Former gov. hopeful Apodaca takes job with PAC
Before primary, group spent thousands attacking candidate Lujan Grisham and hasn’t let up
Jeff Apodaca, son of a former New Mexico governor, was a political novice of sorts when he launched his own campaign for the Democratic Party’s gubernatorial nomination.
The Albuquerque businessman didn’t win. He got 22 percent of the vote, while nominee Michelle Lujan Grisham took 66 percent.
But he isn’t bowing out of New Mexico politics so fast.
New Mexico Democrats for Democracy, a political action committee that backed Apodaca for governor, announced Monday he will join the organization as a spokesman.
The group spent nearly $20,000 before the primary, largely on social media advertising that touted Apodaca while blasting Lujan Grisham.
And it has continued to use its social media platforms to attack Lujan Grisham now that she is the Democratic nominee.
For example, when former state taxation and revenue Cabinet secretary Demesia Padilla was arraigned earlier this month on public corruption charges, it wrote: “Good. Now we have to focus on Grisham and her clan. We certainly have found more evidence that Michelle always has money on her mind. Some exciting things are coming soon.”
Asked if the group would keep up its attacks on Lujan Grisham, Apodaca said no.
“We’re not going to attack candidates,” he said.
However, Apodaca added: “Some people may not like what we’re talking about their candidates.”
And the group is not necessarily going to endorse anyone, either, even the Democratic nominee for governor.
Instead, it will talk to candidates up and down the ballot about their positions on issues that
Apodaca pushed on the campaign trail. For instance, he proposed using part of the $17 billion Land Grant Permanent Fund for economic development, renewable energy and more.
Lujan Grisham said she favors spending about $57 million annually from the fund for five years to expand early childhood education.
Apodaca said his group will eventually roll out a grading system for candidates.
“My goal is to continue pushing our agenda,” he added.
And it will have a decent reach on social media, at least by the standards of New Mexico politics.
The group boasts more followers for its Facebook page than the pages for Lujan Grisham or Republican gubernatorial nominee Steve Pearce.
Democrats for Democracy sprouted just after the party’s nominating convention in March, where Apodaca got about 21 percent of the vote.
Initially, the organization was anonymous. But The New Mexican later reported it was linked to a Santa Fe man who had described himself as an adviser to Apodaca. The group went on to register as a political action committee.
Does his involvement mean Apodaca is setting up to run for office again?
“I kind of look at things step by step,” he said. “I think we have a lot to offer. That’s why I’m continuing in this arena. I’m never going to say never.”