 |
| Sen. Baca |
All legislative and county candidate filings here.
The unexpected decision of state Senator and Minority Leader Greg Baca of Valencia County and state Rep. and House Minority Leader Ryan Lane of Farmington added to what was already a lengthy list of voluntary departures from the Roundhouse.
Dem consultant Sisto Abeyta reports 13 of the 42 senators have decided not to seek re-election and 9 of the 70 House members are also leaving, making for one of the largest departing groups in recent history.
There are many individual reasons for those leaving and a couple of House members are now running for Senate but Abeyta said increased polarization of politics is extracting a toll. He says the state GOP has a lot in common with their brethren in the US House where Trump and anti-Trump factions continually battle.
Baca and Lane have been at the center of that polarization not only with the Democrats but within their own party.
The Republicans have suffered some of their worst electoral results in their history in the last decade. All statewide offices and the entire Legislature are controlled by the Democrats. The R's have been reduced to bystanders at the Roundhouse with the Dems dominating the Senate 27-15 and the House 45 to 25.
Sanchez said the outcome of legislative redistricting--controlled by the Dems--was behind his decision :
It is clear to me that the greatest good I can do for the people of my community and the State of New Mexico does not lie in seeking another term in the legislature. Though this announcement may come as a shock to some, careful observers of the progressive plan to pit two Hispanic Republicans against each other through redistricting may have seen this coming. In short, I refuse to allow the radical left to pit brother against brother.
THE SANCHEZ-BACA PLAY
 |
| Sanchez and Baca |
Soon after Baca announced he was out, GOP Senator Josh Sanchez of District 30 announced he would switch districts and seek the Baca District 29 seat. In the redistricting Sanchez, also from Valencia County, was placed in Baca's District 29.
Baca endorsed Sanchez on social media Tuesday night.
Sanchez will be unopposed in the GOP primary and will face Democrat Tina Garcia, a former Valencia County Magistrate Judge in November.
Our Senior Republicans say the race leans Republican but does have swing characteristics that make a Dem win possible.
In District 30 that Sanchez has represented, former Dem state Senator Clemente Sanchez will be in a primary with Angel Charly of Acoma Pueblo, endorsed by Sen. Heinrich.
With no Republican running the Dem primary winner will be on their way to the Senate. Some R's were critical of Baca and Sanchez for the lateness of their switcheroo, saying it did not leave time for a GOP candidate to gather signatures to compete in District 30 and unnecessarily handed the Dems the seat.
One Dem consultant called the hand-off a "sleazy move" that demonstrates the "incompetence" of the Senate Republicans who now give up a coveted seat without a fight. That's probably a story line Sanchez will endure from Dem rival Garcia.
While Baca cited redistricting for his surprise, our sources noted that his decision was abrupt. They report just prior to his decision to not seek a third term he quarreled with prominent and wealthy Republicans over candidate recruitment and fund-raising.
We're told those party powers were especially irked over Baca's support for having disgraced GOP Senator Cliff Pirtle run for a vacant Roswell state House seat after bowing out of his Senate seat.
After the scandal broke over the married lawmaker's affair with a Senate staffer, Pirtle said he would not seek another term but later said he might reverse that decision. He ended up not running for anything.
Roswell State Rep. Candy Ezzell made her candidacy for the Pirtle seat in the Roswell area official Tuesday and is expected to have few problems winning the primary and general elections.
Baca, an attorney, had a glorious start to his political career in 2016 when he won election by ousting Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez with the help of GOP Gov. Susana Martinez, an arch-enemy of Sanchez's. Now the tables have been turned as they so often are on the treacherous terrain of La Politica.
CHANGING LANES
The double dose of GOP chaos continued with GOP House Minority Leader Ryan Lane who, our sources report, held a virtual meeting of the House Republican caucus last night to officially inform them that he was not seeking re-election and cited family considerations. However, his status as leader was left unresolved.
Lane announced Wednesday he will resign from his seat which means an appointment to replace him for the rest of this term will be made by the San Juan County Commission.
The leadership position for the Farmington attorney has been trying. When chosen in November of '22 he was seen as a possible force for bringing the House Republicans together. But that was not to be and the pressure of fund-raising also hung over his head
A Senior Alligator opined that he expected Lane to be replaced as Leader "sooner rather than later." Former Minority Leader James Townsend could be placeholder. He's running for state Senate and has an easy race.
Former state Rep. Rebecca Dow left the House to run for Governor and is running again for the House in the south with a good chance of winning. Her name as a possible Lane replacement came up because the rules allow her to keep the seniority she previously accumulated and she is seen as politically savvy.
Unless the Governor calls a special session there are no legislative session scheduled until January of next year. But there is the matter of distributing and raising funds for House Republicans that the Minority Leader is traditionally involved in. That does add a note of urgency to replace Lane.
Republican retired FBI Agent William Hall has filed for the Lane seat and is running unopposed.
BERNCO ACTION
 |
| Eichenberg |
Former Bernalillo County and State Treasurer Tim Eichenberg filed for county treasurer and former BernCo Assessor and PRC Commissioner Karen Montoya filed for County Clerk. The two are longtime political allies and well-known moderate Democrats.
Eichenberg, now in his 70's, also served a stint as an ABQ state Senator and has widespread name ID and personal wealth to spend on another campaign. Deputy County Treasurer Ken Scott also filed for the Dem primary setting up a two way race. The seat has not gone Republican for years. Current Treasurer Nancy Bearce is term limited after eight years in office.
In the Clerks race Deputy County Clerk Michelle Kavanaugh will be in a Dem primary battle with Montoya. Current Clerk Linda Stover is term limited. She is said to be eyeing a possible run for ABQ mayor in 2025.
Two Republicans are also running for Clerk--Clayton Pryor and Robert Kwasny--but no R has won the seat in years.
In the BernCo race for district attorney, we earlier reported that progressive Dem Mathias Swonger was ending his campaign but he filed for the position Tuesday along with fellow Dems Sam Bregman and Damon Martinez. However a spokesman for Martinez tells us Martinez has met with Swonger who told him he was indeed suspending his effort because of a lack of valid petition signatures.
Whoever wins the Dem DA primary wins it all. No Republican filed for the seat despite the party's emphasis on crime as a key issue.
BernCo Commissioner Adriann Barboa will be busy for the June 4 primary. The Democrat from ABQ's SE Heights District 3 drew two foes--Robert Padilla and Laura Chavez.
In South Valley District 2 being vacated by term limited Michael Quezada, Frank Baca, who was defeated by Quezada in the 2020 Dem primary and William Walker are seeking the Dem nomination.
Republican Commissioner Walt Benson of NE Heights District 4 won a free ride on filing day. He was the only one to file for his position and will be getting a second four year term.
Just think, Walt, now you can read the blog in peace.
(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2024