First time in history NM gets female-majority Legislature – Albuquerque Journal, KUNM News
After this week’s historic election, New Mexico’s Legislature is set to feature a groundbreaking female-majority for the very first time ever. This unprecedented shift demonstrates the increasing representation of women in politics within the state.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that, based on unofficial election results, women will hold a total of 60 out of the 112 seats within both chambers of the Legislature come January, signifying a major step toward gender equity in governance.
Senate Majority Floor Leader Peter Wirth emphasized in a statement to the Journal that all sitting Democratic Senate incumbents successfully secured their positions while welcoming six newly elected women into the chamber, highlighting a significant gain for female representation.
One of these newly elected senators is Angel Charley, a member of the Native American communities from Laguna and Zuni Pueblos and the Navajo Nation. Charley’s victory is particularly notable as she is the only candidate who succeeded in flipping a district from Republican to Democratic, showcasing her strong commitment to her constituents. Previously, she served as the director of the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women and passionately stated that New Mexico stands as a great platform for championing transformative change in its communities.
Female lawmakers will constitute 44 out of the 70 members in the state House of Representatives and 16 out of the 42 seats in the Senate, marking an essential milestone in stepping toward equitable representation in a traditionally male-dominated legislature.
Of these women elected, 46 are Democrats while 14 belong to the Republican Party, indicating a strong Democratic influence amid the increasing numbers of women serving in government roles.
Prior to this electoral outcome, New Mexico was among the few states where female majorities have been achieved, notably alongside Nevada, which also saw similar legislative representation.
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument in New Mexico is set to reopen – Associated Press
The Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument in New Mexico, a breathtaking geologic wonder cherished by hikers, is finally preparing to welcome visitors again after being closed since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a hiatus that has lasted almost three years.
The reopening, slated for November 21, has been jointly announced by the Bureau of Land Management and the Cochiti Pueblo tribe, showcasing an exciting collaboration between federal and tribal entities aiming to revitalize the natural landmark.
The Cochiti Pueblo tribe is set to take on the day-to-day operations of the monument, situated in a picturesque location between the vibrant cities of Albuquerque and Santa Fe, enhancing visitor experiences through Indigenous stewardship.
The Bureau of Land Management, along with the Cochiti Pueblo, reached this consensus after agreeing to maintain the closure following lifted pandemic restrictions to re-evaluate the monument’s operational framework in cooperation with the tribal community.
This monument, created in 2001, was established under shared management provisions between the BLM and Cochiti Pueblo and signifies a significant step toward integrating Indigenous knowledge into the management of public lands, a growing trend in federal initiatives.
Democrats retain hold on New Mexico despite shifting support for Republicans – By Susan Montoya Bryan, Christopher L. Keller and Morgan Lee, Associated Press
Democrats in New Mexico sustained notable political dominance throughout the state with the successful reelection of U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich along with Congressman Gabe Vasquez in a battleground House district. However, despite this Democratic stronghold, signs of shifting voter sentiments have come to light, showcasing a growing base of support for Republican candidates and President-elect Donald Trump.
Democratic presidential candidates have won seven of the last eight general elections in New Mexico, yet the latest election results reveal that Trump has made significant inroads into the traditionally blue state, reflecting trends observed across the nation.
Trump — who previously lost New Mexico by about 8 percentage points in 2016 and nearly 11 percentage points in 2020 — notably diminished that margin in the recent election, achieving expanded support even in historically Democratic counties as well as established Republican areas. This shift provoked intrigue among political analysts attempting to decipher that evolving voter landscape.
As the counting continued, New Mexico-based political columnist Joe Monahan acknowledged this change, deeming it a pivotal breakthrough for Republicans. With nearly all of the vote counted, the former president saw increased support across all but three of New Mexico’s 33 counties compared to the 2020 election results.
Trump made a point of visiting New Mexico on October 31, holding a rally aimed at courting Latino voters, capitalizing on the state’s unique demographic with the highest percentage of Latino residents nationwide. Conversely, Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, did not visit New Mexico during her campaign efforts.
Isaiah Blas, a 25-year-old attendee at Trump’s rally, expressed excitement about the vast turnout, suggesting that the growing wave of enthusiasm may signal a transformative shift in New Mexico’s political trajectory as diverse voices unite in the movement for change.
While many voters express dissatisfaction with the current Democratic leadership, citing persistent concerns over crime rates and educational outcomes in the state, the dynamics of voting in traditionally Democratic cities along the Rio Grande corridor including Doña Ana, Santa Fe, and Bernalillo have significantly shifted toward Republican candidates.
Simultaneously, Republican legislative candidates successfully secured at least one seat in the state House and two in the state Senate. This achievement has temporarily staved off the prospect of a Democratic supermajority within the Legislature, demonstrating a competitive political landscape.
Although Democrats have lost control of a newly redistricted state Senate seat to a Republican candidate affiliated with Trump’s efforts to dispute the integrity of the 2020 election, they retain overall dominance in statewide offices, the three U.S. House seats, and the state Supreme Court.
Unofficial results from the Associated Press indicated that Heinrich won by roughly 10 percentage points over the Republican nominee Nella Domenici, marking her first campaign for public office as the daughter of the long-serving U.S. Senator Pete V. Domenici.
Meanwhile, Vasquez’s victory in New Mexico’s swing district along the U.S.-Mexico border showcased his expertise in regional economics as a U.S.-born child of immigrants from Mexico, reinforcing his commitment to local constituents through an inclusive message of community service.
Vasquez, a former city councilor in Las Cruces, affirmed his determination to represent his constituents, irrespective of their political affiliations, in a triumphant statement delivered in both English and Spanish post-election.
Widespread power outages as winter storm sweep over New Mexico – Bryce Dix, KUNM News
A powerful winter storm has left over 45,000 customers grappling with unexpected and widespread power outages across New Mexico as torrential rains and potentially historic snowfall grip the region.
As of 7:45 a.m. Thursday, the Public Service Company of New Mexico’s power outage map indicated 397 individual outages, spanning from Los Lunas along the Rio Grande Valley to Santa Fe. These outages continue to escalate as the storm moves through the region with intensity.
Forecasters from The National Weather Service predict that more snow could accumulate on Thursday, potentially continuing through to the end of the week, raising serious concerns about major to extreme travel impacts across vital routes.
Travel conditions are expected to be particularly treacherous along I-25, specifically between Las Vegas and Raton Pass, posing significant challenges for commuters and travelers alike.
Republicans gain 1 state House seat and 1 Senate seat, but Dems still have big majority – By Source New Mexico
Republicans managed to flip three seats in the New Mexico Legislature according to the latest voting tallies released Wednesday from the Secretary of State’s Office; however, despite these gains, Democrats maintain a significant majority across both legislative chambers.
The Election Day outcomes indicate a net gain of one seat in the Senate, resulting in a new party breakdown of 26 Democrats and 16 Republicans as the Legislature gears up to convene early next year.
Block achieved victory in Senate District 12, previously represented by the retiring Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino, whose seat has undergone considerable redistricting since 2021. Republican Gabriel Ramos successfully captured District 28, encompassing parts of Silver City, Lordsburg, and Deming after defeating Democratic candidates.
Democratic Representative Tara Jaramillo lost her matchup against Republican Rebecca Dow in the House, leading to a finalized composition of 44 Democrats to 26 Republicans in the House, displaying Democrats’ robust existing majority.
This election cycle witnessed 10 contested Senate races and 32 contested House races, while the remaining ballot slots were uncontested.
State Senate District 9
The competitive race in State Senate District 9 concluded on Tuesday night with Democrat Cindy Nava emerging victorious, garnering 55% of the votes against Republican Audrey Trujillo, who secured 45% of the tally.
Nava’s win is significant as she becomes one of the first beneficiaries of the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to be elected to public office. The former official in the Biden administration was brought to the United States at the age of 7 and has since achieved U.S. citizenship.
Trujillo previously attempted a run for Secretary of State in 2022, where she inaccurately claimed that former President Donald Trump won New Mexico during his unsuccessful bid in 2020, despite losing the state by around 100,000 votes.
Nava has greatly outpaced Trujillo in fundraising, having raised about $277,000 compared to Trujillo’s financial backing of approximately $65,000, underscoring the grassroots support and momentum behind her campaign.
Senate District 9 encompasses regions within Sandoval County, along with parts of Bernalillo County, and was vacated following Senator Brenda McKenna’s decision to step down after one term in office.
State Senate District 12
Republican Jay Block defeated Democrat Phillip Ramirez with 53% of the vote, as indicated by preliminary results from the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office.
Senate District 12 includes the western part of Rio Rancho, a suburb of Albuquerque with rapidly changing demographics and political dynamics.
Block previously won the Republican nomination over Candance Gould earlier this year. He has been a vocal advocate for election integrity, which he tied to his contentious stance against certifying the 2022 primary election results while serving on the Sandoval County Commission.
State Senate District 28
Republican Gabriel Ramos achieved 56% of the vote in his successful bid against Democratic candidate Chris Ponce for Senate District 28, an area formerly occupied by Democratic Senator Siah Correa Hemphill who announced her retirement earlier this year.
Ramos, a former Democrat, was initially appointed to the vacant seat in 2019 and garnered considerable attention after voting against removing a decades-old law limiting abortion, a stance that diverged from his party’s platform.
State Representative District 11
Despite encountering a formidable challenge, the speaker of the state House of Representatives, Rep. Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque), retained both his seat and elevated position after winning Tuesday’s election with an impressive 75% of the vote against Republican Bart Kinney III, who garnered only 25%.
Martínez was the only member of the Democratic leadership in both the House and Senate who faced a contested general election this cycle. His campaign amassed over $430,000 in contributions since his election to the House, a majority of which he has funneled into supporting other Democratic campaigns.
State House District 38
Rebecca Dow has successfully reclaimed her seat in House District 38, edging out incumbent Tara Jaramillo with 52% of the vote amid a competitive election landscape where both candidates raised substantial campaign funds to amplify their respective efforts.
The revised makeup of the district has transformed significantly since Dow left office. Following the 2023 redistricting, the district now encompasses areas in northern Las Cruces, extending to Hatch, Truth or Consequences, and parts of Socorro, marking an evolving electoral landscape.
State Representative District 53
Democrat Sarah Silva is poised to serve as the next state representative for District 53, according to preliminary results released Wednesday afternoon, though the race remains extremely close with only a narrow margin of 129 votes separating her from her Republican opponent Elizabeth Winterrowd.
The margin between Silva and Winterrowd translates to just 1.3% of the total votes counted thus far, which could trigger an automatic recount if it falls beneath 1%. As it stands, Silva holds 51% of the votes compared to Winterrowd’s 49%.
This district covers parts of eastern Las Cruces, encompassing portions of Doña Ana County as well as areas in Otero County, representing a strategic battleground that state GOP leaders had focused efforts on flipping during the election.
Reminder: APS Snow days are a thing of the past – Rodd Cayton,City Desk ABQ
In light of anticipated snowfall on Thursday — with the possibility of inclement weather extending into Wednesday and Friday — Albuquerque Public Schools is reiterating that classes will remain in session during adverse weather conditions.
Throughout the current academic year, APS has replaced traditional snow days with “asynchronous learning days,” a policy designed to ensure continuity in education and that students are actively engaged in their lessons regardless of weather challenges.
On days when schools close due to severe weather, APS students will be expected to complete online lessons at home instead of enjoying snow-related activities, providing a new model for educational consistency in the face of winter storms.
APS employees, with the exception of teachers and educational paraprofessionals, will be required to report to work as soon as it is safe, according to district communications, while educators may work from home to facilitate remote instruction during those disruptive weather days.
On asynchronous learning days, educators might:
- Create and post assignments for students to complete on their own via platforms such as Google Classroom.
- Maintain virtual office hours to provide support for students requiring assistance with assignments or tutoring.
- Employ diverse instructional strategies to ensure robust learning outcomes for students.
APS assures that students without access to necessary digital devices or internet connectivity will be afforded additional time for assignment completion during in-class sessions upon their return.
“Our utmost priority during inclement weather is ensuring the safety of our students and staff,” shared district spokesperson Martin Salazar. “However, right behind safety is our commitment to ensuring continuity in student learning, which is where asynchronous learning comes into play. This allows students to progress at their own pace from home while still receiving guidance from their teachers.”
He emphasized that this approach enhances students’ academic trajectory without the need to extend the school year to compensate for lost school days due to weather interruptions.
APS clarified that asynchronous learning will not be enacted during weather-induced delayed starts and that certain learning days, such as testing days and parent/teacher conferences, are pre-planned outside of the weather paradigm.
Voters give ABQ City Council more say in terminating police, fire chiefs – By Elizabeth McCall,City Desk ABQ
Albuquerque voters have empowered the City Council with a greater degree of authority over the potential termination of police and fire chiefs after passing a charter amendment during the recent election, marking a significant evolution in municipal governance.
The voters also ratified a city charter amendment to establish a structured process for filling vacancies on a three-member committee tasked with resolving disputes arising between the mayor and the council, which aims to enhance efficiency and accountability within local government.
Preliminary results from the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office indicated that both charter amendments were approved by 62% of voters as of Wednesday evening, showcasing a clear mandate from the public.
“The passage of these amendments reflects a strong community desire for greater accountability from both the mayor and police chief,” Council President Dan Lewis stated, reaffirming the need for checks and balances within city governance.
The new amendment stipulates that the council may dismiss a police or fire chief without cause if at least seven members agree, while ensuring that chiefs maintain employment agreements with the city that could only be terminated by the mayor with cause.
Councilor Louie Sanchez, noted for his critiques of the Albuquerque Police Department and Chief Harold Medina, expressed the belief that these amendments enhance essential checks and balances within the municipal structure, emphasizing the council’s role in promoting public safety.
The second charter amendment establishes mechanisms for ensuring timely appointments are made to the committee responsible for resolving disputes between the mayor and council, thereby promoting accountability and efficiency in governance.
The new amendment mandates the mayor to appoint one member of the intragovernmental conference committee 30 days prior to an expiring term or immediately following a resignation, ensuring a streamlined process that holds both parties mutually responsible for timely nominations to the committee.
ING careers
Ing vacancies for the police and fire chief positions, enhancing oversight on these critical public safety roles. This shift in governance responds to increasing calls for accountability and transparency within city departments, particularly in the context of police and fire operations.
The charter amendment grants the City Council authority to approve or disapprove the appointment of chiefs, ensuring that the council has a substantial role in leadership selection. This measure aims to create a more collaborative approach between elected officials and department heads, fostering a sense of shared responsibility in maintaining public trust and safety.
Voters expressed strong support for this measure, reflecting a desire for increased oversight of city officials and a belief in proactive governance. The amendment not only establishes accountability through council involvement but also aims to enhance the performance and responsiveness of public safety services to community needs.
The passage of this amendment marks a notable change in the political landscape of Albuquerque, as it signifies a shift towards greater legislative oversight of executive actions, particularly in areas that directly affect public welfare and security. The City Council, now equipped with additional authority, is expected to work closely with new appointees to develop policies and initiatives that adhere to community standards and expectations.
As Albuquerque adjusts to these new governance structures, the focus will remain on ensuring that the city’s public safety departments meet the evolving demands of the community, fostering an environment of trust, safety, and effective service delivery.