Following this month's election women now make up a majority of the 112 members of the state legislature, after steadily gaining numbers for the past decade. 

New Mexico in 2025 will see a female-majority Legislature with 60 of 112 seats in the Roundhouse to be held by women. That breaks down to 44 of the 70 members in the state House of Representatives — or 63% — and 16 of the 42 seats in the Senate — or 38%.

So how come there's been no reform of the department that most observers thought would be first in line for a fix as women flex their muscle at the Roundhouse? 

That department would be the perennially troubled and deeply disappointing Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD). 

There have been a few outspoken women lawmakers openly demanding change (Republicans Rebecca Dow and Crystal Brantley come to mind), but most of the female lawmakers are Democrats and they have done little or nothing to prod fellow Democrat and Gov. Lujan Grisham to execute the major shake-up required to stop the heartbreaking results the state's kids so often get from the agency.

The advent of a majority female legislature is an event worth celebrating but if New Mexicans were (or are) expecting women to act differently than other politicians, CYFD is their answer. 

MLG FOR TRUMP?

NM GOP Chairman Steve Pearce fires off a piece of sarcasm that hits the funny bone:

Governor Lujan Grisham signed New Mexico on to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact that swears a state’s Electoral College delegates to the winner of the national popular vote. Will she advocate for conceding NM's delegates to Trump? 

Concede our five electoral college votes to Trump? MLG would be as likely to do that as going duck hunting with Martin Heinrich. 

BOFFO TURNOUT

Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark comes with this eyebrow raiser:

Santa Fe County achieved a voter turnout of over 74%, far surpassing the state average of 67%. A critical factor in this success was the county’s strategic voter turnout campaign, which encouraged early and absentee voting. 

As a result, more than 78% of voters cast their ballots early or by absentee, reducing Election Day wait times and ensuring smooth operations. 

Will we see those stats in campaign literature for a Clark Secretary of State candidacy in 2026?

WRONG NUMBER

We picked up on some erroneous (or premature) numbers from Politico regarding McKinley county. 

The presidential vote in McKinley, according to the latest unofficial results, has Harris receiving 61 percent to Trump's 36 percent. The number published earlier had the race there much closer. 

However, the article's point that Trump did exceedingly well in the heavy Native American county compared to 2020 holds up. Four years ago Biden received 68 percent there and Trump only 29 percent.   

NOB HILL CLOSURES  

A reader comments on news of the closing of a number of businesses in ABQ's Nob Hill neighborhood:

Joe, I followed a link in one of your recent articles to another story about business owners faulting the mayor for recent business closures. I love those intrepid warrior-saints, battling the forces of anti-business evil! Whenever a business succeeds, its due to the indefatigable entrepreneurial energy of the owner. When a business closes, it's the government's fault--no matter the procession of tax cuts and corporate subsidies the Chamber of Commerce crowd has won. Ha! 

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