GOP leader wants lawmaker to quit

SANTA FE — The chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico on Wednesday called on a state lawmaker who recently changed his party affiliation to resign.

State GOP Chairman Steve Pearce said Rep. Phelps Anderson of Roswell had “betrayed the people of his district” by changing his party affiliation from Republican to independent.

“He ran as a Republican, and he’s chosen to leave those who had trusted him to represent them in Santa Fe,” Pearce said in a statement, pointing out Anderson was reelected to a new two-year term in November.

Anderson caused waves by voting in a House committee in favor of a Democraticbacked abortion bill. He was the only GOP lawmaker to vote for the measure, which has cleared two committees and is awaiting a full House vote.

Anderson has reportedly said he has no plans to step down from his House District 66 seat.

But he could face increasing pressure to do so after the state GOP’s executive board and county party officials in Lea and Roosevelt counties voted to ask for Anderson’s resignation.