I find myself selecting the "Snooze for 30 days" option on social media more and more for my more strident connections as we get closer to the election and the anger from each side gets a little crazier. Democrats and Republicans alike are obsessed with cat-eating memes. J.D. Vance admits to "creating the story."
No thank you.
Early voting in New Mexico starts Oct. 7. It's time to simply make good decisions for your family, community and country. I don't think in this complicated age this means a straight party ticket in New Mexico.
I love statistics in my column, but in New Mexico everyone is tired of ours: last, forty-something-th, top ten for awfulness, etc. So I am not going to regurgitate that litany. We all know where we are. We are lagging behind the rest of the country and folks are moving away.
And we all know who is running the state and it sure as hell ain't the Republicans by a long shot. In fact, it seems like they have stopped trying. The GOP has its traditional strongholds and has made some gains in the southwest (Luna and Grant County in particular), while losing pretty much all of Albuquerque in the last eight years. There's a distinct focus and messaging problem.
However, some of the Last Republicans Standing have managed some cool wins in the Legislature. Representative Jason Harper (R-57) of Rio Rancho, that chamber's economic genius, has helped author and push through numerous fiscal advances, including saving the Lottery scholarship and the Severance Tax Permanent Fund through sound fiscal policymaking, as well as many reforms to the tax code. Unfortunately, Harper has decided not to run for reelection.
Former Representative Rebecca Dow (running for office in District 38 again after pausing to make a bid for governor) was responsible for getting the first citizens' redistricting commission established and got both sides of the aisle focused on child welfare and CYFD reform. She has helped candidates from Elephant Butte to Deming get elected and is a galvanizing force.
There are many more good stories about the good work of Republican legislators. Our Legislature needs balance and conservative voices focused on New Mexico issues. Yes, there are some unserious and single-issue legislators and candidates on the GOP side. And there are pro-business Democrats who have held off some of the worst ideas in recent years like the proposed new employment tax for paid sick leave.
Whomever you vote for, if Republicans make any gains in the Legislature in 2024, they will still have to work across the aisle to move legislation forward. It's extremely unlikely the GOP will come close to parity in either chamber (there are 45 Democrats to 25 Republicans in the House and 27 Democrats and 15 Republicans in the Senate), but some seat pickups would be a great signal of a changing tide.
I'd really like to see some Republican wins in the U.S. Senate and Congressional races. All eyes are on the neck and neck race in CD2 between former Congresswoman Yvette Herrell and incumbent Gabe Vasquez. Former legislator Sharon Clahchischilliage is bringing exciting energy to the CD3 race, which like all the districts, was redistricted painfully and inappropriately – except perhaps, for her. A citizen of the Navajo Nation and successful Republican politician, Clahchischilliage can appeal to the wide disparity of voters across the redrawn Third Congressional District.
The Senate race is truly compelling. Incumbent Democrat Martin Heinrich has been incredibly vicious in his advertising while Republican challenger Nella Domenici's campaign has been remarkable in its moderation and normalcy. Domenici's messaging is a throwback to a time when politics were calmer and not polarized. This should not be lost on voters.
Both of the state party organizations are in flat-out fear-mongering mode. For our statewide and local candidates, this is not helpful messaging. If you are a hardcore partisan true believer, they are singing your tune. For a growing number of New Mexico voters – a quarter of us who don't belong to any major party – it's just a lot of noise.
We can see what isn't working. The blue majority incumbents in the state have very little mandate to stand on in our Legislative, Congressional and U.S. Senate contests this year. The question is whether New Mexico voters, weary of all the toxic tribalism, yelling, and posturing, can be bothered to change an old habit at this point in the game.
Merritt Hamilton Allen is a PR executive and former Navy officer. She appeared regularly as a panelist on NM PBS and is a frequent guest on News Radio KKOB. A Republican for 36 years, she became an independent upon reading the 2024 Republican platform. She lives amicably with her Democratic husband north of I-40 where they run one head of dog, and two of cat. She can be reached at
