The highest-ranking Republicans in the New Mexico House and Senate have announced that they will not be seeking reelection this year. This decision comes as the Republican Party works to establish a more prominent presence in the Democrat-led Legislature.
Senate Republicans are grappling with their first election since Democrats merged districts that were previously led by Republicans through a redistricting plan.
Senate Republican leader Greg Baca of Belen announced his intention to step down from the Senate by the end of the year. Baca explained that his decision was influenced by discussions with his family, personal reflection, and a careful consideration of the newly implemented political boundaries established by the Democrat-led Legislature in 2021.
Baca, in a statement endorsing Republican state Sen. Joshua Sanchez of Bosque in the merged district, acknowledged the progressive plan to divide Hispanic Republicans through redistricting. He expressed his refusal to let the radical left create division among brothers.
House minority leader T. Ryan Lane of Aztec has made the decision to not seek reelection. He expressed that his primary reason for this choice is his desire to spend more quality time with his wife and two sons.
According to Lane, a craft ice cream store owner who also happens to be an attorney, the Republicans have a strong chance of gaining seats in the House.
According to him, the residents of New Mexico are becoming increasingly aware that progressive politics are the main reason why the state consistently falls behind. He believes that his decision to leave the House Republicans caucus will put him in a better position to achieve success in the future.
State legislative candidates were in a race against time as they hurriedly submitted signature petitions before the Tuesday evening deadline. These petitions would determine their eligibility for the state’s upcoming June 4 primary and November general election.
Democrats have a significant advantage in the state Senate, outnumbering Republicans by almost double. This partisan balance could be further influenced by a series of retirement announcements. In the House, Democrats currently hold a 25-15 seat advantage after successfully regaining the majority in 2016. It’s worth noting that the entire Legislature is up for election in November.
The Legislature incorporated recommendations from Native American communities to strengthen Indigenous voting blocs in the northwest of the state when drawing new Senate districts. However, Republicans expressed dissatisfaction with the merging of two Republican-held districts.
The Legislature wrapped up its annual session in mid-February, giving the green light to a range of public safety initiatives. Additionally, they rolled out an annual budget plan that aims to curb excessive spending associated with the booming oil production in the Permian Basin, which stretches across southeastern New Mexico and parts of Texas.
Four Republican legislators from southeastern New Mexico and Farmington have urged the state land commissioner to reconsider her decision of withholding certain lease sales for oil and gas development. They are requesting her to reverse course on this decision, which is contingent upon the Legislature’s agreement to raise royalty rates in premium tracts from 20% to 25%.
A group of Republican state representatives from New Mexico, including Jim Townsend, Larry Scott, Rod Montoya, and Jared Hembree, have written a letter to Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard. The letter serves as a warning about potential negative outcomes that could arise if petroleum producers decide to shift their investments from New Mexico to other oil fields. The representatives express concerns about possible job losses and a decrease in government income as a result of this redirection.
State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard expressed concern about the potential loss of income and investment returns for the state if royalties remain capped at 20%. In New Mexico, the royalties generated from oil and gas development on state trust land are deposited into a significant investment trust that supports public schools, universities, and hospitals.
According to the Legislature’s accountability and budget office, implementing a 25% royalty rate cap would result in an annual revenue increase of $50 million to $75 million.
