It wasn’t quite New Mexico Day at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, but two New Mexico elected officials addressed the delegates.
Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham, both members of Congress, spoke to the delegates Wednesday afternoon.
The speeches came hours ahead of scheduled speeches by President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Tim Kaine. Earlier in the week, Democrats at the convention voted to nominate Hillary Clinton as their presidential candidate.
Luján represented the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The DCCC, the group which Luján chairs, seeks to get more Democrats elected to Congress.
Luján went after Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and House Republicans in his speech.
“For nearly six years, House Republicans have put party over country,” Luján said. “For nearly six years, they’ve been afraid to stand up to the birthers and bigots and conspiracy theorists—like the one they just nominated for President.”
The early portions of Luján’s speech addressed his family, going back to his grandparents. He said that the values they held are the same values that Clinton has and the same values as House Democratic candidates.
“As Democrats, we believe that everybody in America should have the same opportunity my grandparents and parents had—to work hard, to have a place of your own, to build some real economic security that you don’t have to worry will disappear overnight, to pass something onto your kids and grandkids,” Luján said.
Lujan’s speech is available on the C-Span website.
An hour earlier, Lujan Grisham spoke. Her speech is embedded below
She praised Clinton on women’s issues while at the same time criticizing Trump and his running mate, Tim Kaine.
“I also look forward to the day—and I can see it from here—when we have a President who knows first-hand how women’s economic security is tied to issues like access to women’s healthcare, equal pay for the same work, and long-term care for our disabled children and aging parents,” Lujan Grisham said.
From there, Lujan Grisham went into her criticism of the Republican ticket.
“We all know how Donald Trump talks about women,” she said. “He’s suggested that working mothers aren’t ‘giving 100 percent’ at their jobs. He’s called breastfeeding ‘disgusting.’ He thinks that equal pay for women gets away from, and I quote, ‘capitalism.’”
Lujan Grisham also spoke about supporting family caregivers, saying she cares for her
Delegates nominated Kaine as Vice President by acclamation, with no controversy, earlier Wednesday afternoon. Clinton announced her choice of Kaine as Vice President.
The end of Luján’s speech focused on House Democrats and their efforts to re-take control of the House of Representatives.
