New Mexico Politics & News
The Daily Signal covers New Mexico politics with reporting on immigration enforcement, oil and gas regulation, crime policy, and border security challenges in the Land of Enchantment.
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New Mexico Accused of Hiding More Election Records
New Mexico’s top election official won’t disclose key information about a new electronic signature-verification system for putting candidates on the ballot, a lawsuit alleges just months after she settled a court case over lack of transparency. Last August, New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver settled the public records dispute with a think tank…Fred Lucas -
New Mexico Governor’s ‘Insanely Unconstitutional’ Gun Edict Slapped Down in Court
A federal judge has blocked New Mexico Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s emergency public health order restricting gun rights following a few shootings. “This was inevitable for an order that everyone—except, apparently, the governor herself—knows is insanely unconstitutional,” Amy Swearer, a senior legal fellow at The Heritage Foundation, told The Daily Signal in a statement…Tyler O’Neil -
5 Things to Know About New Mexico Governor’s Insanely Unconstitutional Gun Control Order
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham last week accomplished a feat that few politicians have ever come close to managing: She issued a gun control order so outrageous that it received an overwhelming, bipartisan rebuke and left gun control activists speechless. Grisham’s order effectively prohibits the carrying of firearms in public for self-defense within the…Amy Swearer -
Sheriff Derides, Won’t Enforce New Mexico Governor’s ‘Unconstitutional’ Ban on Carrying Firearms
A sheriff said Monday that he won't enforce New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s emergency order suspending open and concealed gun carry for 30 days in Bernalillo County and Albuquerque. Grisham, a Democrat, issued the order Friday through the New Mexico Department of Health after several shootings this year in the state, including one in which an 11-year-old boy…Lillian Tweten -
EXCLUSIVE: New Mexico Pays Hefty Fee for Trying to Hide Voter Information
FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver’s office settled a public records lawsuit over voter records with a think tank, paying out a $22,000 settlement after initially denying access to voting information. The Southwest Public Policy Institute announced first to The Daily Signal that it reached the settlement in its…Fred Lucas -
Unused Wall Materials Have Sat ‘on Border for Over 2 Years’ on New Mexico Ranch, Lawmakers Are Told
Unused border wall materials are still sitting on Russell Johnson’s family ranch in New Mexico near the border with Mexico. “This material has been sitting on the border for over two years,” Johnson told members of Congress at a hearing Tuesday. “Taxpayer dollars are being stockpiled, rather than being utilized for their intended purpose.” Johnson’s…Virginia Allen -
New Mexico’s Rep. Yvette Herrell Shares GOP Solution to Border Crisis
The crisis on our southern border has never been worse. Hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants have crossed into America, and violent cartel members import drugs and violence into our cities. The Biden administration thus far has failed to seriously address the crisis. “This really is a frightening scenario for us to be watching play…Douglas Blair -
New Mexico Gets Its Red Flag Law Wrong
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, recently signed controversial legislation that created the state’s first red flag law to take firearms from potentially dangerous people. Red flag laws, which now have been enacted by 18 states, allow courts to determine whether certain individuals are such a serious risk of danger to themselves or…Amy Swearer -
New Mexico Rejects Electoral College, Joins Popular Vote Compact
New Mexico Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed legislation Wednesday officially joining a group of states agreeing to elect the president by popular vote. By formally adding HB 55 to the governor’s list of signed legislation, Grisham confirmed that New Mexico is the 14th state to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. The measure passed through both chambers…Whitney Tipton -
8 New Mexico Democrats Join Republicans to Block Late-Term Abortion Bill
New Mexico’s bill was supposed to be a slam dunk. But after New York, nothing on abortion is a sure thing—not anymore. In a country that saw a 17-point jump in the number of pro-lifers since January, it’s no wonder that state Democrats are taking a good hard look at their positions, especially on late-term abortion. Americans…Tony Perkins -
EXCLUSIVE: Audit Finds Signs of Fraud in New Mexico House Race
An audit of absentee ballots suggests fraud may have occurred in one of the closest House races in the country, The Daily Signal has learned. Democrat Xochitl Torres Small squeaked by Republican Yvette Herrell in the final results of the Nov. 6 election. On election night, Herrell declared victory in the race to represent New…Fred Lucas -
Potential Terrorist Case in New Mexico Draws Attention to Growing Use of Children in Terrorist Plots
Last week, authorities in New Mexico discovered 11 children living in a dilapidated compound. Most were the sons and daughters of a Georgian resident called Siraj Ibn Wahhaj who, along with his wife and sisters, was charged with child cruelty offenses. Human remains found on the site are feared to be those of his disabled…Robin Simcox -
Court Challenges Loom as Right to Work Gathers Steam in New Mexico
Local laws that free private-sector workers from union mandates continue to gain momentum in New Mexico, among other states. The Chaves County Commission’s five members voted unanimously last month for a right-to-work ordinance that will prohibit private-sector employers from entering into agreements that make union membership and payment of union dues or fees a condition…Kevin Mooney -
Why New Mexico Resorted to Suing EPA for Gold King Mine Spill
A back-hoe operator accidentally struck an oil pipeline in Alaska in 1994, and 1,000 to 5,000 gallons of oil spilled into the Skagway River. The Environmental Protection Agency had his supervisor—who was at home and off-duty at the time of the accident—criminally prosecuted for negligent discharge under the Clean Water Act. A district court sentenced…John-Michael Seibler -
New Mexico Appeals Court Rules Assisted Suicide ‘Is Not a Fundamental Liberty’
The New Mexico Court of Appeals reversed a lower court ruling on Tuesday that had created a right for doctors to help terminally ill patients die. Siding with the state’s attorney general, the appeals court ruled against physician-assisted suicide, and said, “[A]id in dying is not a fundamental liberty interest under the New Mexico Constitution.”…Kelsey Bolar -
New Mexico Enacts Sweeping Civil Forfeiture Reform
Last month, the New Mexico legislature unanimously passed a bipartisan bill essentially abolishing civil forfeiture in the Land of Enchantment (yes, that’s what they call themselves). But weeks went by and it looked like Gov. Susana Martinez was going to pocket veto the bill. If she hadn’t signed the bill by noon Tuesday, it would…Andrew Kloster -
Should Government Give Settlement Money to Groups, Not Taxpayers? New Mexico Takes Action.
For more than a decade, the U.S. Justice Department has engaged in the dubious practice of giving away the public’s money when it settles a criminal or civil case. Occasionally, the Justice Department has made a settlement offer contingent on a company agreeing to donate money to a cause or charity—sometimes one chosen by the…Paul J. Larkin -
New Mexico to Give $100K to ‘The Bachelor’
SANTA FE, N.M. – There is now a state element to wooing “The Bachelor.” The New Mexico Tourism Department is joining the Santa Fe City Council in the dating pool for the ABC reality TV series. “We’re really excited,” said Rebecca Latham, communications director for the tourism department, who confirmed Monday the state agency will pay $50,000 to the…Rob Nikolewski -
Here’s How New Mexico Made the Leap Into Top 5 Oil-Rich States
Move over, Oklahoma. New Mexico has regained its position as the fifth-highest state in terms of oil production in the country. In an annual report of the top 10 oil states put together by the financial website 24/7 Wall St., New Mexico supplanted Oklahoma with 965 million barrels of proven oil reserves. That’s an 11.4 percent increase…Rob Nikolewski -
New Mexico Shoots Down Drones for Hunting
SANTA FE, N.M.—New Mexico is a no-drone zone. This week, the state’s Game Commission, in a 6-0 vote, passed “a prohibition against the use drones to harass wildlife and a prohibition against using drones to take or assist in hunting protected wildlife.” “It was a growing problem,” said Bill Montoya, the vice chairman of the…Rob Nikolewski