MLG has released her first negative ad aimed at GOP nominee Mark Ronchetti, the start of what will be a mind-numbing five months of nonstop TV spots from her and from Ronchetti as soon as he can raise enough money to go on the tube and stay there. 

MLG's first foray into negative territory begins with an ad featuring former Bernalillo police chief Tom Romero who wonders how Ronchetti--with no experience other than being a TV weatherman--can fight crime. 

Mark Ronchetti, a TV weatherman attacking the Governor on crime? Mark Ronchetti only knows which way the wind blows.

Of course, the metro area crime wave has intensified under the leadership of experienced Democrats like MLG but the ad touts her crime fight, saying she gave police "the funding they need."

The GOP is hoping to use crime as a gateway issue in the ABQ metro where they must cut MLG's margins to have a chance, although that messaging did not work against Mayor Keller who easily won re-election last year. 

There is a yawning gap in cash on hand between the Guv and her opponent. She last reported over $3 million in cash and he just $470,000 after swamping his four opponents in the GOP primary. 

The early TV brings that gap into focus as the national GOP tries to pick up the slack for Ronchetti and has a negative ad up against her.

In the only public poll released in the Guv race conducted in late April and early May, Survey USA had the contest at 47 to 43 with MLG leading. 

Ronchetti responded to the TV hit in a fund-raising missive by calling MLG's crime record "a disaster" and that she has "failed to end catch and release" and "changed the law to make it easier for cops to be sued."

He also attacked the newspaper for their coverage of the new ad:

She got the Albuquerque Journal to write an article about it without so much as asking us for a comment.

The Journal responded:

We have fairly and thoroughly covered this year's election cycle, including the Governor's race, and intend to continue to do so. 

The paper endorsed Ronchetti in the June primary.

MLG also came with this positive ad that touts her opportunity scholarship program for higher education.

Both of her ads feature Hispanic spokespeople, a group that has been a polling soft spot for the Governor. 

Meanwhile, Ronchetti announced an endorsement--not from Donald Trump--but from the other wing of the GOP--former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley who is said to be eying a 2024 run for the presidency gave him her backing. Like Ronchetti, Haley is not a big fan of the "Orange One."

The NM Governor's race is rated "lean Democrat" by national pundits. 

PLAYING DEFENSE

MLG is playing defense on the prospect of the Feds sending more migrants from Mexico into ABQ. Immigration is a key wedge issue for Ronchetti and the GOP. Her news release on the hot-button issue:

(MLG) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejando Mayorkas requesting the federal government delay planned or expanded efforts to transport migrants to New Mexico as they would dramatically affect the state’s capacity to provide ongoing humanitarian assistance to wildfire relief efforts. The letter follows the governor’s meeting with DHS Sec. Mayorkas last month, where she requested additional wildfire disaster assistance from the federal government through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

The governor’s request was recently granted by President Biden, who announced that the federal government will cover 100% of costs for emergency protective work and debris removal under New Mexico’s existing wildfire disaster declaration. In the letter, the governor emphasizes that both state government and local humanitarian organizations are focused on supporting the thousands of New Mexicans displaced by and affected by the ongoing disaster as numerous wildfires continue to burn throughout the state. 

“The existing emergency arising from these wildfires has severely taxed the capacity of our state to provide resources to non-New Mexicans. I cannot allow the governments and communities of the state of New Mexico to shoulder additional burdens falling squarely within the federal government’s purview,” the governor writes. 

OTERO OFF THE RAILS

Couy Griffin Vs. MTO

The three member Republican-controlled Otero County Commission in SE NM splashed into the national headlines when it refused Monday to certify the June 7th primary results because of distrust of voting machines. Now it falls to Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver to ward off the MAGA conspirators and ensure the integrity of the election process is protected and a precedent set for the future. Her office reports:

(The SOS) filed a writ of mandamus with the New Mexico Supreme Court seeking to compel the Otero County Commission to certify the 2022 Primary Election results after the commission illegally refused to certify the results, potentially disenfranchising every Otero County voter who legally and securely cast a ballot and harming candidates seeking to have their names on the General Election ballot. 

“New Mexico’s 2022 Primary Election was conducted with the highest standards of election administration by dedicated county clerks and civil servants across our state. The post-election canvassing process is a key component of how we maintain our high levels of election integrity in New Mexico and the Otero County Commission is flaunting that process by appeasing unfounded conspiracy theories and potentially nullifying the votes of every Otero County voter who participated in the Primary.” Toulouse Oliver said  

County canvassing boards have ten days from the election to certify the results. Under state law, county canvassing boards must certify the results of the election unless there is proof of discrepancies in the election returns. The Otero County Commission’s stated reason for not certifying the 2022 Primary Election results is that they do not trust the vote tabulators used in the election, though they offered no evidence to prove any problems with the vote tabulators or election returns. 

New Mexico’s vote tabulator systems undergo a bi-partisan certification process by the voting system certification committee following every presidential election and this process was most recently completed in 2021. The Otero County Commission took their vote Tuesday over the objection of their County Clerk, who provided the commission with findings about the Primary Election proving it was conducted legally and securely and election returns were accurate. The Secretary of State’s Office filed this writ  to ensure state law is being followed and to ensure that the voices of every legal voter in Otero County are heard. 

This most recent action by the Otero County Commission is part of a disturbing trend across the nation motivated by conspiracy theories about the 2020 election that have been debunked time and time again (most notably in the failure of over 60 lawsuits filed in the wake of 2020). All county officials take an oath to uphold the constitution and laws of New Mexico. 

Because of these violations of their oaths, the Secretary of State’s Office is also preparing a criminal referral to the New Mexico Attorney General related to these willful violations of the Election Code by county officers and their willful failure or refusal to perform their duties under the Election Code. 

The state Supremes ought to make quick work of the renegade and unlawful action happening in Alamogordo. Among the members of the Otero County Commission are Cowboys for Trump co-founder copy Griffin. Enough said. 

ONE YEAR

ABQ Dem US Rep. Melanie Stansbury is celebrating her first year in office this week, having won her seat at a special election in June of 2021. She comes with this video highlighting that first year. She is opposed in the November election by Republican Michelle Garcia Holmes. 

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