What could be historic primary elections for the NM state senate are already shaking the political landscape. Dem Senator Pete Campos of Las Vegas, aware that he is among the senators being mentioned as possibly drawing a strong primary foe, has moved to the left on a key issue. He now says he supports taking a full one per cent a year from the state's $18 billion Land Grant Permanent Fund and devoting it to early childhood education.

That's an important shift because MLG, in a compromise, has backed off the one percent and proposed a half percent annual drawdown. A full percent would mean well over $150 million a year for early childhood programs such as home visiting,

Campos is one of eight Democratic Senators who caught the attention (and ire) of the national women's group Emily's List when he joined with the R's and opposed repealing an antiquated anti-abortion statute during the last legislative session. The measure, backed by the Governor, passed the House but was defeated in the Senate.

Emily's List is now expected to spend major money on the New Mexico legislative races, the lion's share of which can be expected go to their favored Dem Senate primary candidates. Campos does not yet have an official opponent and is no doubt hoping that by highlighting a renewed commitment to early childhood education he will quiet anger over his abortion vote and keep any opponents (and Emily's List) on the bench.

The Campos move also raises the question of whether the Governor will follow suit and now back a constitutional amendment that would allow a one percent Permanent Fund drawdown which has previously passed the House but stalled in the Senate.

BOOM!

Meanwhile the State Land Office reports the Land Grant Permanent Fund is growing by leaps and bounds as the SE oil boom seems to know no bounds. The offices says the total contribution to the Permanent Fund for FY19 (which ended June 30) was nearly $903 million and the FY19 distribution from the Fund to the state General fund is close to $750 million, or over 10 percent of the entire $7 billion budget.

The Office received more revenue from business activity in fiscal year 2019 than any year before. . . estimates show revenue on track to surpass $1 billion. In fiscal year 2018, Land Office revenue reached $852 million.

This boom is expected to continue but its pace may start to cool. More on that here.

DR. NO DRAWS A FOE

Neomi Martinez-Parra

While Senator Campos frets over a possible primary opponent, Dem Senator John Arthur Smith is looking one squarely in the eyes. Neomi Martinez-Parra has made it official and will challenge the chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee in next year's Democratic primary.

It could be a heckuva battle if Emily's List comes with ample third party money. That could even the playing field as Smith gets business backers to fill his campaign coffers.

Neomi played nice in her news release (too nice?) announcing her candidacy, not even alluding to Smith, the leader of the conservative Senate coalition whose fall from power would mean a change in the Senate power dynamic. But one veteran Dem consultant believes only an effective negative campaign centered around the theme that Smith has ignored the needs of his economically challenged SW district while accumulating statewide power has a chance of toppling him.

Martinez-Parra is a special ed teacher from Lordsburg and a former vice chair of the NM Democratic Party. This will be a generational battle. Martinez-Parra is 50. Smith, a real estate appraiser from Deming, is 78 and a 30 year senate veteran.

ONE MORE 

And here's one more for you senate watchers. Taos Town Councilor Darien Fernandez, 37, is off and running against longtime Senator Carlos Cisneros, 68, vice chair of the Senate Finance Committee and one of the eight Dems who voted against repealing that anti-abortion statute. Locals say we could see another candidate(s) join that battle. Friends of Cisneros, who has not faced a serious challenge in years and was first elected way back in 1985, say he is looking for campaign talent. Definitely a race that is going to keep the Alligators busy.

This is the home of New Mexico politics.

E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com)

Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. 

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2019