Free Republic

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Supreme Court today blocked Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver from bringing back straight party voting for the November general election, ruling the secretary of state does not have the authority to unilaterally make the policy change. The unanimous decision, which was handed down after more than an hour of deliberations, makes it clear that only the Legislature can reinstate straight party voting, which allows voters to vote for a major party’s entire slate of candidates by filling in an oval at the top of the ballot. “This power is theirs alone, and the...

On August 20, Emerson Polls released a poll for the New Mexico U.S. Senate race. The results: incumbent Democrat Martin Heinrich 39%, Libertarian Gary Johnson 21%, Mick Rich 11%, undecided 30%. If Johnson does outpoll Rich in November, that will be the first time since 1970 in which a Republican nominee for U.S. Senate placed third in any general election. In 1970 in New York, the Republican nominee, Charles Goodell, placed third behind the Conservative and the Democrat. Also in 1970 in Virginia, the Republican nominee, Ray Garland, placed third behind independent Harry F. Byrd, Jr., and Democrat George Rawlings....

The New Mexico gubernatorial candidate seeking a ban on “high magazine cartridges” is now campaigning on firearm confiscation orders and universal background checks. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) is making clear that gun control will be an important part of her agenda if the people of New Mexico elect her. The Albuquerque Journal reports that Lujan Grisham wants to “expand background checks to all gun purchases” and wants to put a process in place “to allow family members or law enforcement to seek temporary court orders to confiscate firearms from someone they fear may hurt themselves or others.”

These past years I have sat on the sidelines very quietly enjoying life with family and friends, observing from a distance. I know the new politicians of the 21st century don’t need my advice. But friends recently suggested I sit down with both gubernatorial candidates to discuss the concerns I outlined above. I agreed to but didn’t expect anyone to call. I never heard from Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham. I did receive a call from Congressman Steve Pearce. I was surprised how open he was and how we agreed on about 80 percent of the issues that plague New Mexico....

Former Libertarian Party presidential candidate Gary Johnson is considering jumping into the race for the U.S. Senate in New Mexico, raising the profile of a race that Democrats seeking to capture the majority in Congress had seen as a safe seat. Johnson consultant Ron Nielson told The Associated Press on Friday that the former governor is “strongly considering” running if Libertarian candidate Aubrey Dunn quits the race as expected. “He is weighing it over right now,” Nielson said. “He doesn’t want to get into a race he can’t win.” […] During the presidential campaign, Johnson vowed to cut military spending,...

A Democratic congressional candidate from the state of New Mexico, Pat Davis has found himself in the national spotlight for his viral "**** the NRA" advertisement. Davis is getting even more attention for his interview with Fox News' Tucker Carlson on Tuesday night over another one of his controversial, and false, advertisements where he claims an AR-15 can fire 150 rounds in 15 seconds. But Pat Davis' controversial gun control advertisements aren't the only controversial thing about the candidate and current Albuquerque city councilor. In 2013, while chairman of the Albuquerque Metro Crime Stoppers, Pat Davis was arrested on an...

Edward Fish For Senate I have recently decided to run for one of New Mexico’s seats in the US Congress. Why should I be interested in supporting you? My platform is very simple, consisting of only two or three* points: Constitutionalism: The Constitution for the United States should be treated as the supreme law of the land. Justice: Having a Just government is imperative not only to the peace and stability of the country, but to the legitimacy of the government itself. Anti-Corruption: It seems to me that a great many of our laws are optimized to foster and facilitate...

Mick Rich, who served as president of Albuquerque-based Mick Rich Contractors for over 30 years, is ready to take his hard hat to Washington. The Albuquerque-based Republican filed his statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission in February and will run against Democratic incumbent Sen. Martin Heinrich.