Thursday, December 01, 2022Thursday Photo Blogging Plus The Last Of The Election Leftovers; New State Rep Won Race That Divided NM's Most Prominent Democrats The caucus looks a lot like New Mexico. Dem senators of color are a majority including the state's first Black senator, ABQ's Harold Pope. Ten are women. All senators stood for election in 2020 and will do so again in 2024. However there is a new freshman senator. Dem Moe Maestas was appointed by the BernCo Commission in November to replace independent Senator Jacob Candelaria who resigned. He is not pictured here nor is Sen. Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces. Meanwhile, the lawmakers are prepping for a 60 day legislative session that begins January 17 and will have one of the largest surpluses in state history to appropriate--some $2.5 billion. The senate has often been a roadblock in a Governor's second term. This caucus doesn't have as many conservative D's as in the past so MLG has a head start in her second four years. Whether it lasts is the question. The 42 member Senate has 15 Republican members. ELECTION LEFTOVERS
The Representative-elect in District 19 is Janelle Anyanonu. It is a strongly Democratic district. Janelle beat Colton Dean in the primary (77% to 23%) and then bested the Republican candidate while also facing an independent on the left, Enrique Cardiel. Janelle won with 63% of the vote in the general election. The interesting and lesser known story is that the independent was supported by many disaffected old guard Democrats, including none other than ABQ Mayor Tim Keller who endorsed Cardiel against the Democratic candidate, donated money, attended fundraisers and knocked on doors. BernCo Commissioner Adriann Barboa, BernCo Treasurer Nancy Bearce, state Senators Jerry Ortiz y Pino and Linda Lopez, state Reps. Debbie Sarinana, Christine Trujillo and Patricia Caballero also endorsed Cardiel and raised money for him. Janelle is an Emerge graduate (2020) who campaigned heavily on the abortion issue. She is a member of the NM Black Central Organizing Committee. She was endorsed by Senator Martin Heinrich, House Speaker Brian Egolf, Majority Leader Javier Martinez, state Senators Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, Katy Duhigg, Joseph Cervantes, Harold Pope, Siah Correa Hemphill, and Bill O'Neill, as well as State Representatives Gail Chasey, Christine Chandler, Joanne Ferrary and others. She was the candidate supported by Planned Parenthood, Equality New Mexico, Conservation Voters of New Mexico, AFSCME, NM Emily’s List and more. That all sounds like an easy race, but it was not. The Democrats and volunteers supporting Mr. Cardiel were in the district every day. So, of course, was Janelle. I am 100% biased but I thought the hard work she put in deserved a mention. She clearly got under the skin of some of the old guard in District 19. It will be interesting to see if they come around or stay on the sidelines. We’re informed that Enrique hosted Janelle at a post election community event. Well, the season of peace is right around the corner. Good stuff. And another reason why. . . This is the home of New Mexico Politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.   (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2022 |
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