Is southern Congresswoman Yvette Herrell making it easier for legislative Democrats to gerrymander her seat at the upcoming redistricting session? We ask because the freshman lawmaker's latest move is a sharp turn to the right and into the arms of the most controversial GOP US Rep of them all: 

The bill has no chance of passage but if it did it would cut funding to UNM and other educational institutions here. 

It was just last May that we were blogging of how Herrell, serving her first term, was broadening her appeal while not snubbing the Trumpers:

Now Herrell is back on the far right and making her look disconnected from all but a small sliver of the state electorate. But why? A Dem consultant sniped:

And raising money Herrell is. The latest FEC report covering the first six months of the year shows Herrell took in $852,000 and had cash on hand of nearly $700,000.  

Herrell may raise even more funds from her dalliance with Taylor Greene, a far right conspiracy theorist, but it may cost her important public opinion that could help her keep her district's boundaries safe from the eager pens of Dem House Speaker Brian Egolf and company. 

The anti-vaxxers don't have many votes at the Roundhouse but national R's think the Dems are most likely to lose seats in the US House in a low turnout, off year election next year. They believe that will mean Herrell's far right antics will help not hurt her.

The Dems have no candidates on the field yet because the field of play will not be constructed until that critical redistricting session. Then the game will be on. 

Will there be a new wrinkle in the 2021 ABQ mayoral race? Political pros doubted that Republican radio talk show host Eddy Aragon would be able to get the required 3,000 petition signatures to win a slot on the Nov. 2 ballot, but on Monday the City Clerk reported Aragon has secured  2,454, only 546 shy of the magic 3,000. 

The deadline for getting the 3,000 is today at 5 p.m. Aragon tells us he is "very confident" that he will make the ballot.

One hurdle that Aragon must jump is the requirement that a voter sign only one mayoral petition. If they have signed more than one their signature is disqualified. The Gonzales camp, also courting  Republican votes, is sure to check for any violations.

No matter what happens Aragon has changed the game when it comes to petition collecting, showing that on line is the way to go and pushing aside the traditional in-person method. And he did it in just 15 days, using his radio station to solicit the signatures and firing up Trump Republicans who are his political base. None of his signatures have been rejected as faulty because a city computer program does the screening to make sure the voter is registered and eligible to sign. 

Shortly we'll know whether Aragon will become the third candidate in the mayoral race and the lone Republican, joining Dems Tim Keller and Sheriff Manny Gonzales. It could get wild, Gators. Stay tuned.

In th money race the outside committee supporting Mayor Keller--Build Back Burque--reports raising about $21,000 in the latest sporting period (July 6-Aug.2) and about $26,000 in cash on hand. The committee has raised about $53,000 in total. That contrasts with the $197,000 raised by Save Our City, the outside committee supporting Manny Gonzales and which reported $121,000 in cash on hand. 

Keller has qualified for $661,000 in public financing. Gonzales has tried to but has been denied because of forged signatures in collecting qualifying donations. His appeal to district court is on hold until the NM Supreme Court announces a judge to hear the case and a date is set. 

What's the hold up with that, Supremes?

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