Hello fellow political junkies!
Early and absentee voting in the New Mexico Primary begin on May 7.
With many voters readying their choice for races such as state house and senate, district attorney and county commissioner, another much larger race is on voters’ minds: the presidential race.
Even though the presidential race is almost certainly a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, the focus for some is the Biden Administration’s handling of the Gaza conflict.
Voting uncommitted in the Democratic Primary is one way for these voters’ voices to be heard.
By New Mexico law, the option to vote uncommitted for a presidential candidate is available to voters.
These “uncommitted” voters want the Biden Administration to call for a full, immediate and permanent ceasefire between Gaza and Israel.
The uncommitted campaign comes to New Mexico following similar campaigns in Michigan and Minnesota earlier this year. It also comes as ceasefire talks in Cairo are progressing. For more on the uncommitted campaign, see SourceNM’s story.
In further Gaza news, U.S. Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury, a Democrat from New Mexico, signed a letter on April 5 with 39 of her Democratic colleagues urging the Biden Administration to withhold military aid to Israel in the event that the Israeli strike on World Central Kitchen aid workers is found to go against American or international law.
“The use of military operations to deny access to food, water, and medicine to Palestinians represents a grave abuse of power by Prime Minister Netanyahu,” Stansbury said in a press release.”Since the brutal attack by Hamas on October 7, over 32,000 people in Gaza have been killed in addition to the more than 1,400 killed and kidnapped in Israel. The violence must stop and innocent lives must be protected.”
Meanwhile on the Hill
U.S. Congressman Gabe Vasquez, a Democrat from New Mexico, introduced a resolution condemning Republican inaction on border security and immigration reform.
“Republicans have happily blocked bipartisan immigration reform for decades because it allows them to use it as a political tool and divide the American people. I’m in Congress to provide solutions, not play partisan games that block our nation’s progress,” Vasquez said in a press release. “The people of New Mexico are witnessing the most dysfunctional Congress under far-right Republican leadership. I’m asking Republicans to take up my common-sense immigration and border security bills and get to the business of serving the American people.”
Stansbury’s Promoting Accessibility on Federal Lands Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives on April 9 as part of the EXPLORE Act, also known as the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act.
“America’s public lands are for everyone, regardless of race, gender, age, religion, or differing abilities. This legislation will help us find those disparities in accessibility for our public lands and take critical steps towards making our public lands more accessible to all,” Stansbury said.
The Act aims to close accessibility issues for those wishing to access public lands.
Interim Committees
- Legislative Finance Committee is expected to meet April 17-18 in Room 322 at the State Capital.
For more information on interim committees, visit www.nmlegis.gov.
2024 Primary Election
The New Mexico primary is June 4 with early/absentee voting beginning May 7.
The 2024 Primary Election Contest/Candidate List can be found on the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office website.
For more information about elections 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.
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