Politics

Vasquez floats wild conspiracies, bashes oil and gas to open-borders group

17 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), a self-proclaimed “champion” of border communities, was in Hobbs last week peddling his latest assault on New Mexico’s oil and gas industry — a sector that funds nearly half the state budget — while repeating far-left conspiracy theories with no basis in proven science.

Speaking to a tiny crowd of roughly two dozen people, most organized by the open-borders group Somos Un Pueblo Unido, Vasquez reintroduced a bill that would punish large oil and gas companies with yet another tax — this time to bankroll a special fund for worker health care costs supposedly caused by “methane exposure” and “low air quality.” These claims, popular with radical environmentalists, remain unproven by legitimate science and have been widely challenged by experts.

The legislation would target companies making more than $50 million a year, forcing them to hand over an amount equal to the combined salaries of their top ten executives into a federal trust fund. That fund would pay medical expenses for oil and gas workers and their families for conditions Vasquez claims are linked to the industry, including asthma, heat-related illness, and cardiovascular disease. No credible scientific consensus exists linking methane emissions from regulated U.S. oil and gas operations to such health conditions — a fact Vasquez conveniently ignores.

In a move straight out of the radical environmental left’s playbook, Vasquez also called for a sweeping federal study of “long-term health outcomes” in oil-producing states — a study sure to be driven by activist researchers who have long sought to undermine domestic energy production via “climate change” propaganda.

Vasquez’s rhetoric painted the industry as inherently dangerous, leaning heavily on anecdotal stories and an activist-funded report from Somos Un Pueblo Unido — a group that advocates for harboring illegal immigrants and opposes immigration enforcement at every turn. The report, co-authored with researchers at the University of New Mexico, predictably pushed a narrative of unsafe conditions and blamed the industry for everything from long work hours to driving hazards.

The Democrat also pivoted to his other pet cause — undermining U.S. immigration enforcement. Taking aim at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Vasquez blasted deportation policies and claimed that removing illegal immigrants from the oil and gas workforce would harm the economy. “We cannot accept that these folks don’t deserve the same level of health care that other workers deserve,” Vasquez insisted, effectively arguing for taxpayer-subsidized benefits for those in the country illegally.

It’s no surprise. Vasquez has a track record of aligning with socialist policies, attacking ICE, and pushing an open-borders agenda that rewards lawbreaking while vilifying industries that keep New Mexico’s economy afloat. His latest stunt is yet another example of a radical Democrat attempting to weaponize government against one of the state’s largest employers — all while ignoring the billions in revenue the oil and gas industry delivers for New Mexico schools, infrastructure, and public services.

The fact remains: oil and gas companies operating in the U.S. and New Mexico, especially, are among the most regulated in the world, with strict environmental and workplace safety standards. Vasquez’s smear campaign isn’t about protecting workers — it’s about dismantling an industry he and his environmental extremist allies despise, no matter the economic cost to New Mexico families.

Vasquez floats wild conspiracies, bashes oil and gas to open-borders group Read More »

Vasquez, NM Dems to welcome violently racist ‘Squad’ member to NM

25 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In a move already raising eyebrows across the state, New Mexico Democrats have announced that their “most important fundraiser of the year” will feature none other than Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib — a far-left activist who a bipartisan majority in Congress has formally censured for her antisemitic and extremist rhetoric.

The headlining role of Tlaib, known for promoting violent rhetoric and divisive politics, is drawing harsh criticism as Democrats like Rep. Gabe Vasquez prepare to welcome her to New Mexico with open arms. The event is being described by critics as a rallying cry for the fringe progressive wing of the party, at a time when crime, border chaos, and economic instability are dominating the concerns of everyday New Mexicans.

Tlaib, a member of the so-called “Squad,” has a record that includes anti-Israel slurs, defending Hamas sympathizers, and refusing to condemn terrorist attacks against civilians. In 2023, she was officially censured by the U.S. House of Representatives, including dozens of Democrats, for promoting violent, inflammatory speech in the wake of terror attacks on Israeli citizens.

“Radical Democrat Gabe Vasquez welcoming Rashida Tlaib to amplify their agenda of raising taxes, defunding the police, and opening the southern border may appease his far-left base, but will be one of many reasons he loses his seat next year,” said NRCC Spokesman Zach Bannon. “Vasquez continues to prove he is too radical for New Mexico.”

Both Tlaib and Vasquez have supported radical proposals to raise taxes, gut law enforcement, and throw open the U.S.-Mexico border — policies that many say are wreaking havoc on New Mexico’s border towns and inner cities alike. Vasquez has repeatedly sided with progressives in Washington, voting in lockstep with President Biden and House leftists while ignoring the pleas of law enforcement and working-class families in his district.

While families struggle with soaring prices and rising crime, Vasquez seems more interested in rubbing elbows with far-left figures like Tlaib than delivering solutions. He’s also drawn criticism for his lavish campaign dining habits, dropping thousands in donor dollars at luxury restaurants from coast to coast — behavior that undercuts his carefully curated “man of the people” persona.

The fundraiser is shaping up to be a defining moment for New Mexico Democrats, signaling a full embrace of their party’s most extreme elements. And for Vasquez, whose seat is already one of the most vulnerable in the country, aligning himself with a figure as toxic as Rashida Tlaib could prove politically disastrous.

As New Mexico grapples with real-world crises — from border security and fentanyl trafficking to failing schools and an affordability crunch — the question on many minds is: Why are state Democrats celebrating a censure-backed radical instead of focusing on the people they claim to represent?

Vasquez, NM Dems to welcome violently racist ‘Squad’ member to NM Read More »

MLG melts down after GOP slams her crime session as ‘political rerun’

10 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

With violent crime continuing to plague New Mexico communities, far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has called for a special legislative session expected in early September — and sparked a political firestorm in the process.

House Republicans blasted the governor’s attorney’s announcement last week, accusing her of using the session to rehash failed proposals and shift blame rather than deliver real solutions. In a post on X, House GOP Leader Gail Armstrong criticized the move as a “political rerun,” pointing out that the governor’s crime bills didn’t even get a vote during the 60-day regular session earlier this year nor during her failed three-hour special session last year, which ended up with nothing passed, as the Democrats decided to gavel out after passing the “feed bill” to fund the session. The GOP caucus argued that holding a costly special session to push the same rejected policies is a waste of taxpayer money.

They also raised concern over what they called the governor’s “dismantling” of enforcement tools at the state and federal level — a reference to her controversial push to close immigration detention facilities — warning that such moves only weaken law enforcement’s ability to combat drug trafficking and organized crime. Such a policy would immediately crush thousands of good-paying jobs for New Mexicans and simply result in these criminal aliens being shipped to Texas or other areas, such as Guantanamo Bay and Alligator Alcatraz.

Rather than addressing the policy criticisms directly, Lujan Grisham took to social media to scold Republicans, calling it “astounding” that any lawmaker would be reluctant to “come to the table.” She accused the GOP of political gamesmanship and insisted she was open to working across the aisle.

The House GOP quickly fired back, pointing out that Republicans have been sounding the alarm on crime for years — long before the governor’s latest pivot, which has come during the waning days of her governorship as she belts out her final swan song to save her political facade. They highlighted proposals they’ve repeatedly introduced, including reforms to juvenile justice, stricter penalties for violent repeat offenders, and bail system changes that keep dangerous criminals off the streets — measures they say the governor and her progressive allies have consistently ignored or blocked.

Adding to the pressure, Senate Republicans weighed in as well, bluntly stating that Democrats have refused “every measure to improve public safety,” despite years of rising crime rates under one-party control in Santa Fe.

The governor’s proposed special session appears to center on just two bills — both of which failed to move forward during the regular session, even with Democrat majorities in both chambers. One proposal would allow local governments to impose curfews, while the other is aimed at broadening pretrial detention for certain offenses. Notably absent are serious reforms to sentencing, repeat offender accountability, or juvenile justice — all issues Republicans have prioritized.

With growing frustration from law enforcement, communities, and even members of her own party, Lujan Grisham’s decision to revive previously rejected bills has sparked questions about whether this special session is truly about crime — or simply about optics.

New Mexicans remain desperate for action, but critics say if the governor’s approach doesn’t change, the session will end just like the last one — with no real solutions and crime still on the rise.

MLG melts down after GOP slams her crime session as ‘political rerun’ Read More »

President Trump’s DOJ puts ABQ on blast for protecting criminal aliens

31 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

President Donald J. Trump’s U.S. Department of Justice has officially named Albuquerque as one of the nation’s sanctuary cities that, according to federal officials, undermine immigration enforcement and jeopardize public safety.

The announcement, made Tuesday, follows President Trump’s April executive order directing the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security to publicly expose jurisdictions that “violate, obstruct, and defy” federal immigration laws. The list, released this week, includes liberal strongholds like New York City, San Francisco, and Seattle — but also Albuquerque, New Mexico, now in the national spotlight for shielding illegal immigrants from federal law enforcement.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi issued a strong rebuke of sanctuary policies in a press statement accompanying the release.

“Sanctuary policies impede law enforcement and put American citizens at risk by design,” Bondi said. “The Department of Justice will continue bringing litigation against sanctuary jurisdictions and work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to eradicate these harmful policies around the country.”

Albuquerque, under the leadership of Democrat Mayor Tim Keller, has long embraced policies that have turned the city into a haven for criminal aliens. These policies include refusing to honor federal immigration detainer requests, blocking cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and even restricting information-sharing with federal agents — all of which run counter to federal law and now place the city in legal jeopardy.

The inclusion of Albuquerque on the DOJ’s official sanctuary jurisdiction list confirms what many New Mexicans have long suspected: that their state’s largest city has prioritized politics over public safety. Under Trump’s Executive Order 14287, the administration is now moving to hold cities like Albuquerque accountable.

President Trump’s directive explicitly calls for the restoration of law and order, citing that “some State and local officials…continue to use their authority to violate, obstruct, and defy the enforcement of Federal immigration laws.” The executive order lays the groundwork for legal action against non-compliant cities and invites jurisdictions to work with the federal government to get off the list by repealing sanctuary policies.

The move signals a return to the Trump administration’s America First approach to immigration enforcement — one that many New Mexico residents, particularly those near the southern border, welcome after years of unchecked illegal crossings and cartel violence spilling over into the U.S.

While most, if not all, Democrat leaders in New Mexico continue to ignore the consequences of sanctuary policies, the Trump administration’s actions serve as a direct challenge. New Mexico, a border state walloped by illegal immigration, is once again at the crossroads of a national debate on sovereignty, security, and the rule of law.

As lawsuits mount against sanctuary cities across the country — including one recently filed against New York City — Albuquerque may soon face the same legal pressure to abandon its radical approach. The message from Washington is clear: comply with federal immigration law, or face the consequences.

President Trump’s DOJ puts ABQ on blast for protecting criminal aliens Read More »

Fishy behavior: Vasquez’s steakhouse splurges expose his everyman lie

30 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

A new report from the Washington Free Beacon reveals that Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), who recently portrayed himself as an everyman who prefers “catching blue catfish” in the Anacostia River over eating out, has actually spent over $7,000 in campaign funds at high-end restaurants across the country, taking after his ally, Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who is well-known for her lavish lifestyle on the taxpayers’ and campaign donors’ dimes.

The report notes Vasquez’s spending spanned locations including Washington, D.C., New York City, Santa Monica, and even Jackson Hole—far from his working-class southern New Mexico district. While decrying “fancy dinners” in a July video, Vasquez was holding a catfish and claiming, “A lot of people like to eat fancy dinners, expensive dinners. I like to come out here and fish on the Anacostia River or the Potomac and catch some nice, little blue catfish.”

But campaign finance records tell a different story.

According to the Free Beacon, the freshman Democrat dropped $1,300 at Rio Chama Prime, a steakhouse in Santa Fe known for luxury items like a $63 ribeye and $61 elk loin. Just two days prior, he spent another $555 at M’tucci’s Bar Roma in Albuquerque.

His taste for expensive meals isn’t confined to New Mexico. In June 2024, Vasquez reportedly spent nearly $300 at The Duck and the Peach in D.C., a restaurant known for a $98 duck entrée and $140 porterhouse steak. He also spent more than $400 at another high-end D.C. spot, Sonoma, where charcuterie boards run up to $130.

Out-of-district meals were also covered by campaign funds. In Santa Monica, nearly 800 miles from his district, Vasquez spent over $200 at Shirube, a sushi restaurant offering $300 bottles of sake. During a trip to Jackson Hole—about 1,100 miles away—he racked up nearly $500 at two restaurants. And in June, he spent $220 at La Pecora Bianca, a chic Italian restaurant in Midtown Manhattan.

These revelations stand in stark contrast to his self-styled image as a budget-conscious public servant. Vasquez, who once said focusing on local concerns is “at the core of what Democrats need to get back to doing,” is one of the most vulnerable Democrats facing re-election in 2026. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has labeled his seat a priority, placing him on its Frontline program to defend endangered incumbents.

Beyond campaign spending, Vasquez is no stranger to controversy. The Free Beacon previously uncovered a string of past legal troubles, including a 2002 arrest warrant in Texas for failure to appear in court after being charged with driving without a license or insurance. In 2004, Vasquez was reported to have used a racial slur toward a Black coworker after being fired from a job at a call center while attending New Mexico State University. The following year, he was caught flushing marijuana down a toilet during a police encounter, and in 2006, police responded to his home in reference to a “possible domestic” incident with a girlfriend.

Vasquez has not publicly commented on the revelations.

Fishy behavior: Vasquez’s steakhouse splurges expose his everyman lie Read More »

WV reportedly got burned by this electric bus company—Now it’s NM’s turn

22 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

The State of New Mexico has committed over $5 million in taxpayer funds to a so-called “pilot program” with GreenPower Motor Company. This financially unstable, controversy-ridden electric vehicle manufacturer has already failed to deliver on similar promises in other states. The funds come from the far-left budget passed by the Democrat-dominated Legislature earlier this year (although some Republicans did vote for it), squandering millions on this leftist “climate change” project.

Marketed as a step toward sustainable transportation by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and far-leftists, the project is poised to waste public money, prop up an out-of-state firm in financial distress, and leave little to no benefit for New Mexico school districts.

Under the plan, GreenPower will provide just six electric school buses: three Type A “Nano BEAST Access” units in 2025–26, followed by three larger Type D “BEAST” and “Mega BEAST” models in 2026–27. The buses will rotate through five school districts in six-week trials, with accompanying temporary charging infrastructure. According to the press release, the state is paying over $5 million for this short-term, limited rollout.

The manufacturer, GreenPower Motor Company (NASDAQ: GP), is no stranger to controversy. The company is currently the subject of a cease-trade order from the British Columbia Securities Commission for failing to file its 2025 audited financial statements on time. This type of regulatory sanction raises serious concerns about internal operations and financial controls.

GreenPower’s own auditor, Crowe MacKay LLP, has previously been disciplined by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) for deficiencies in audit performance. GreenPower’s financial strategy hinges on short-term, insider loans with high interest rates. In June 2025, it disclosed receiving a $200,000 insider loan with 12% interest and bonus shares as collateral.

In its most recent financial reports, GreenPower acknowledged a liability of $3.76 million to FWP Holdings, a company affiliated with its President Brendan Riley.

The company operates a sales office in Rancho Cucamonga, California, an assembly facility in Porterville, California, and a production facility in South Charleston, West Virginia. It is incorporated in Canada and trades on NASDAQ in the U.S. The company’s subsidiaries include:

  • Electric Vehicle Logistics Inc.
  • GreenPower Manufacturing WV Inc.
  • Lion Truck Body Incorporated
  • San Joaquin Valley Equipment Leasing, Inc.

GreenPower is also embroiled in a dispute with the State of West Virginia, where it received millions in taxpayer-funded incentives to manufacture electric buses—only to miss delivery deadlines and trigger allegations of breach of contract. GreenPower blamed the state for delays in permits, but the buses never arrived on time, and the state is now trying to recover losses, as reported in June by WV Metro News.

Now, New Mexico is following West Virginia’s lead—despite the warning signs. Even if the buses arrive, New Mexico’s rural grid is not equipped for high-capacity 387 kWh battery charging or experimental vehicle-to-grid (V2G) infrastructure. The program provides no full-time fleet deployment, no permanent infrastructure, and no long-term training continuity. It’s a rotating demo that ends with nothing in place.

For over $5 million, the state could have replaced dozens of aging diesel buses with newer, reliable, lower-emission alternatives or invested in proven hybrid models. Instead, it has chosen to gamble on an unproven company with financial red flags, regulatory issues, and a track record of missed targets.

This isn’t an investment in education or infrastructure. It’s a taxpayer-funded experiment with a struggling stock-listed company trying to keep its head above water. And when the buses stop running and the demo ends, New Mexicans will be left with nothing but headlines and a bill.

WV reportedly got burned by this electric bus company—Now it’s NM’s turn Read More »

Dems gerrymandered NM beyond recognition—Now crying about TX maps

15 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

As the national redistricting battle escalates, New Mexico has emerged as one of the most glaring examples of partisan gerrymandering—drawing renewed attention to the state’s congressional maps crafted by Democrats during the last redistricting cycle. While Texas Republicans face criticism for efforts to redraw maps in their favor ahead of the 2026 elections, what’s being ignored by many in the media is that Democrats in states like New Mexico and Illinois have already executed aggressive power grabs of their own.

In 2021, New Mexico Democrats used their legislative majority to redraw the state’s congressional districts in a way that dramatically altered political representation. The new map carved up conservative-leaning areas and created districts sprawling across vast and unrelated parts of the state, allowing Democrats to gain control of all three of New Mexico’s congressional seats. The most extreme example is the Third Congressional District, which now stretches from the southeastern city of Hobbs to the Four Corners region in the northwest—a drive that takes over eight hours and 35 minutes. The district covers radically different economic and cultural regions, making coherent representation nearly impossible. Communities of interest were fractured, and rural voices were diluted, all to ensure a Democrat stronghold.

This approach mirrors what far-left Democrats in Illinois did when they designed a map that created a 14-3 advantage in the state’s congressional delegation. In both states, political expediency—not fair representation—was the guiding principle. While Democrats in New Mexico loudly decry gerrymandering elsewhere, they executed the same strategy they now condemn.

The New Mexico map is also under scrutiny for its reliance on racial considerations in the line-drawing process. The Supreme Court recently announced it will rehear a case out of Louisiana that challenges the constitutionality of creating majority-minority districts using race as the primary factor. That decision could directly impact states like New Mexico, where race-based gerrymandering may be subject to strict judicial review.

Meanwhile, Democrats in Texas are traveling the country to sound the alarm about what they call Republican efforts to suppress minority votes through redistricting. A group of Texas House Democrats recently met with New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in Santa Fe to rally support for their cause. Texas Rep. Joe Moody claimed, “Right now in Texas, there is a political power grab coming from Washington, D.C., coming from the Trump White House to dismantle districts, to racially gerrymander districts, disenfranchising brown and Black Texans.”

Moody and his colleagues warned that redistricting battles in Texas are not isolated incidents, and that they could set a precedent for other states. Yet there was no mention of the fact that Democrats in New Mexico already redrew maps that broke up conservative and rural communities while artificially stacking others to secure safe Democrat seats.

While media and Democrat leaders label Republican-led redistricting efforts as “assaults on democracy,” they have remained largely silent on similar, and in nearly all cases worse, gerrymandering moves by their own party. Republicans in Texas are now doing exactly what Democrats in New Mexico have already done: redrawing maps with unashamed political motivation. The only difference is who’s holding the pen.

Dems gerrymandered NM beyond recognition—Now crying about TX maps Read More »

ABQ restaurant apologizes after server gets physical with GOP chair

33 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

What was intended to be a routine gathering of the New Mexico Young Republicans turned into a tense and dramatic incident Tuesday night at Mimi’s Cafe in Albuquerque, prompting swift condemnation from GOP leaders and a public response from the restaurant’s upper management.

According to a series of posts by the Republican Party of New Mexico (RPNM) on X (formerly Twitter), the meeting — attended by party Chairwoman Amy Barela and Executive Director Leticia Muñoz — was interrupted by two restaurant servers who allegedly began clearing tables and “closing tickets yelling above the speakers,” despite the venue’s posted closing time of 9:00 p.m.

“The meeting was held at Mimi’s Cafe. In the middle of the meeting, two servers began clearing tables and closing tickets yelling above the speakers,” RPNM posted. “The venue didn’t close until 9, but it seems they wanted us out by 7:30.”

Executive Director Muñoz reportedly confronted the servers about the disruptive behavior. “Leticia Muñoz commented to the server about how bad the service was and how rude they were being to interrupt the meeting,” the GOP post continues. “In response, the server as seen on video, began yelling that the group was speaking over the other server. The server then noticed she was being video recorded by the Chairwoman and proceeded to rush at her aggressively slapping the phone out of her hand committing battery according to Albuquerque Police Officers.”

Chairwoman Barela was reportedly recording the disruptive behavior when the altercation occurred. The GOP emphasized the incident as both a physical offense and an example of political hostility, stating, “This is just another example of out of control crime in Albuquerque, not to mention the typical attempt to silence opposing views.”

The post continued with a broader critique: “It’s time to go back to the basics of teaching kindness, respect and customer service if that is the field you choose to work in. The NM Young Republicans are working hard to educate and empower the youth of NM and do not deserve to be treated this way.”

Less than 24 hours after the incident, RPNM shared an update indicating that Mimi’s Cafe upper management had reached out to the organization directly. “RPNM is very grateful to have received two calls today from Mimi’s Cafe upper management,” the GOP stated in a follow-up post. “They voiced serious concern having never seen this type of behavior and priding themselves with a customer-oriented establishment.”

The restaurant is said to have invited the group to return and offered individual gift cards to Chairwoman Barela and Executive Director Muñoz as a gesture of goodwill. “We hope that the current employees who make Mimi’s Cafe a great place to eat are in a better place by letting those two servers go,” the GOP added.

The party ended the update on a tongue-in-cheek note, encouraging supporters to dine at the restaurant: “Let’s Make Mimi’s Great Again!”

ABQ restaurant apologizes after server gets physical with GOP chair Read More »

It’s happening: Lujan Grisham to call special session to pick political fights

23 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is preparing to call a special legislative session in late August or early September, and one of the top items on her agenda could cost New Mexico thousands of high-paying jobs. According to her top legal adviser, Holly Agajanian, the governor intends to revive legislation aimed at prohibiting counties from contracting with federal agencies to operate private immigration detention facilities — a move that would effectively shutter three major centers in Torrance, Cibola, and Otero counties.

These privately operated facilities currently employ thousands of New Mexicans in rural communities where good-paying jobs are already scarce. Their closure would be an economic gut punch to working families and a blow to county budgets that rely on intergovernmental service agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Despite the high stakes, the governor appears determined to prioritize this political fight over more urgent bipartisan concerns, such as rising crime and needed reforms to New Mexico’s juvenile justice system.

“This is not necessarily an exhaustive list for a special session call, but it reflects the governor’s current concerns,” said Lujan Grisham spokesman Michael Coleman.

Legislation to ban local governments from partnering with ICE for civil detention previously passed the House 35-25 but died in a Senate committee. The bill would effectively outlaw the agreements that currently allow ICE to use New Mexico facilities to detain individuals for civil immigration violations.

Critics have blasted the move as a dangerous example of putting politics before people. Sen. Crystal Brantley, R-Elephant Butte, said, “Our president has taken illegal immigration to the lowest numbers ever, but here we are finding a way to use taxpayer dollars to pick a fight with the administration for cheap political points. Meanwhile, we’re leaving serious bipartisan juvenile justice reform efforts out in the cold.”

“I’m deeply upset yet not surprised that this is shaping up to be another special session of hot air,” Brantley added.

Even Democrats voiced skepticism. Sen. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, warned that the legislation may be more symbolic than effective. “If we shut down the New Mexico beds, they’re just going to send them somewhere else,” he said, noting that federal detainees would simply be transferred to facilities in other states.

Still, some progressives continue to push the agenda. Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, D-Albuquerque, who has repeatedly tried to enter the facilities unannounced and been denied, said, “I think the government should not be complicit with detaining people in this way.” She claimed the facilities are not subject to proper state oversight due to their federal contracts. The vice-chair of the committee, Christine Chandler, even compared these facilities to terrorism.

The governor also intends to use the special session to address health care and food assistance programs, citing concerns over federal budget changes that could impact over 90,000 New Mexicans’ health coverage and reduce support for approximately 460,000 SNAP recipients, despite cuts (which include for people who refuse to work and criminal aliens), goes into effect at earliest next year on a phased-in basis. Yet critics argue that the session is once again shaping up to reflect the governor’s political agenda, not the state’s most pressing needs.

This would mark Lujan Grisham’s seventh special session since taking office in 2019. Her last attempt to push a crime package in a special session ended in failure, with lawmakers adjourning after just five hours and rejecting most of her proposals. She later scolded the Legislature for what she called an “embarrassing” performance.

With her latest proposal, the governor risks repeating that history—this time at the cost of New Mexico jobs and public safety.

It’s happening: Lujan Grisham to call special session to pick political fights Read More »

Meet the woman taking on one of NM’s most powerful Democrat lawmakers

16 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Julia Ruiz, a working-class New Mexican and proud mother who became a U.S. citizen in 2018, has announced her campaign for State Representative in New Mexico House District 36, aiming to unseat Democratic incumbent Nathan Small, whom critics increasingly view as out of touch with the values of southern New Mexico. Small is the chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

Ruiz, who has lived in Doña Ana County for more than 30 years, is launching a grassroots campaign focused on restoring practical leadership and local voice to a district long dominated by progressive politics. She says her decision to run stems from frustration with the status quo in Santa Fe, where she believes everyday New Mexicans are being sidelined by elites pushing a one-size-fits-all agenda.

“I’m not a politician—I’m a mother, a worker, and a citizen who’s had enough of the broken promises and power plays by officials who believe they know better than the people they serve,” Ruiz said. “Our schools are failing, crime is on the rise, and families are struggling to stay afloat. These problems didn’t just happen—they’re the direct result of failed leadership and misplaced priorities.”

Ruiz’s campaign is expected to strike a stark contrast with that of Nathan Small, who has represented District 36 since 2017 and is widely seen as a loyal foot soldier for far-left causes in the Legislature. Small has voted in favor of sweeping progressive policies, including legislation that blocks parental notification in schools on issues related to gender identity. He has also supported tax hikes, anti-gun legislation, and expanded government regulation on small businesses.

State Rep. Nathan Small (D-Las Cruces)

As a former Sierra Club operative before running for office, Small’s environmental activism has often taken precedence over economic development in a region in need of jobs and infrastructure. Critics argue that his alliance with progressive special interests has left rural and working-class families behind.

Ruiz, by contrast, promises to put working families first. “Las Cruces deserves better,” she said. “I’m stepping forward because our community needs someone who understands struggle, values hard work, and won’t back down. I’m ready to be that advocate.”

Her platform includes strong support for parental rights in education, pushing back against government overreach, defending small businesses from excessive regulation, and ensuring that taxpayers see real results from their contributions—not more bureaucracy.

Born in Delicias, Chihuahua, Ruiz was raised on a ranch in Lybrook, NM and settled in Artesia before moving to Las Cruces in 1993 as a young mother. She worked full-time while raising two daughters, giving her firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing New Mexico’s working families. Becoming a U.S. citizen in 2018, she now seeks to give back through public service built on grit, accountability, and community values.

More information about her campaign is available at juliafornm.com.

Meet the woman taking on one of NM’s most powerful Democrat lawmakers Read More »

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