Ben Ray Attacked Over his Questioning Of RFK, Jr. But Doesn't Flinch, Plus: Keller Jabs Back at Sen. Cervantes Over Crime Bills While Trump Scores Win In Fight Against State's Fentanyl Scourge

Sen. Lujan

Let's check in on Dem US Senator Ben Ray Lujan Ben Ray Lujan who we blogged about January 7 as he went into cycle for his 2026 re-election bid. 

He is now on the Senate Finance Committee where last week he queried Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on his nomination to lead the Department of  Health and Human Services. Afterwards Lujan did an interview with NBC News, saying:

One thing I am good at is counting votes and right now I can't count the votes to get him over the top.

Lujan rose to the rank of Assistant House Speaker before securing a Senate seat in 2020. He also led the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee where he was an ace vote counter.

(The Finance Committee Tuesday morning on a party line vote of 14-13 advanced the Kennedy nomination to the Senate floor. )

Lujan's nationally televised questioning (video) of Kennedy was derided in right-wing media and the socials. Examples:

@SenatorLujan asked Robert Kennedy JR, during hearings, if Mr. Kennedy would cut medicaid if directed by the @POTUS to do so. Thank you to@RobertKennedyJr for reminding this ignorant senator that Congress sets the Medicaid rate! Kennedy 1 - Lujan 0.

 

“Dem Senator Tries to Nail RFK Jr. With Attack on Trump, Medicaid During Hearing, Gets Embarrassed Instead.” That Senator would be Ben Ray Lujan, aka @SenatorLujan, who's panties got twisted in a knot when people laughed at him for his line of questioning, not accepting RFK jr's answer that ending Medicaid is up to Congress, which he should have known. Don't you know how things are done in DC, Senator? If not, you shouldn't be a Senator.  

 

That's a lot of parsing by the critics because the President recommends a budget to Congress so both branches of government have a say in how the health-care program for low-income citizens is administered. In New Mexico 40 percent of the population is covered under Medicaid. The state receives three federal dollars for every state dollar it spends on the program.

 

Lujan appeared healthy and on the ball during his brief round of questioning. In fact, it was Kennedy who seemed confused about the distinction between Medicare and Medicaid. 

LUJAN RE-ELECTION BID

In our January 7th blog we wrote:

There is just enough ambiguity about the Senator that Republicans see an opening albeit a very narrow one. 

Soon after that a Lujan PR blitz--enabled by his new committee slot and the onslaught of Trump's actions--got underway and he now closing the window on that ambiguity.

Unlike the race for Governor, no Republican names are circulating of possible hopefuls to take on Lujan in '26.  

By the way, Lujan was the only one of the the states five member all Democratic congressional delegation  to attend Trump's inauguration. 

The President appeared to do surprisingly well with rural New Mexico Hispanic Democrats as he trimmed his losing margin here to 6 percent. Trump repeatedly says he "loves Hispanics." The message was not lost on Lujan, a native of the north. 

KELLER REBUTS CERVANTES

Chief Medina & Keller

A provocative blog quote over ABQ crime and the crime bills pending in Santa Fe from state Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Joseph Cervantes drew a sharp response from City Hall. First here's that quote again that came from Cervantes in reaction to the APD DWI scandal:   

I've said for years, with lots of opposition, that Albuquerque crime is attributable to an utter lack of accountability and leadership, and outright corruption, which the public and media tolerate. No new laws can solve this. 

And the push back from Mayor Keller's office:   

For any lawmaker to say that 'laws don't matter' totally undermines the point of having a state legislature. It's this kind of flawed logic that holds our state back and is a disservice to New Mexican families who demand action. The Mayor and Chief have been working from day one to clean up the APD, raising the murder clearance rate, reducing auto theft, salvaging the reform process, and generally keeping the department from falling off a cliff. There isn't a corner of our state that isn't affected by fentanyl and violent crime, which is why we need everyone to pitch in and do everything in their power to fight crime. 

Aside from the squabble between Cervantes and Keller, there's the news that Mexico has agreed to place 10,000 troops on the US-Mexico border to stop the flow of fentanyl here in exchange for President Trump delaying his plan to impose tariffs on Mexico. 

Say what you will, but that is one of the most concrete actions taken by any government to interrupt the fentanyl scourge that has ruined the lives of so many New Mexicans and contributed mightily to the high crime rate here. 

Meantime, new Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Monday made the border at Sunland Park, New Mexico his first trip as Pentagon chief, visiting with soldiers stationed there who are assisting immigration personnel with border security.

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.