Monday, November 28, 2022NMGOP Chair Race: Pearce Appears In Driver's Seat But Getting Strongest Challenge From Newcomer Allen; Aragon Runs Too, But In Martinez Shadow First chosen for the post in 2018, this Saturday delegates from the GOP Central Committee will gather at the NM Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces to select a chair for the '24 cycle and the evidence points to a third two year win for the 75 year old former southern NM congressman. Lets take a look at his foes and handicap the race with the help of our insightful Alligators who have the inside scoop you get only here: Sarah Jane Allen, 48, vice-chair of the Bernalillo County GOP, appears to be offering the most robust plan for change of the candidates running against Pearce. She has offered numerous details for turning around the beleaguered state GOP, including better recruitment and coaching of candidates, helping the county organizations more and "rebranding" the GOP, although on that she is light on details.
Allen, a mother of six, whose husband is in real estate, also has some street cred, pointing out that. . . She founded the first Moms for Liberty chapter in New Mexico to organize parents and combat leftwing indoctrination in schools. In 2021, she successfully helped school board candidates win election to the Albuquerque Public School Board. The school board is now more conservative than it has been in 25 years. On the downside, Allen's critics site this video being circulated by Pearce supporters that says Allen has failed to vote in four of the recent statewide primary elections dating back to 2012, as well as the 2021 special ABQ congressional election and has not been a donor to the party. They also assert that delegates won't be comfortable to learn that Allen has dual American and Canadian citizenship. She says she grew up on a "small farm" in Alberta, Canada and settled in ABQ 26 years ago, (Allen's campaign video is here.) ROBERT AND JAY
Aragon is best known for his deep association with former GOP Gov. Susana Martinez and her controversial political consultant Jay McCleskey who also was the lead consultant for failed '22 GOP Guv candidate Mark Ronchetti. It is that association in a party divided between the Martinez and Pearce factions that makes his run for chair problematic. Jay Block, a Republican Sandoval county commissioner who ran against Ronchetti for the GOP Guv nomination, has put up this video, stating that "Jay McCleskey has divided and ruined this Republican Party. . . We need new blood, new vision. This party is in tatters." Block nudged his supporters toward Allen. (His commentary on the party chair election starts at 5:50.) The anti-Aragon camp also frets that his chairmanship could be a stalking horse for a possible 2024 US senate candidacy by Martinez, consulted once again by McCleskey, that would be destined to lose but perhaps provide another big payday for the consultant who they say has become the de facto head of the GOP. (Yes, you read that right.) Aragon's supporters argue that he is smart, has the organizational ability to get the party moving and knows how to raise money. Aragon says he wants a GOP "built on the Republican values of faith and family" and pledges to appeal to more working-class and rural voters, if elected chair. Other candidates are radio talk show host Eddy Aragon, who ran against Pearce two years ago, and Rodney Tahe from Gallup. Neither is garnering significant support. Aragon's website is here along with a video of support from conservative Pastor Steve Smothermon. ALLIGATOR ANALYSIS Senior Republican Alligators point out that three of Pearce's four challengers are from ABQ and could split the anti-Pearce vote. Also, the convention is being held in Las Cruces and that could attract more Pearce supporters. About 500 delegates from across the state are eligible to vote. For his part Pearce has blamed Democratic "gerrymandering" for the party's failure to increase its representation in the state House this cycle. But the wipeout of the party's statewide executive candidates--attorney general, treasurer etc.--continued under Pearce. Not to mention the re-election of Democrat MLG. But Pearce can raise funds and he retains a reservoir of support in oil country that is important to the GOP. Pearce comes from the industry. He sold his oil related services company for $12 million in 2003 and presumably has added to that fortune in the years since. That goes a long way in a party that is dominated by business and respects wealth. Most important, the GOP here (and elsewhere) seem to be waiting for Trump to eventually exit which will make healing divisions and envisioning a party that appeals to newer generations more plausible. For now that puts Pearce in the driver's seat with great unknowns ahead for a state GOP struggling to cling to relevancy. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.   (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2022 |
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