The Democratic Party of New Mexico has named a new executive director, a major hire for new party chair Deb Haaland.
Joe Kabourek will head down I-25 from Colorado to New Mexico to take over the position with the state party, which is reeling after state legislative losses in 2014.
“I look forward to working with Democrats across New Mexico to win in 2016 and to create a strong foundation for elections to come,” Kabourek said in a statement.
Kabourek is a licensed attorney and campaign vet. The Villanova University School of Law graduate most recently was the campaign manager for Don Quick, who ran for Attorney General in Colorado.
Quick, a Democrat, lost to Republican Cynthia Coffman.
“I am extremely excited for Joe to come on board and put his skills to work for our New Mexico Democrats on Day one,” Haaland said in a statement. “He brings a unique skill set and range of ideas that I know will translate and work very well in New Mexico.”
This next election will be a key one for Democrats in the state, as they seek to retake the state House of Representatives after Republicans took control of the chamber for the first time in decades.
2016 will also be a presidential year. New Mexico was a swing state on a presidential level in 2000 and 2004, but Democratic candidate Barack Obama won the state handily in each of 2008 and 2012.
