Democrat

Far-left Dem McQueen to leave NM House, vie for higher office

11 Comments / Editorial, New Mexico, News, Politics / By

One of the most prickly, petulant, and downright disagreeable members of the New Mexico Legislature is finally throwing in the towel — at least in the House. Six-term Democrat Matthew McQueen announced he will not seek reelection to the Legislature, instead launching a bid for New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands in 2026. For New Mexicans fed up with McQueen’s arrogance, condescension, and far-left extremism, the news is both a relief and a warning.

In a press release riddled with political posturing, McQueen declared, “I have the proven record of standing up to bullies and corruption.” But for many New Mexicans, McQueen has been the bully. His track record is one of vindictiveness, elitism, and hostility toward working-class values and rural communities.

Case in point: Edgewood, 2023. When the small town’s commissioners voted to uphold federal law through a pro-life ordinance consistent with the Comstock Act, McQueen threatened to retaliate. “I’m just going to have to reconsider how I allocate my capital outlay,” he sneered, implying he’d withhold funding from his own constituents. When a commissioner called out the threat, McQueen smugly doubled down: “Well, if you want to take it that way.”

He then insulted the town outright, saying, “Edgewood is insignificant.” That’s not standing up to bullies — that is being a bully.

Then there’s his radical land agenda. In 2023, McQueen pushed a sweeping “30 by 30”-style land grab bill — HB 45 — designed to gobble up New Mexico land in the name of “conservation,” which would have devastated working farmers, ranchers, and hunters. His bill was so extreme that even Democrats on the committee joined Republicans to kill it. Rural New Mexico sent a clear message: hands off our land.

McQueen’s abrasiveness isn’t confined to policy. His social media tirades have also drawn ire. In October 2022, he lashed out when confronted with facts about the horrific reality of late-term abortions and infanticide at UNM Hospital, angrily calling it “dangerous” and “disgusting.” But the receipts were undeniable, including testimony from abortionist Eve Espey herself, admitting babies were born alive and left to die. McQueen never apologized for smearing those who told the truth.

McQueen was also a major proponent of extreme gerrymandering of the state’s congressional map to benefit Democrats, resulting in all three of the state’s districts being pushed to the far left and hundreds of thousands of voters left disenfranchised, all while McQueen’s district got bluer. His rhetoric and inclination toward disagreement with all sides is likely not to land him many endorsements from the Legislature.

Now, this far-left trial lawyer wants to control 22 million acres of New Mexico’s trust land and minerals as State Land Commissioner — an office that generates over $2 billion annually for our schools and public institutions. He promises to “build on the successes” of radical incumbent Stephanie Garcia Richard and eco-activists like Jim Baca.

That should concern every New Mexican who values oil and gas jobs, property rights, and responsible land use.

While McQueen cloaks his ambition in lofty rhetoric about education and conservation, his record is clear: punish small towns, lie about abortion, push radical environmental schemes, and fight for far-left causes. He may call it “leadership.” Most New Mexicans call it being a condescending, gaslighting windbag.

Far-left Dem McQueen to leave NM House, vie for higher office Read More »

See how N.M.’s three U.S. reps. voted on failed move to impeach Trump

23 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In a stunning rebuke to the far-left’s latest effort to take down President Donald Trump, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted on Tuesday to block a radical impeachment resolution pushed by Rep. Al Green (D-Texas). Green, a frequent Trump antagonist, attempted to impeach the president over his recent military strikes on Iranian targets — a move even most Democrats refused to support. Green is known for being thrown out of the President’s speech in front of Congress earlier this year because he attempted to scream and cause havoc in the chamber.

The resolution, which accused Trump of “abuse of power” for ordering precision strikes on Iranian military sites without prior congressional approval, was swiftly tabled by a bipartisan majority in a 344-79 vote. Notably, 128 Democrats joined Republicans in shutting down the resolution, signaling a clear lack of support for Green’s latest anti-Trump crusade.

But in a disturbing reflection of how far left New Mexico’s congressional delegation has veered, Reps. Melanie Stansbury of the First District and Teresa Leger Fernandez of the Third District both voted in favor of the impeachment push, siding with Green and extremist voices like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). In contrast, Rep. Gabe Vasquez of the Second District — who often toes the progressive line — broke ranks and voted with the majority to table the measure, opting not to support the baseless impeachment effort, likely for reelection efforts to attempt to fruitlessly claim “bipartisanship.” Trump won the Second District by two points in last year’s presidential election.

Green’s resolution was riddled with inflammatory language, accusing Trump of violating the Constitution by “usurping Congress’s power to declare war” and implying that the President’s defensive military action amounted to a “de facto declaration of war.” He further claimed Trump “abused the powers of the presidency” by acting without a formal declaration from Congress.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) shot back at the far-left’s allegations with a firm constitutional defense of the president’s actions.

“Let me be as clear as possible: The strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities were clearly within President Trump’s Article II powers as Commander in Chief,” Johnson stated. “It shouldn’t even be in dispute.”

Trump’s decisive action received praise from the White House as a demonstration of “peace through strength” — a stark contrast to the weak, indecisive foreign policy often embraced by Democrats.

“President Trump was able to quickly accomplish what no other President has been able to achieve – thanks to his ‘peace through strength’ leadership, Iran’s nuclear program has been obliterated and a ceasefire has been agreed to,” said White House assistant press secretary Taylor Rogers. “Eliminating the prospect of nuclear war is a non-partisan and unifying accomplishment that everyone should celebrate.”

Still, progressive radicals like Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) pushed for further limits on executive military authority. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a frequent critic of foreign intervention, echoed constitutional concerns but did not support impeachment — hours after President Trump vowed to take him out in a primary like he successfully did with former Rep. Liz Cheney, who worked with Democrats to jab at the President’s America First agenda.

While Congress ultimately rejected this latest politically motivated impeachment stunt, the fact that two of New Mexico’s three Democrat representatives backed it should concern voters. Stansbury and Leger Fernandez once again proved they are more interested in grandstanding with radical coastal elites than standing up for American strength, security, or constitutional clarity. Only Rep. Vasquez, likely due to the risk of reelection, voted to table the measure, although it is sure to anger his far-left base.

See how N.M.’s three U.S. reps. voted on failed move to impeach Trump Read More »

‘86 47’: Radical leftists call for Trump’s death at NM ‘No Kings’ protests

44 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Saturday, far-left extremists descended on cities across New Mexico as part of the so-called “No Kings” protests — a loosely coordinated attack on President Donald J. Trump’s leadership, the U.S. Constitution, and the very fabric of civil society. While organizers claimed the demonstrations were a “peaceful” response to what they falsely allege is Trump’s desire to become a monarch, the reality was far darker — and far more dangerous.

In Albuquerque, protesters carried severed heads of President Trump on spikes and held up signs depicting guillotines, a not-so-subtle call for violent political revolution. The shocking displays were topped only by the desecration of the American flag — flown upside down in multiple locations — while Mexican flags were hoisted in its place, a deliberate signal of contempt for American sovereignty and patriotism.

At one protest, a woman was photographed wearing a sash reading “86 47,” an unmistakable code suggesting the assassination of the 45th and 47th president of the United States.

In Santa Fe, outside the Roundhouse, demonstrators paraded with crudely made, misspelled signs, including one that read: “R WE GREAT YE?” — an ironic twist for those claiming to oppose authoritarianism while simultaneously calling for political violence.

Violence wasn’t just symbolic — it was literal. In Las Cruces, a Trump supporter reported being assaulted by leftist demonstrators on motorcycles. The victim described the harrowing incident on X, writing:

“Just got assaulted and rushed by some bikers here in Las Cruces. They stole my MAGA Flag. I was in my car at an intersection. The light was red. Right by the District Court building.”

A police report was reportedly filed on the altercation. 

These disturbing acts come in the wake of nationwide leftist riots, most recently in Los Angeles, where criminal aliens and anarchists clashed with federal agents, burning buildings and land, setting police cars on fire, looting local shops and stores, and taking over streets in a forceful rage. But instead of condemning the lawlessness, New Mexico’s Democrat leaders have poured fuel on the fire. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has vigorously defended anti-ICE rioters. Even more outrageously, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich was caught on video calling police officers “f—ing thugs,” shocking law-abiding New Mexicans and revealing the Democrat Party’s growing hostility toward law enforcement.

These “No Kings” protests were intentionally timed to coincide with Flag Day, the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army, and President Trump’s birthday — a calculated act of provocation. Instead of celebrating America, protesters celebrated anarchy. Instead of peaceful dissent, they chose mayhem.

As Democrats continue to coddle and embolden radicals, it’s clear the “No Kings” movement isn’t about resisting tyranny — it’s about ushering it in through chaos, intimidation, and violence.

‘86 47’: Radical leftists call for Trump’s death at NM ‘No Kings’ protests Read More »

Lujan Grisham fueled LA riots — Now she wants ‘order’ in NM

28 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Just days after defending violent anti-Trump agitators in Los Angeles who attacked federal agents and torched city blocks, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is now laughably claiming she has “zero tolerance” for violence during upcoming protests across the Land of Enchantment.

Following the lawless chaos in L.A., where criminal illegal aliens and leftist extremists clashed with federal officers, Lujan Grisham signed on to a Democratic Governors Association (DGA) statement blasting President Trump for deploying the National Guard to restore order. The DGA outrageously accused Trump of “abusing power,” while completely ignoring the fact that federal agents were under siege and risking their lives to stop the insurrection.

Critics swiftly condemned the Democrat governors’ defense of the mob. “Every Democrat governor just endorsed lawlessness and chaos on American streets,” wrote the Republican Governors Association. “Putting people’s lives at risk.”

Lujan Grisham’s own record leaves no room for ambiguity. From removing National Guard troops from New Mexico’s southern border on day one of her governorship, to mocking Trump’s border wall in a campaign stunt, and more recently, signing laws to shield criminal aliens and permit non-citizens to police U.S. citizens, she has consistently sided with open borders and against law enforcement.

Now, as “No Kings Day” protests spread across New Mexico this weekend—with events planned in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Alamogordo, and more—Lujan Grisham is suddenly posturing as the enforcer of law and order.

Asked by KOAT what she expects from the protests, the governor declared: “Demonstrate their opinions in a peaceful, meaningful way, and we will have zero tolerance for violence and illegal acts.”

But the protests she’s now pretending to police are being fueled by the same far-left forces she defended just days earlier. These “No Kings” events are part of the so-called “50501 Movement”—a coalition of radical progressive activists staging anti-Trump demonstrations across all 50 states, including at least 17 locations in New Mexico alone on June 14.

While organizers claim the events are peaceful, they are bankrolled by some of the most extreme groups on the left: the National Education Association (NEA), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the League of Conservation Voters, the Human Rights Campaign, Bernie Sanders’ campaign network, the far-left “Center for Biological Diversity,” and even the “Patriotic Millionaires” who push anti-capitalist policies while living in luxury. These are the same kinds of dark-money-backed entities that fueled violence in L.A., where anarchists, criminal aliens, and Antifa-aligned mobs openly attacked law enforcement.

Here in New Mexico, the movement is using the occasion of Flag Day—also President Trump’s birthday and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army—to sow division and provoke unrest. Their own rhetoric makes it clear. “The wannabe dictator wants a party? Well then, let’s show him some ‘love,’” one post read on social media.

The movement brags that it’s organizing protests “everywhere he isn’t” while calling for “no thrones, no crowns, no kings”—language that critics say is designed to incite rather than inspire.

And New Mexicans are right to be wary. Under Lujan Grisham’s far-left administration, crime has surged so severely that she had to call in the National Guard to help control the streets of Albuquerque—a city already suffering under Democrat Mayor Tim Keller’s failed leadership. Now, those same streets may become the next front in a nationwide campaign of coordinated chaos.

Despite all this, Lujan Grisham wants the public to believe she’s suddenly against violence. After helping stoke the flames of rebellion in Los Angeles, her last-minute pivot to “zero tolerance” rings hollow.

New Mexicans won’t be fooled. They know exactly where their governor stands—and it isn’t with law enforcement or the law-abiding public. It’s with the mob.

Lujan Grisham fueled LA riots — Now she wants ‘order’ in NM Read More »

Fourth candidate likely to join crowded Dem primary for governor

9 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, a two-term Democrat under current far-left Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, known more for his roots in Silver City than for leading statewide, is expected to announce this week whether he will jump into the 2026 gubernatorial race or seek a different political lifeline: the presidency of Western New Mexico University, which is still reeling from a multi-million-dollar severance scandal.

Morales, 52, told the Santa Fe New Mexican that he wasn’t leaning toward a run for governor until he received “an outpouring of encouragement” from supporters. “The calls coming in really made me second-guess the way I was leaning,” he said Tuesday. Morales plans to meet with advisers before making a decision.

But skepticism remains about whether Morales, who finished a distant fourth in the 2014 Democrat primary for governor, has the political firepower to mount a serious campaign, especially against better-known and better-funded opponents, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.

So far, three Democrats have entered the race, including former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland under Joe Biden, who reportedly raised nearly $3 million in just three months. Bernalillo County District Attorney and gun confiscation activist Sam Bregman and former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima round out the field. That leaves Morales potentially splitting the vote with another southern New Mexico contender, while two well-known Albuquerque-based candidates may dominate the race in the state’s most populous region.

Morales himself acknowledged that a larger field would help his odds. In 2014, as a relatively unknown state senator, he received just 14% of the primary vote. Though he now holds the second-highest elected office in the state, his statewide political impact remains modest.

Moreover, Morales openly admitted he’s not sure if vocal encouragement will translate into campaign donations—an essential question for any serious contender. “Not necessarily,” he said when asked if money would be the determining factor. “I have children who are still in school.”

That personal angle hints at another option Morales is eyeing—one arguably more aligned with his background in education and his current lifestyle: becoming president of Western New Mexico University, his alma mater. However, that position comes with its own set of challenges.

The university, located in Morales’ hometown of Silver City, is in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Former President Joseph Shepard received a $1.9 million payout to resign, approved by a group of regents appointed by Gov. Lujan Grisham. Shepard was then offered a $200,000-per-year teaching position that required only two online business classes per semester.

In light of that controversy, four new regents (also appointed by Lujan Grisham) are overseeing the search for an interim president this summer, with a full-scale national search expected to stretch into 2026. Morales, who holds a doctorate in education and once coached high school baseball, says the school has deep personal meaning for him. “I grew up on that campus. It’s special to me,” he said.

Still, if Morales seeks the WNMU job, he’ll face fierce national competition. And while he’s positioned himself as a “down-to-earth” public servant, it remains to be seen if the university’s leadership, marred by allegations of mismanagement and self-dealing, can regain public trust, no matter who takes the reins.

In a Democrat Party already leaning toward nationally connected, far-left candidates, Morales would either have to moderate himself with cheesy slogans and costumes like Bregman or embrace the far-left radicalism of Lujan Grisham or Haaland. 

In the Republican gubernatorial primary, Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull remains the lone candidate, while others have expressed interest.

Fourth candidate likely to join crowded Dem primary for governor Read More »

Keller ‘proud’ NM counties, cities listed as ‘sanctuaries’ for criminal aliens

39 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

As the Trump administration moves decisively to uphold federal immigration laws and protect American citizens, far-left Democrat leaders in New Mexico are proudly doubling down on their defiance. 

Chief among them is Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, who took to X to gloat about the city’s inclusion on the Department of Homeland Security’s official list of “sanctuary jurisdictions” — an indicator of non-compliance with federal immigration statutes.

“We expected this designation — Albuquerque’s immigrant-friendly policies reflect who we are,” Keller posted, calling it “a badge of courage” and vowing not to be “bullied” into enforcing federal law. Rather than expressing concern about the potential loss of federal funds or the safety implications of harboring criminal aliens, Keller made clear that his administration is committed to ideological resistance, no matter the cost to law-abiding residents.

The list, published on May 29, includes 23 New Mexico counties and two cities — Albuquerque and Santa Fe — that, according to DHS, refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. This followed President Donald Trump’s April 28 executive order directing federal agencies to withhold funding from jurisdictions that shield illegal aliens from deportation.

In a statement that underscores the lawless posture of sanctuary cities, DHS wrote: “Each jurisdiction listed will receive formal notification of its non-compliance with Federal statutes. DHS demands that these jurisdictions immediately review and revise their policies to align with Federal immigration laws and renew their obligation to protect American citizens, not dangerous illegal aliens.”

But rather than taking this warning seriously, Democrats like Keller seem emboldened. His X post reflects the same out-of-touch political theater that has defined the progressive left’s stance on immigration, where shielding criminal aliens is viewed as virtuous, and federal law is something to scoff at.

Indeed, it’s not just defiance — it’s negligence. The dangerous policies pushed by Keller and fellow Democrats, including far-left Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, jeopardize public safety and disrespect the rule of law. The governor’s office, instead of committing to work with federal authorities, issued a deflective statement suggesting that counties might have been “mischaracterized.” No apology. No commitment to course-correct. Just more spin.

Meanwhile, radical organizations like the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center are already planning to double down in the next legislative session to further “protect” illegal immigrants, with the enthusiastic backing of progressive lawmakers and municipal leaders.

It’s no wonder New Mexico continues to struggle with crime, drug trafficking, and cartel violence. Sanctuary policies attract criminals, overwhelm resources, and endanger legal residents. President Trump’s administration is finally putting sanctuary jurisdictions on notice. Whether New Mexico Democrats will ever put citizens first remains to be seen — but judging by Keller’s gloating, their loyalty lies not with the American people, but with lawlessness.

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NM Democrat Party in total chaos: Gag orders, ghosting, and backstabbing

26 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

The New Mexico Democrat Party’s promises of unity have unraveled in spectacular fashion. Just a month after being elected party treasurer, Julie Rochman has resigned in a dramatic episode that lays bare the infighting and dysfunction roiling the state’s left-wing leadership, according to a report from the Santa Fe New Mexican.

Rochman, who won her post with 60% of the vote, said her troubles began the moment she extended a hand to newly elected Chair Sara Attleson. “She sort of really didn’t take it,” Rochman recounted. “I stepped in closer so no one could hear me, and I said, ‘You know, Sara, you have to talk to me. We’re going to be working together,’ and she turned on her heel and walked away.”

The April 26 encounter foreshadowed a toxic dynamic that would escalate over the next few weeks. According to Rochman, she was ignored, excluded from meetings, and ultimately pushed out by a leadership clique that campaigned on “unity” but delivered exclusion.

“I was being ignored by the chair and vice chair,” Rochman said. “I didn’t even know weekly staff meetings were taking place.” After enduring what she described as sleepless nights, she decided to resign. “I’m the problem, and I need to go,” she said, despite her lifelong ambition of being an elected Democrat.

The resignation exposes deep fractures in a party that claims to be preparing for high-stakes 2026 midterms, which includes New Mexico’s governorship vacant amid a disastrous tenure of far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. 

Instead of organizing and building coalitions, the party brass is more focused on silencing dissent and consolidating power. Rochman said she was handed a nondisclosure agreement containing an unprecedented nondisparagement clause — a “lifetime gag order,” she called it. She claimed, “That’s very Trumpian, and I will not be a party to that kind of thing,” she said — apparently unaware of the irony in using the comparison to criticize a tactic that came from her own party.

To add fuel to the fire, Rochman questioned the party’s supposed commitment to diversity. While the leadership includes an African American vice chair and a Navajo secretary, Rochman bluntly noted that the team lacks representation from New Mexico’s majority-Hispanic population — a glaring oversight for a party that lectures others on inclusion.

“I think it would be good for the party if [my replacement] happened to be Hispanic and spoke Spanish and came from a rural area,” she said.

Party spokesperson Daniel Garcia attempted to downplay the chaos, claiming that “team building” was simply a matter of taking time. But the damage is done. A public power struggle has broken out, and the party’s top officials are off at a conference while their ranks crumble back home.

Despite it all, Rochman says she’ll remain involved in Democrat politics. But her departure is an unmistakable warning sign: the New Mexico Democrat Party is not the unified, progressive machine it pretends to be. If this is how the party operates heading into an election year, Republicans may be wise to grab some popcorn. The Democrats are beating themselves.

NM Democrat Party in total chaos: Gag orders, ghosting, and backstabbing Read More »

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

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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.

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Democrat lawmaker demands taxpayer-funded salary after trashing public funds

18 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

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

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