The IRS surprised La Politica this week with a ruling that could bring some prominent voices to the table to make candidate endorsements, The ruling:

In a break with decades of tradition, the Internal Revenue Service says it will allow houses of worship to endorse candidates for political office without losing their tax-exempt status. The surprise announcement came in a court document filed on Monday. Since 1954, a provision in the tax code called the Johnson Amendment says that churches and other nonprofit organizations could lose their tax-exempt status if they participate in, or intervene in "any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office."

Here in River City, Pastor Steve Smotherman of Legacy Church, one of the largest in the state, has flirted with endorsements while preaching to his conservative evangelical parishioners. In fact back in 2021 he openly endorsed a candidate for ABQ city council and was called out for it.

Now Smotherman could get in the endorsement game legitimately but Democrats need not apply for the Pastor's nod of approval. Smotherman isn't going to endorse any candidate who is pro-choice. 

The watch is on for other state religious leaders who may want to dip their toes in the political waters with no threat of crossing the IRS. But they may have second thoughts. Their endorsement could be sought in a Republican primary but could then backfire in a general election featuring a more moderate electorate.  

SUMMER VIBE

From the NYT travel section on Taos:

“There’s a vibration there that’s stunning and moving and just makes your heart feel good. The landscape is raw and it’s wild and you just want to get up close to it,” says the architect Rick Joy. “You feel enchanted, and you kind of even feel like you might be enchanting.” 

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.