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.
She is an animal of DC just like Richardson was, we are tools to her delusion of Grandier.