Fajardo wins court decision to remain on ballot
SANTA FE — State Rep. Kelly Fajardo, R-Belen, won a court decision this week securing her spot on the ballot.
Fajardo faced a lawsuit aimed at disqualifying her as a candidate because of a typo on the header of some of the petitions she used to gather voter signatures. Her name was misspelled as “Fajado.”
State law has rather strict rules on the information in headers. But Fajardo said in social media posts that she was “glad that the court recognized the complaint for what it was: a cynical attempt by special interest groups to manipulate the outcome of an election by clearing the field. Tactics like these discourage good people from running for office and fuel the public’s suspicions that the political process is rigged.”
Fajardo is the only Republican candidate in House District 7, based in Valencia County. In the fall, she is set to face Democrat Leroy Baca of Belen.
It’s certainly the time of year for ballot challenges. Republican Sharon Clahchischilliage of Kirtland also withstood a ballot challenge over a petition header.
Two Democrats in the governor’s race are also sparring over whether one of them should be kicked off the ballot.
Jeff Apodaca challenged the validity of petition signatures turned in by state Sen. Joseph Cervantes.
Cervantes turned back the challenge on Thursday, but Apodaca’s campaign plans to appeal.
Any ballot changes must be resolved by April 20 — 45 days before the election — to leave enough time to print ballots and send them to military and overseas voters, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
CYBERATTACK MONEY: New Mexico is getting some extra money to improve election security and guard against cyberattacks on the voting system.
Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver said the state will receive $3.7 million in federal funding as part of the $1.3 trillion federal spending bill signed last month.
The money comes after Russian agents targeted election systems in the United States before the 2016 general election, according to the U.S. Homeland Security Department.
“My staff and I are in the process of determining the best way to maximize these funds to bolster our election security at the state and county level and improve our elections overall,” Toulouse Oliver said in a news release.
She credited U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., with helping to secure the funding.