State House Speaker Martínez claims NM is ‘Trump-proof’ — Is it?

With President-elect Donald Trump set to re-enter the Oval Office in January, New Mexico’s Democrat political establishment is gearing up for what many expect to be a contentious clash over policies. According to WalletHub, the state is the second-most federally reliant state, behind only Alaska. 

Unlike California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has called a special legislative session to strengthen state protections against federal policy rollbacks in fear of the incoming Trump administration, New Mexico’s Democrat House Speaker Javier Martínez has dismissed the need for any “showboating,” which could benefit conservatives worried over the state taking yet another far-left, aggressive turn. In a recent interview with KUNM, Martínez proclaimed the state already “Trump-proof.”

Martínez’s Posturing vs. Policy Reality

Martínez, known for his far-left stance, has quickly positioned himself as a vocal critic of Trump’s anticipated agenda. Yet, critics argue that the House Speaker’s rhetoric masks a deeper lack of preparedness and policy vulnerability. While Martínez asserts that New Mexico’s existing statutes protect key issues such as abortion access and climate initiatives, skeptics question whether those measures will hold against a resurgent federal administration committed to rolling back progressive policies.

Bold Claims vs. Practical Challenges

During his KUNM interview, Martínez took swipes at Newsom’s special legislative session, suggesting it was more about presidential ambitions than policy substance. “Gavin Newsom is running for president…so he can showboat all he wants,” Martínez remarked, attempting to contrast his own “pragmatic” approach to governance. 

Abortion and the Border

Despite his assurances, Martínez’s stance on abortion up-to-birth policies remains a flashpoint. New Mexico’s abortion policies that allow on-demand abortion for any reason at any time in pregnancy, while permitted in statute, are not enshrined in the state constitution. Martínez brushed off concerns about bolstering constitutional protections, stating, “I think we’re good.” 

Further, while Martínez maintains that New Mexico does not coordinate with federal immigration authorities, the absence of a “sanctuary state” law allows federal officials to help alleviate the border crisis by carrying out mass deportations against criminal aliens residing on New Mexico soil. 

Trump-Proof?

In discussing potential threats to state-funded programs under the Democrats’ partisan “Inflation Reduction Act,” Martínez claims that New Mexico’s Legislature would seek to protect jobs and investments tied to federal funds. While Martínez makes grand declarations, it remains to be seen whether he can back them up with real policy action. If the state refuses to comply with the federal administration, the state could lose out on billions of dollars. 

USAFacts notes that in Fiscal Year 2021, New Mexico received $14.3 billion in federal aid. On a per-resident basis, New Mexico received approximately $6,748 in federal funding, meaning the state is extremely reliant on the federal government — and attacking the incoming administration will not serve the state’s Democrat leaders well. With a fully Republican Congress, it appears to be the worst-case scenario for New Mexico leaders, such as Martínez, to attack Trump, his administration, and the GOP leaders in Congress.

WalletHub notes, “New Mexico is the second-most federally dependent state, in large part because it receives a huge amount of federal funding compared to the taxes that residents pay. For every $1 paid in taxes, New Mexico gets $3.26 in federal funding. Around half of the other states get less than $1 in federal funding for every tax dollar.”

The outlet adds, “Federal funding makes up a large share of New Mexico’s revenue as well, at around 47%, and more than 3.5% of the Land of Enchantment’s workforce is employed by the federal government. Both of these rates are among the highest in the country, proving that New Mexico’s economy owes a lot to the federal government.”

New Mexico’s Path Forward

As the incoming Trump administration readies its agenda, New Mexico stands at a critical juncture. Martínez’s proclamation of a “Trump-proof” state may serve as a rallying cry for far-left legislators and Democrat Party loyalists, but it appears to be an empty boast, throwing red meat at his politically leftist base.