The New Mexico Republican Party has called on Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to expedite the nomination process for the vacant Senate District 33 seat, which has been unoccupied since the resignation of Republican Senator Nicholas Paul in October due to health issues. With the legislative session set to commence shortly, the GOP has urged the governor to make a decision by the end of the week.
Senate District 33 covers parts of Chaves, Otero, and Lincoln counties. Following Senator Paul’s departure, local county commissioners have nominated three candidates to fill the vacancy: Mark Fischer, chairman of the Lincoln County Commission; Rex Wilson, a former Lincoln County commissioner; and John Block, a Republican state House member from Alamogordo.
In a statement, the GOP expressed concern that delay in filling the seat would significantly hinder the selected nominee’s ability to effectively represent constituents in southern New Mexico. The party criticized the timing of the nomination, stating, “This nomination, if the governor even makes it, will be just days, or hours, before legislative session begins which is completely unacceptable, especially in a Republican district like SD-33.”
The Republican Party accused Governor Lujan Grisham of engaging in “political games,” especially given that the deadline for submitting capital outlay requests for the 2026 session is Monday. State party Executive Director Leticia Muñoz emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “There’s really no excuse for the governor to stall this nomination. This will hurt the people of SD-33 if they do not have representation by the capital outlay deadline.”
Meanwhile, the campaign committee for U.S. House Democrats highlighted the ongoing efforts of Representative Gabe Vasquez to combat the use of drones by criminal cartels along the U.S.-Mexico border. Representing a closely contested district that stretches from the Albuquerque area to the border, Vasquez has maintained a moderate record among New Mexico’s Democratic House members. He secured victories in both the 2022 and 2024 elections, even as the Republican gubernatorial and presidential candidates narrowly won in his district.
As the political landscape intensifies, Vasquez faces a crowded race, with several Republicans and a left-leaning Democratic primary challenger vying for the seat. His recent legislative proposals aimed at addressing cartel threats have garnered attention, with a spokesperson from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee praising his proactive approach. “Gabe Vasquez is taking action with real, bipartisan solutions to get ahead of cartel threats — proving that he will always lead on defending national security and keeping border communities safe,” stated spokesperson Anna Elsasser.
In an unrelated development, Poll McCartney has emerged victorious in the naming contest for the high-speed ballot sorting machine at the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office. McCartney won the vote with 20 votes, edging out the second-place option, Count Factula, which received 16 votes. Earlier rounds of ranked choice voting led to the elimination of other contenders, including Martin Sort, ZiaSort, and Liberty. Poll McCartney’s win reflects a pattern seen in real-life ranked choice voting in Santa Fe, where it maintained a narrow lead from the start.
As the political and electoral landscape evolves in New Mexico, the focus remains on timely representation and effective governance, particularly in a state where every vote and decision can have far-reaching implications.
