The latest Republican to distance herself from Donald Trump—while still saying she’ll vote for him—is Monica Youngblood.
Andy Lyman
Donald Trump speaking at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
The state representative and former state campaign chair for Marco Rubio in his failed bid for the Republican presidential nomination told the Associated Press that she’s not ready to endorse Trump. Still, she told the wire service that she intends to vote for the Republican presidential nominee.
Her comments echo many other Republicans around the nation who have concerns about Trump.
Unlike many, however, Youngblood has no competition in the general election this year.
In New Mexico, Gov. Susana Martinez still hasn’t said whether she will support Trump in this November’s election. Martinez also said she will not be voting for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton or Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson.
She has criticized Trump a number of times, including for the presidential candidate’s comments on Mexicans when from when he launched his campaign.
Still, Martinez has said she needs to hear more from Trump on what he would do to help New Mexico. Youngblood said the same thing to the Associated Press.
Youngblood, like Martinez, is a Latina. Trump’s rhetoric about immigration, especially from New Mexico, has turned off many Hispanics around the nation.
The Washington Post recently reported Trump is doing worse among Hispanics than any Republican since 1996, when Bill Clinton easily won reelection facing Bob Dole. New Mexico has the highest percentage of Hispanic residents of any state in the nation.
Still some, such as House Majority Whip Alonzo Baldonado, back Trump. Baldonado recently appeared at an Albuquerque rally for Mike Pence, Trump’s running mate. Nora Espinoza, the Republican candidate for Secretary of State, also appeared at that rally though she focused on her own campaign and not the presidential race.
