Governor backs legislative candidates
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has thrown her support behind 12 legislative candidates for New Mexico’s upcoming primary election.
The governor’s endorsements include eight Democratic lawmakers and one challenger — Siah Correa Hemphill of Silver City — who is hoping to oust an incumbent.
Correa Hemphill is running against Sen. Gabriel Ramos, D-Silver City, whom Lujan Grisham appointed to the seat in January 2019.
But the governor only appointed him to the Senate District 28 seat after asking county commissioners to send her additional names to consider, which they declined to do.
Meanwhile, Lujan Grisham also endorsed incumbent Senate Democrats Mimi Stewart of Albuquerque, Shannon Pinto of Gallup and Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces.
Cervantes ran against Lujan Grisham in the 2018 gubernatorial primary race, and helped stymie a bill backed by the governor during this year’s legislative session to legalize recreational marijuana for adult users.
But Cervantes also sponsored a measure backed by Lujan Grisham that will allow temporary firearm seizures from those deemed to pose a threat to themselves or others.
Other candidates endorsed by Lujan Grisham are incumbent
Reps. Miguel P. Garcia of Albuquerque, Patricia Roybal Caballero of Albuquerque, Matthew McQueen of Galisteo, Deborah Armstrong of Albuquerque and Marian Matthews of Albuquerque.
In open races with no incumbent, the governor backed Kristina Ortez of Taos, Roger Montoya of Española and Meredith Dixon of Albuquerque.
“We are living in unprecedented times, and now more than ever, we need leaders with strong New Mexican values that will fight tirelessly for their communities and on behalf of working families across the state,” the governor said in announcing her endorsements. HEINRICH MAKES
ENDORSEMENTS: U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., has also waded into the legislative arena with endorsements in contested primary races.
In additional endorsements released Wednesday, Heinrich backed two challengers to Democratic incumbents.
In the Senate District 38 race, Heinrich endorsed Carrie Hamblen of Las Cruces over Senate President Pro Tem Mary Kay Papen, who has been in the Legislature since 2001.
And in Senate District 5, Heinrich threw his support behind Leo Jaramillo of Española who is trying to oust incumbent Richard Martinez of Ojo Caliente.
Martinez was convicted in December of aggravated drunken driving and reckless driving, charges that stemmed from a June 2019 traffic incident. He served four days in jail before the start of this year’s 30-day legislative session.