A nasty and expensive GOP state senate primary is roiling SE New Mexico with the Democratic Governor in the thick of things and again highlighting the extreme divisions within the beleaguered state GOP.

MLG passed over State Rep. Larry Scott to fill the vacancy when Sen. Gay Kernan resigned, instead appointing rancher and former Eddy County Commissioner Steve McCuthcheon to District 42 made up of Lea, Chaves and Eddy counties. 

Scott is now challenging McCutcheon for the four year term and the primary has turned into a heated fracas that is ripping the GOP apart. 

That Democrat MLG sided with McCutcheon over Scott and that he comes from Lea county which makes up the largest slice of primary voters may be enough to tilt the race to Scott, say local observers. In addition, former Senator Kernan sides with Scott. 

But McCutcheon is fighting hard and should do quite well in his home county of Eddy while Chaves can be seen tilting toward Scott.

Of course, Scott would have gladly accepted the Senate appointment from MLG had it been offered. That reality may take some of the sting out of Scott's fervent attacks that McCutcheon is in bed with MLG.

McCutcheon has lined up the support of fellow GOP Senators Crystal Brantley, Cliff Pirtle, Craig Brandt and Mark Moores--all of whom are alienated from the current leadership of the NM GOP led by Chairman Steve Pearce. In fact, they call Pearce and his allies "the swamp."

Scott is an oil and gas engineer whose campaign has benefited handsomely from the industry. 

McCutcheon is relying on financial support from his Carlsbad base and anti-Pearce forces like the aforementioned senators.

Scott has raised $235,000 (reports here) and McCutcheon $175,000 (reports here), making them among the top ten spenders in Primary '24. 

Most of that money is going for attack ads with McCutcheon claiming that Scott's voting record during his ten years in the state House is more liberal than he makes out. They are also seizing on the application Scott made for the Senate post in which he said he has "developed a consistent record of moderate/conservative policy positions."

Rep. Scott

They don't call them "undocumented" in Little Texas. 

A McCutcheon mailer accuses Scott of supporting "free healthcare for illegals" but Scott says:

The bill in question passed both houses of the legislature unanimously. It was a bill to provide more funding for rural hospitals, which are being driven to the point of bankruptcy due to being overwhelmed by illegal immigrants. . But the point of the legislation was to keep our rural hospitals open–because legal citizens need the healthcare these hospitals provide.

Scott has accused McCutcheon of being "weak" on guns. But the NRA has endorsed McCutcheon.

And on it goes in this hotbed of conservatism where 60 percent of the registered voters are Republican, so the winner of the primary gets a ticket to the Roundhouse. It may be a bloodied, torn ticket but still good for admission. 

No Dems dare get near this bonfire and none have filed for the seat. 

LATE BREAK 

Talk about good timing. On Saturday, when widespread early primary voting got underway, this headline hit:

Complaint Against Legislator Dismissed

That legislator would be ABQ Dem state Senator Daniel Ivey-Soto, embroiled in a series of ethics charges for several years and facing stiff opposition in the June 4 Dem primary from progressive Heather Berghamns. The race is up in the air, but this finding should ease Ivey-Soto's load in the final days:

(no link available)
Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto says he has been vindicated by the state Ethics Commission dismissal of a complaint alleging he committed numerous breaches of ethics as a legislator. A hearing officer for the commission closed the case earlier this month after the agency’s general counsel found no probable cause related to allegations that the Albuquerque legislator violated the state Governmental Conduct Act by engaging in “harassing, hostile and retaliatory conduct” against women and that he took various legislative actions too personally.

And an addendum to a blog from last week involving Ivey-Soto and ethics, we stated that the investigation into sex harassment charges made against him by lobbyist and District 18 House candidate Marianna Anaya was inconclusive. That's correct but that investigation was conducted by a legislative panel, not the State Ethics Commission as we originally said. 

ALLIGATOR IN 18

Keeping it in ABQ SE District 18, probably the most liberal in the state, we received several interesting reactions to our coverage last week of the four way Dem primary to replace retiring state Rep. Gail Chasey. One reader asking to be labeled an "anonymous Alligator" writes from the district:

Hey Joe, This alligator thinks that your coverage of the House District 18 was on target. I am a life-long resident of House District 18. Rep. Chasey has been a disappointment. Not only did she break her promise of staying out of the race by endorsin Marianna Anaya but she chastised her faithful constituents for labeling Anaya as a lobbyist and in a condescending tone, explained that lobbying should not have negative connotations. 

Most District 18 voters know that lobbying is not a bad thing but there are some lobbyists who do a bad job. As a lobbyist Anaya lobbied for the Voters’ Rights Bill and it did not pass until the next session with a new lobbyist. During the last legislative session she was the lobbyist for the Family Paid Leave Bill which did not pass by two votes. It is appears that lobbying might not be her super power. Ironically, Anaya does claim that as a representative, she will work at getting the Family Paid Leave Bill passed. 

Voters in District 18, the most progressive district in New Mexico, deserve better than Anaya’s “by any means necessary” campaign tactics. We deserve a candidate who believes in running an ethical campaign and in progressive values. 

We welcome any response from the Anaya camp.  

MORE FROM 18

Gloria Doherty

In covering District 18 we mentioned in passing the candidacy of Gloria Doherty, noting that the race seems to come down to Anaya and Anjali Taneja, a medical doctor who has kept pace with Anaya's fundraising. Candidate Doherty came with this: 

I have been a nurse for over 30 years and an acute care nurse practitioner for over 20. I see the results of the broken healthcare  system during every shift. I overcame poverty, being a ward of the state, and raised two wonderful young men as a single mother. My story  can be anyone’s story in New Mexico.

I have  provided expert testimony on bills that effect our communities and their access to health care. I put my passion and expertise into the passage  of bipartisan legislation.

With a PhD in Public Policy and Public Administration, I am suited to  analyzing bills, developing astute questions, and bringing them to the  experts. I have been involved in the New Mexico Medical Review Commission. I am a Fellow for America’s Essential Hospitals. As a provider at UNMH and SRMC, critical access hospitals, I have served   overlooked, underserved, and vulnerable populations.

I was a board member for First Choice Community Healthcare, where I was an integral member of the team fundraising and garnering support for the South Valley Healthcare Commons. As a member of the Summit Park Neighborhood Association, I understand the needs and concerns of the community.

I am one of four million nurses, the most trusted profession according to the Gallup Poll. I am bound by a Code of Ethics. I helped craft the latest version in 2015. The Code is not only part of my practice but also part of my being and will follow me if I am elected. 

We need  someone to think outside of the box and use data to get to root causes. I am outcome-driven and skilled in making things happen.

I am used to being the underdog. Do not write me off when you hear I am lagging! 

Thanks, Gloria. There is certainly no shortage of sharp candidates in District 18 this year. 

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