This will be short. And for most here on Politizoom sweet. (We do have our conservative lurkers) Taking back control of the Senate was always going to be a tough task. Still, it’s within the realm of possibility this November. As of this week we’ve made it a bit closer to the top of that mountain. In New Mexico, incumbent Democratic Senator Ben Ray Lujan will run Un-opposed this fall. The GOP failed to meet the requirements to get someone on the ballot!
No, you are not reading The Onion. The GOP, both the state Party and the RNC as well as the GOP Senator in charge of the election all dropped the ball. According to Newsweek for the upcoming primary there will be no candidate for Republicans to vote for. Why? Because something as basic as getting the required number of signatures to qualify for ballot access wasn’t met. Since no GOP candidate can be elected in the primary to run against Lujan in November that means Lujan will run unopposed. It’s all spelled out in the letter sent to would-be candidate Christopher Vanden Heuvel by New Mexico’s Secretary of State:
I am writing to inform you that you did not qualify as a candidate for the office of United States Senator, pursuant to the express requirements of the New Mexico Election Code,” a letter obtained by Newsweek signed by Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver sent to Heuvel.
The letter continued, “To qualify as a candidate for this office, a prospective candidate must submit a declaration of candidacy and the statutory minimum number of nominating petition signatures at the time of filing.”
Oliver said that after review, the office determined that he “failed to reach the required 2,351 signatures in accordance with NMSA 1978, § 1-8-33.”
In a case of two things can be true at once, in fairness the minutia of rules for gathering signatures can get complicated no matter what state you’re in. At the same time, the dumbest of dumbasses running for any office knows about the need to gather enough signatures to submit with other paperwork to get on a ballot, down to the local Office level. It’s basic. In any state it’s the Secretary of State’s job to oversee all elections (although in 2000 Florida’s SecState Katherine Harris didn’t know it when she won the office) and they post all the requirements online. I’m sure anyone reading this can go to New Mexico’s website and call up the information. Plus, there are people in the SecState’s offices who will help explain anything to those who have questions.
How the GOP screwed the pooch on this is beyond me. I’d also call your attention to that last part of what I blocked out. The GOP dude only needed to collect 2,351 signatures! I can’t imagine it would have been all that hard. I say that because while New Mexico is blue it’s not deep blue. They’ve gone back and forth between Democrats and Republicans in state races like for Governor. So, it’s not like there aren’t plenty of conservatives there.
Still, to have the candidate, the Republican in the Senate tasked with recruiting candidates and linking them to donors and other support, the state GOP AND the RNC all fumble this most basic requirement suggests things in the Republican Party are pretty messed up these days. Lujan will still have to campaign. Make appearances, air ads and so on but nowhere near the amount he’d have to if he had a major Party opponent. He’s solid and will water the grass (ok, it’s New Mexico but you know what I mean) some but it’s now a seat Democrats can count on. Resources that might have had to be devoted if there was a viable GOP candidate (or ANY GOP candidate) can be used elsewhere.
We still have a tall task getting back control of the Senate. However, as of this week it’s a bit easier, and all because Republicans couldn’t get their you-know-what together. As I said, this is a state that might have been an opportunity for the GOP to pull an upset. To pick off a Democrat IF they had a quality candidate and provided support. Instead they blew it! Could this be a sign they are in even more turmoil behind the scenes than we know? I realize that’s wishing and hoping but let’s face facts. Trump is dragging ALL of the Party down. They are so focused on currying favor with him that they aren’t looking out for themselves. At least as much as they should be.
Even if this is a wakeup call of sorts, the GOP is headed into a primary season where Trump will be pushing hard core MAGA candidates who in some places will lose where a more mainstream candidate would win. Think Texas and the quite real possibility that Ken Paxton who might not be in Ted Cruz disapproval territory might be the GOP nominee. With that state in it’s own turmoil over whether to stick with Trump or start looking past him Cornyn, who I think would win (albeit in a close race) would be their best candidate. Instead, whomever emerges will be wounded after a brutal primary fight. Not that our own primary isn’t showing signs of getting testy but hopefully our side will read the riot act to our candidates.
For now, just enjoy the fact that the GOP is this screwed up right now. That’s why it’s so important for us to stay engaged. I know how discouraged everyone got after Trump won a second term. Well I say take a look at what’s been going on. We’ve been fighting back and mostly WINNING. Even on immigration Trump is back on his heels and pulling the GOP back with him. So spread the word. It’s not a “Dems in Disarray” year this year. It’s shaping up to be a “Republicans in Retreat” year. The bill for toadying up to Trump is coming due. It’s up to us to keep Republicans from trying to sneak out without paying the check.
Friends, I know everyone begs you for money. I promise, among all those asking for spare change, we are the smallest and the hardest working. We’re a group of old, disabled people, except for one writer in his mid-50s. The rest of us are in our sixties and seventies, and this is a labor of love. All we’re asking for is the chance to keep telling the truth about Trump and help ensure democracy survives. If you can help, please do. Thank you. Ursula
“… The GOP, both the state Party and the RNC as well as the GOP Senator in charge of the election all dropped the ball.…” Wow! It’s a given then that the orange stained vag-necked cockwomble won’t be pleased when he hears about this overlooked outcome. He’ll implode in his own diaper whilst staining the walls with ferociously flung ketchup, you’d think.
2351. that sounds like less than a week’s work for half a dozen people. jeez.
>>while New Mexico is blue it’s not deep blue<<
Yeah. I live in NM, and the southeast corner (where I am) is bright red. It's a real gut-punch to find out in casual conversation that someone you thought was sensible thinks the orange felon is doing a good job.
But I must say, I'm looking forward to NOT being inundated with lying political ads against Senator Lujan.