Hello fellow political junkies!
The main bit of election news last week was the first and, likely, only presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. The debate took place Sept. 10 on ABC.
You can read about how the state political parties reacted to it here.
Trump said Sept. 12 that he would not debate Harris again, according to Reuters.
“Two nights ago, Donald Trump and I had our first debate, and I believe we owe it to the voters to have another debate because this election, and what is at stake, could not be more important,” Harris said at a rally in North Carolina Sept. 12.
Harris was placed on the ballot after President Joe Biden left the race in July following a poor debate performance against Trump in June.
Since Trump tends to waffle in his decision on whether or not to debate his opponents, only time will tell.
Each day gets us closer to Election Day and early/absentee voting which means if they agree to a rematch on the debate stage, another debate would have to happen soon if it were to happen before voters begin casting ballots.
Beyond the potential rematch this close to early voting, which begins on Oct. 7 in New Mexico, is the question of election integrity and how votes are secured.
New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver was in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 11, where she spoke to the U.S. House Administration Committee.
A bipartisan group of secretaries of state discussed what they were doing to make and preserve election integrity in their own states.
You can read my coverage here.
More NM election info
New Mexico early/absentee voting begins on Oct. 7.
The New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office posted a list of bond questions and constitutional amendments that will appear on statewide ballots.
These can be seen here. For more information about what will appear on your local ballot contact your local county clerk’s office which can also help you check on or update your voter registration, a process that can also be done online at NMVote.org.
To see who the candidates are please visit the New Mexico Secretary of State’s 2024 General Election Contest/Candidate List.
The Election Results 2024 will be posted to the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office website after polls close at 7 p.m. on Nov. 5. It currently lists the 2024 primary results.
Upcoming interim committee meetings
Legislative Council will meet Sept. 16 via video conference.
Interim Legislative Finance Committee will meet Sept. 17-20 at University of New Mexico, SUB Bldg. 1 at UNM in Albuquerque.
Interim Legislative Education Study Committee will meet Sept. 18-20 at Atrisco Heritage Academy High School Performing Arts Center 10800 Dennis Chavez Blvd SW in Albuquerque.
Interim Legislative Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy Committee will meet Sept. 23-24 in Room 307 at the State Capitol.
Interim Legislative Health and Human Services Committee will meet Sept. 23-25 at Western New Mexico University J. Cloyd Miller Library 1000 West College Avenue in Silver City.
For more information about interim committee meetings, visit nmlegis.gov and click the Committee’s tab at the top of the screen.
Upcoming event
NM Political Report is hosting our next News & Brews live panel discussion at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 26 at Boxcar, 133 W. Water St. in Santa Fe. We will discuss Project 2025, including what it is and what it could mean for New Mexico. Get your ticket here.
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–Nicole Maxwell
