness and her touchy hands ended up breaking us up in the long run.”

Now that the groping is becoming an election issue for Lujan Grisham, widespread television ads exposing her groping could tilt the balance toward Ronchetti in November.

New Mexico Democrats have a BIG groping problem
Alleged crotch grabber MLG defends paying off accuser, cites ‘pandemic’ as cover
MLG pays her alleged groping victim $87.5K more in hush money

New Ronchetti ad torches MLG over groping scandal, hush money payments Read More »

National outlet shines light on NM’s border crisis as election issue

10 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

While most of the mainstream media is content to ignore the border catastrophe happening in New Mexico — a safe haven for criminal aliens and drug cartels — only a few news outlets, such as Fox News, have even dedicated a few minutes to the crisis of the state’s porous border.

New Mexico remains the lone illegal immigration free-for-all between Arizona and Texas, two states that have beefed up security on the southern border, even going so far as to allocate state funds to finish President Trump’s border wall. 

The wall proved during the Trump administration to be a massive success. But now, with gaping holes being left for illegal aliens, human and drug traffickers, and even some terrorists to jump through with ease, the crisis has required a robust response. 

Such a response has not come to fruition under Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Just the opposite. During her first few days as governor, Lujan Grisham pulled the state’s National Guard from the southern border, further exacerbating the crisis. She has parroted open borders rhetoric, which has led municipalities like Santa Fe and Albuquerque to declare themselves so-called “sanctuaries” for criminal aliens.

The Washington Examiner highlighted New Mexico in a piece published Thursday, focusing on the state’s governor’s race being a potential game changer to help stop the spread of deadly fentanyl and close off illegal immigration numbers, which have risen to over two million apprehensions just this year.

The outlet reported:

There is an additional reason New Mexico attracts less notice for illegal crossovers than its neighbors — federal agency classifications that can keep the state’s profile low when it comes to illegal immigration. There are no U.S. Customs and Border Protection sectors in New Mexico, the fifth-largest state by land mass at 121,365 square miles. Texas has multiple border sectors, along with Arizona and California. Even Vermont, the seventh smallest state, at 9,249 square miles, has its own sector up north along the U.S. border with Canada.

There are three border crossings in New Mexico, compared to six in California, six in Arizona, and 20 in Texas, even though at 179.5 miles, New Mexico’s border with Mexico is longer than that of California, at 140 miles.

That lesser amount of federal border resources put into New Mexico has become a major campaign focal point for Ronchetti. New Mexico has to pick up the slack from the federal authorities, argues Ronchetti, a former television weatherman who was the 2020 New Mexico GOP Senate nominee, losing to then-Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) by a 6.1-percentage-point margin.

Ronchetti is up against an experienced candidate in Lujan Grisham, who won the New Mexico governorship in 2018 after six years in the House, representing the state’s Albuquerque-area 1st Congressional District.

The Examiner wrote that Lujan Grisham could very well be defeated, saying, “Lujan Grisham, however, may be vulnerable. In addition to taking heat over border policies, Lujan Grisham drew a wave of negative headlines early in the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2020, she was criticized after purchasing jewelry from a store in Albuquerque once she ordered all nonessential businesses to be closed. In response, the governor’s office said the transaction was done remotely and didn’t violate the order.” 

It added, “If Ronchetti ousts the governor, he’ll need only look south, toward the border, to know why.” 

National outlet shines light on NM’s border crisis as election issue Read More »

2021 FBI data shows NM has second-worst crime rate in the nation

10 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

According to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) data from 2021, New Mexico ranked as the state with the second-highest crime rate in the nation, with crimes affecting 2.19% of the population. 

KRQE 13 reports, “The numbers also show New Mexico’s per-population kidnapping and abduction rate was the highest in the nation. But that may be due, in part, to the way the state defines kidnapping. New Mexico’s definition of kidnapping could be construed as relatively broad and includes holding someone against their will using force or intimidation.”  

In 2021, for every 100,000 New Mexicans, law enforcement reported 2,189 crimes against persons or affecting 2.92% of the population. The only state with worse overall crime was Arkansas, with 2,276 crimes per 100,000 people. 

The report added, “New Mexico law enforcement also reported more homicides in 2021 than the year before. Across New Mexico, police reported 193 homicides to the FBI in 2021. That’s 67 more than in 2020.”

New Mexico clinched the top spot for the highest crime rate in the kidnapping category, with the most abductions than any other state

Regarding assault, New Mexico agencies reported nearly 25,500 instances in 2021 — 1,872 more than the state reported in 2020.

According to the FBI, “In 2021, the FBI expanded homicide crime statistics for New Mexico are based on 42 of 128 law enforcement agencies in the state that year who elected to submit an expanded homicide report.” 

Explore all the FBI data on New Mexico here.

2021 FBI data shows NM has second-worst crime rate in the nation Read More »

GOP AG nominee Jeremy Gay tied with Dem Raúl Torrez in new poll

4 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

According to a new Cygnal poll, Republican attorney general nominee Jeremy Gay is tied with Democrat nominee Raúl Torrez. The poll shows Gay at 41.4 percent while Torrez had 42 percent. 16.6 percent of voters were undecided.

The polling company wrote, “The environment in New Mexico provides a key opportunity for Republicans to win in November: the generic congressional ballot is tied (Republican 46.9% – Democrat 46.6%) and incumbent Democrat Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is struggling below the 50% threshold, sputtering at 46.2% while Republican challenger Mark Ronchetti hits 44.4%, and Libertarian candidate Karen Bedonie notches 4.5%, with 4.9% undecided.” 

“In the race for Attorney General, Jeremy Gay has a higher ceiling than Torrez. The better-funded-to this-point Torrez has a higher name ID (69.5%) than Gay (57.9%). In particular, Torrez has a higher name ID with Democratic voters than Gay does with Republicans, and that cashes out on the ballot, where 19.2% of Republican voters remain undecided, a higher mark than among Democrats (13.6% undecided).” 

Cygnal noted that of 16.6 percent of independent voters from the poll, they “lean Republican on the generic congressional ballot (R+6.1).”

A previous leftist poll commissioned by New Mexico Political Journal in June showed Gay was seven points behind Torrez, and he appears to have closed the gap. 

“Our campaign to restore law and order and end the violent crime wave plaguing New Mexico is clearly resonating with voters,” said Gay, a U.S. Marine Corps judge advocate. “Families are sick of the inaction from politicians like District Attorney Raúl Torrez who declined to prosecute over 50 percent of violent felony cases. The time for talk and inaction is over. As Attorney General, I will get justice for victims and I will ensure criminals are held accountable.”

The poll was conducted between September  27 and 29 with a sample size of 400 and a margin of error of ± 4.86 percent. 

According to the polling company, “Cygnal is an award-winning international polling, public opinion, and predictive analytics firm that pioneered multi-mode polling, text-to-web collection, and emotive analysis. Cygnal consistently ranks as the most accurate firm, and clients rely on Cygnal’s ability to create intelligence for action. Its team members have worked in 48 states and 17 countries on more than 2,700 corporate, public affairs, and political campaigns.” 

Torrez is a Soros-funded candidate who has spent hundreds of thousands to back the extreme far-left Democrat. As we previously reported:

Hedge fund billionaire George Soros, who has funded extreme projects such as Black Lives Matter and other dark money groups backing socialist initiatives, donated $107,000 to a political action committee, “New Mexico Safety & Justice” that helped Raúl Torrez win the Democrat primary for district attorney in 2016.

GOP AG nominee Jeremy Gay tied with Dem Raúl Torrez in new poll Read More »

Ex-Rep. Torres Small, legislator husband in hot water over Hatch Act abuse claims

4 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Monday, the Republican Party of New Mexico announced that U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee Ranking Member James Comer found apparent violations of the Hatch Act by former U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM), who now serves as Joe Biden’s Under Secretary for Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The news came amid claims Torres Small fundraised for her husband, state Rep. Nathan Small (D-Las Cruces), and other Democrats — a violation of the Hatch Act, which bans administration officials from engaging in partisan politics.

The release reads, “Comer says it appears Small may have broken the law by getting involved in political races. In particular, it’s believed Small may have used her influence to raise funds for [her] husband Nathan Small in the District 36 race. As Under Secretary, she cannot do this.”

“This could be a gross violation of federal law, a violation of public trust, and it’s crucial that Small be investigated. It would be inappropriate if she knowingly broke federal law and raised money for her spouse and other Democrats. If true, what Small is doing is not only wrong but exhibits blatant nepotism in a New Mexico election, and it’s shameful that Small would try to influence her husband’s race in this way.”

In a letter to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), Comer wrote, “Information obtained by Committee Republicans indicates she may be using her official position as Under Secretary to raise money for her husband’s reelection campaign this fall. If true, this raises questions about whether Under Secretary Small is using her government position to benefit her spouse’s political campaign and Democratic candidates for office.”

He then asked the OSC to open an investigation into Small, adding, “We request OSC begin an investigation to determine whether Under Secretary Small violated the Hatch Act by continuing to raise money for Shield PAC and possibly advocating for her spouse’s reelection campaign in her official capacity as an official at USDA. The Committee on Oversight and Reform is the principal oversight committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate ‘any matter’ at ‘any time’ under House Rule X.”

New Mexico House GOP Leader Jim Townsend of Artesia called for state Rep. Small to return the improper contributions that violated the Hatch Act, writing, “Voter trust is so fragile at this moment, and I am hopeful that Rep. Small will expeditiously come clean to the public about his involvement in this potential illegal scheme.”

Ex-Rep. Torres Small, legislator husband in hot water over Hatch Act abuse claims Read More »

VA Gov. Youngkin to campaign Wednesday with Ronchetti in ABQ, Mesilla

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On Monday, Republican gubernatorial nominee Mark Ronchetti’s campaign announced that Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) will campaign with him in Albuquerque and Las Cruces, being the third GOP governor to campaign for him after Govs. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Doug Ducey of Arizona.

According to a media advisory from the Ronchetti campaign, “Similar to Ronchetti, Youngkin’s [2021] campaign focused on kitchen-table issues that affect everyday Virginians.”

“At these campaign stops, Ronchetti and Youngkin will highlight the need to restore New Mexico’s public safety, catch kids up in the classroom, and provide sustained economic relief for the working families of New Mexico.”

The Albuquerque campaign stop will be at 2:00 p.m. at Napoli Coffee on Menaul. The Las Cruces campaign stop will be at 5:15 p.m. at La Posta De Mesilla, on Calle De San Albino in Mesilla. 

Youngkin is supporting many conservative candidates, such as Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Trump-backed GOP gubernatorial nominees Kari Lake of Arizona, Tudor Dixon of Michigan, and Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo of Nevada, to name a few. 

The news comes the same day that former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, who previously ran for president as the Libertarian nominee, endorsed Ronchetti, saying, “I’m voting for Mark Ronchetti to be the next governor of New Mexico. I think crime, education, and the economy will benefit from a fresh look at the issues New Mexico faces. I think the fact that, arguably, New Mexico had the most restrictive pandemic shutdown of all 50 states will adversely affect our economy for many years to come.” 

Ronchetti faces embattled Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and former GOP candidate-turned Libertarian nominee Karen Bedonie in November. 

VA Gov. Youngkin to campaign Wednesday with Ronchetti in ABQ, Mesilla Read More »

Santa Fe’s The Bull Ring restaurant sold due to Dems’ anti-business liquor law, MLG lockdowns

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After owning the famed Santa Fe restaurant, The Bull Ring, for 41 years, its owner, Harry Georgeades sold the establishment to a local business group headed by Santa Fe restauranteur Clint Singley, citing the Legislature’s law that “devalued” its liquor license.

The changing of ownership is ironic since The Bull Ring is a hotspot for legislators and lobbyists during the legislative session, where many deals are made and where the wheels of the Roundhouse turn. 

But Georgeades had enough when Democrats passed their bill that lowered the cost of liquor licenses and harmed those who already had licenses. The same bad law also banned miniature bottles of alcohol, which now force people to buy more expensive larger bottles. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Antonio “Moe” Maestas.

During the process of the anti-business bill’s consideration, New Mexico Packaged Liquor Association’s Mark Rhodes said, “I had clients during the session that were explaining to me that some people that have drinking problems will buy a mini to get through the morning or the afternoon or the day.” He added, “If they’re forced to buy larger quantities, which is what’s going to happen, they’ll buy more liquor. They’ll buy a half pints or even larger.”

The law, which was signed by Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, “reduced the cost of a liquor license to the range of about $1,550 to $10,000 rather than anywhere from $100,000 to $500,000,” according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. 

Now with The Bull Ring changing hands, Georgeades told the New Mexican, “When the Legislature changed the liquor rules, it just took a toll on me.” He continued, “Our liquor license was devalued. That’s the major thing.”

Also, Georgeades blames the Governor’s pandemic lockdowns for him calling it quits. 

“There’s also this: Like all restaurants, the pandemic did a number on The Bull Ring. What was a lunch-and-dinner steak joint open to 10 p.m. is now open 4 to 8 p.m. (and 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday), serving dinner only. Worker shortages are in play, too. For Georgeades, 40 years finally was enough,” the report noted. 

According to the New Mexico Restaurant Association, 18 percent, or 1,100 restaurants, closed for good under Lujan Grisham’s lockdowns. The Bull Ring is one of the lucky ones to only be sold to another owner, not closed down.

Santa Fe’s The Bull Ring restaurant sold due to Dems’ anti-business liquor law, MLG lockdowns Read More »

Dems float more taxes for next legislative session, if they hold majority

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According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, Democrats are already floating passing more taxes in the upcoming legislative session, hoping legislators will rally around hiking taxes on alcohol. 

“Everyone needs to understand the landscape before we have a serious conversation about how it should be changed,” said Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy Committee Chair Rep. Christine Chandler (D-Los Alamos).

The state currently taxes 7 cents per drink for wine and spirits and 4 cents a drink for beer, which Democrats want to jack up if they retain a Democrat majority and have Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham as governor.

Democrat Rep. Moe Maestas (D-Bernalillo) wants to hike the taxes by making them be based on the alcohol’s sale price instead of taxing alcohol by the volume sold. “This would keep pace with inflation and pass the cost directly to consumers,” wrote the New Mexican.

Other proposals to raise taxes are like those of Washington, D.C. on cigarettes, where the existing rates will be raised to follow inflation. 

David Jernigan, a professor at Boston University School of Public Health, suggests taxing New Mexicans for “billions of dollars in costs attributable to excessive drinking including lost productivity, health care and government services.” 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, this could mean an average tax of $3.71 for a drink of alcohol.

With these radical pro-tax proposals, there have been no meaningful conversations on how to cut government spending. Most Democrat conversations point to merely spending more while taxing more, including with the sales of marijuana and other substances recently legalized by the Democrat legislature. 

Dems float more taxes for next legislative session, if they hold majority Read More »

Afghan refugee accused of sexually assaulting 12-year-old Las Cruces boy

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According to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Shah Mahmood Selab, an Afghan national brought to the United States after Joe Biden’s botched Afghanistan withdrawal, has been charged with violently attacking and sexually assaulting a 12-year-old Las Cruces boy in a park.

The DOJ writes that “[O]n Aug. 12, Selab allegedly approached a 12-year-old boy at Youngs Park in Las Cruces near a local middle school. The victim was sitting on a bench when Selab began asking the victim personal questions, and then invited the victim to sit with him on another bench in the shade. After moving to the other bench, Selab allegedly used his cellphone to show the victim photos and videos that were sexual in nature. Selab allegedly touched the victim inappropriately.” 

“The victim attempted to walk away, but Selab allegedly followed him and punched him in the face multiple times. Selab allegedly asked the victim to get into his vehicle and offered the victim $20 to allow Selab to touch him.”

The release continues, “The victim attempted to call 911 and retreated to the restrooms where he closed himself in a stall. The complaint alleges that Selab followed the victim into the restrooms and pulled him from the stall. Selab allegedly locked the restroom door to prevent the victim from leaving, began kissing the victim’s face, and put a $20 bill in the victim’s hand. Selab also allegedly attempted to force the victim to touch Selab.”

After another person arrived at the restroom, the victim escaped from Selab. 

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed the alleged assailant was one of the Afghan refugees evacuated from the country to the U.S. by Joe Biden: 

Fox News Digital learned this week that Selab was paroled into the United States in November 2021. The office of Rep. Yvette Herrell, R-N.M., later confirmed to Fox that he was paroled and that law enforcement had verified that he was an Afghan national who was paroled in through Operation Allies Welcome. 

“This is a terrible crime, enabled by the complete lack of vetting and transparency in the wake of Joe Biden’s Afghanistan retreat,” [Congresswoman Yvette] Herrell (NM-CD-2) said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Our government should be protecting the families of New Mexico, not importing twisted individuals who prey on children. That is why last year I pushed for thorough vetting of migrants that the Biden administration has brought to our communities, and why I continue to fight for accountability.” [Emphasis added]

In a statement to Fox News Digital on Friday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said Selab was paroled into the U.S. on Nov. 18, 2021 at Philadelphia International Airport. ICE has now lodged a detainer on Selab, who the agency confirmed was a 35-year-old Afghan national, after his arrest. 

If convicted, Selab faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, according to the DOJ.

Afghan refugee accused of sexually assaulting 12-year-old Las Cruces boy Read More »

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