Albuquerque, NM - Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver is playing politics with her role as the state's top elections officer. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Oliver disregarded a settled federal court ruling as well as direction from the previous Secretary of State dealing with the transfer of federal campaign funds to a state campaign account.

The partisan ruling by the Democrat Secretary of State office targets the Republican candidate, Representative Steve Pearce.

"This is politics as usual in Santa Fe," said Ryan Cangiolosi, Chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico. "The Secretary of State is using her elected office to benefit candidates from her own party, attempting to circumvent the courts and the policies of her predecessor in order to disadvantage a Republican candidate. As New Mexico's top elections official, the Secretary of State should ensure that the law applies to everyone equally and fairly. This attempt to re-interpret the law for the benefit of her fellow Democrats is blatantly political."