Mark Ronchetti

On Wednesday, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, a project of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, made two race rating changes, both changing gubernatorial races in Michigan and Pennsylvania from “Leans Democratic” to “Likely Democratic.”

However, it kept New Mexico’s “Leans Democratic” rating. But as the Crystal Ball noted, of all the Leans D races, New Mexico Republicans’ race to take out Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham appears to be the most exciting.

It wrote regarding the three remaining Leans D races, “Of this trio, Republicans have seemed most excited about New Mexico, although Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) has consistently led 2020 Senate nominee Mark Ronchetti (R) in polling. Govs. Tim Walz (D-MN) and Janet Mills (D-ME) have led their rivals, too.”

All but one recent poll have consistently rated the race within single digits of Lujan Grisham, with the most recent The Hill/Emerson poll showing Ronchetti with 43 percent to the Governor’s 48 percent with a margin of error of three percentage points — a near statistical tie. Five percent of voters remain undecided. Three percent are voting for another candidate (Libertarian Karen Bedonie, who was formerly a Republican before switching parties).

Far-left organizations and labor unions have thrown their support behind Lujan Grisham, while the New Mexico Fraternal Order of Police, Albuquerque Police Officers Association, Fraternal Order of Police, and public safety groups have backed Ronchetti. 

In New Mexico, crime is a major issue, as is the border, with one of the largest drug busts happening in Albuquerque this month. The city recently hit its 100th homicide, on track to exceed 2021’s most deadly year of 117 killings. The federal government has reported over two million illegal immigrant apprehensions on the border within the year alone. 
Ronchetti will debate Lujan Grisham on KOB 4 on Friday, September 30. The debate will be one hour starting at 7:00 p.m.

On Monday, Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham dodged a key NAIOP forum with business and commercial real estate leaders that was held in Albuquerque.

Republican gubernatorial nominee Mark Ronchetti was the only candidate in attendance after the governor did not show up.

As the forum began, Ronchetti’s campaign manager unveiled a photo of Lujan Grisham to poke fun at her absence, which was quickly removed by the event’s hosts.

“I personally felt very strongly that the governor should be here to give an accounting to the business community for the last four years [and, if reelected], let us know what she plans on doing for the next four years,” NAIOP chairman-elect, Lance Sigmon, said to the crowd.

“I just felt the business community was owed this, and I’m sorry I couldn’t deliver on this,” Sigmon added. “But her opponent, Mark Ronchetti, is here, and I wanted to thank Mark for being here.”

According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, Lujan Grisham’s spokeswoman Delaney Corcoran “declined to disclose where the governor was or what she was doing Monday. Her press secretary, Nora Meyers Sackett, declined, too.” 

After the forum, Ronchetti shared a news clip from KRQE 13, writing, “I was excited to be at @NAIOPNM  today to share my vision for New Mexico, at what was supposed to be a gubernatorial candidate forum. However, @Michelle4NM declined to join and defend her indefensible record on small business and economic issues.”

A recent report from the New Mexico Restaurant Association, which was a co-sponsor of the NAIOP forum, revealed that Lujan Grisham’s lockdowns had killed around 20 percent or nearly 1,100 New Mexico restaurants. The Governor’s own Department of Tourism revealed that over 40% of New Mexico’s small businesses had closed amid the Governor’s lockdowns. 

Far-left Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who is up for reelection, has become increasingly defensive, with most of her social media posts and fundraising pleas attacking her Republican opponent Mark Ronchetti.

In a string of nasty emails and tweets, Lujan Grisham has claimed Ronchetti and Gov. Ron Desantis (R-FL), who will stump for him Sunday in Carlsbad, are “extremists.” 

The attacks from the embattled governor who paid off an alleged sexual assault victim $150,000 don’t just stop at Ronchetti and DeSantis. Now, Lujan Grisham is claiming all New Mexicans who do not support her are “far-right extremists.” 

She wrote on Twitter that Ronchetti “wishes his ties to far-right extremists would stay hidden, but this weekend he is making the mistake of inviting them all out,” referring to New Mexicans supporting his campaign and that of U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-CD2), who will join DeSantis and Ronchetti at the rally.

Ronchetti wrote following the attack that Lujan Grisham “started her campaign by calling New Mexicans who opposed her ‘lizard people.’ Today, she called them ‘extremists.’” He added, “New Mexicans deserve better than a governor who demonizes and insults citizens who disagree with her.” 

Ronchetti is referring to her campaign launch, where she bashed New Mexicans drowning her out as “lizard people.” 

The Governor then claimed following the “lizard people” attack that she took “the high road” by calling them names. 

Many New Mexicans denounced Lujan Grisham’s latest demeaning attack against her political opponents, including Republican New Mexico House Leader Jim Townsend (R-Artesia) who wrote, “Mark is right. MLG’s comment is ludicrous, disrespectful to New Mexican’s but typical of this Governor’s hyper political rhetoric. Shameful.”

Others responded as well: 

The rally with DeSantis, Herrell, and Ronchetti will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday in Carlsbad.