When Rules Matter More Than Voters: The Decline of RPNM
Bu Mick Rich
Lake Berryessa's Glory Hole sucks water out / RPNM Glory Hole sucks the life out of New Mexico
The RPNM held its State Central Committee (SCC) meeting in December 2024 in Truth or Consequences to choose the leader who would continue the Pearce agenda, and it succeeded. In July 2025, at the Farmington SCC meeting, they attempted to enact rules to stifle opposition but failed. Now, another SCC rules meeting is scheduled for Hobbs this September. Does the RPNM leadership believe it can best the DPNM without Republicans in the Albuquerque Metro area?
The July 2025 SCC meeting report says a lot about the RPNM's direction. Out of 524 SCC members, only 156 attended. The party clearly struggles to motivate its own committee members to show up, much less inspire Republicans to vote. ChairwomanAmy Barela admitted that members refused to unite around her, calling her names, and complaining.
The most disappointing was when Chairwoman Barela used her position and report to discount dissenting voices with, "Like President Trump, I understand the importance of setting goals, crafting a plan, implementing it, and seeing it through—despite the attacks and obstacles. "
Dismissing this effort as 'secretive' or 'unclear' is a disservice to the volunteers and committee members who worked diligently to include all voices. And "I must take a moment to correct false statements made during debate that undermined the integrity of this process."
In her remarks on "Strategic Direction and Challenges Ahead," Barela claimed red counties were being dictated to by blue counties—forgetting she represents Republicans across the state, not just in red strongholds. She said the party should elevate the voices of "successful counties," but in practice has elevated voices from the southeast and northwest SCC members above the other members. As evidence of the region's power, twenty-five SCC members from those two regions demanded another SCC rules meeting in Hobbs, and Barela quickly complied.
They used rules to consolidate power, not to Win Elections
Amy Barela 
Steve Pearce
I spoke about uniting Republicans statewide; they consolidated their power.
• I argued for broadening the party; they elevated their regions of NW & SE NM.
• I suggested welcoming Catholics and Mormons; I was handed an Anti-Catholic pamphlet.
• I showed photos of diverse conservatives; they told me, "We don't want them."
• I explained how to reach young people; they said, "We're not doing that."
• I supported Native American sovereignty; they supported oil and gas.
• I shared what it takes to win in the Rio Grande Valley; they replied, "We want real Republicans."
• I said 80% of what you want is better than 100% of what you don't. They delivered one hundred percent of what the Democrats wanted and zero percent of what the Republicans wanted.
While they focus on consolidating control
• Democrats are moderating their positions to keep political control of New Mexico.
• Albuquerque Republican business leaders are backing Democrat Bernalillo DA Sam Bregman for Governor.
• Oil and Gas organizations also support the DPNM, their candidates, and support their green agenda.
• Republican candidates are courting Gary Johnson's libertarians by embracing drug legalization.
• Young voters are registering as Independents, and Republicans and Democrats are joining them.
• Lost opportunity after opportunity to bring Republicans together across the state to win elections.
• Lost one election after another to Democrats, demonstrating to national conservative organizations that New Mexico is a lost cause, which was noted in Chairwoman Barela's report," Donors and national partners have expressed concerns about continued investment in New Mexico if we are unwilling to evolve.'" Evolve is also known as "my way."
The Unvarnished Truth
I expect this article, like my other articles, will be discounted by the RPNM and the SCC members by saying: "He is a Republican in Name Only", "He is from Albuquerque; and "He is a complainer". What cannot be discounted is that for the last ten years, the DPNM has held almost all federal offices, the governor's office, a majority in the legislature, and the judges' seats, while New Mexico ranks at the bottom of all the states. How can the RPNM lose to DPNM for ten years with the DPNM's record? Steve Pearce, who has directly or indirectly controlled the RPNM?
A Call to Action
I ask the twenty-five RPNM SCC members who demanded the upcoming SCC rules meeting in Hobbs to reconsider the agenda and the location. Request the RNC to facilitate an RPNM SCC meeting on how to unite the RPNM (urban & rural, European & Latin, & Native American, old and young), win elections, and govern together. As distasteful as it may be, hold the meeting in the Albuquerque Metro Area (better yet, the Isleta Pueblo Casino).
