2016 elections

Sandra Jeff disqualified from the ballot

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The Secretary of State disqualified former State Rep. Sandra Jeff from the ballot for the Democratic primary in Senate District 22. A spokesman for the Secretary of State’s office confirmed via email Wednesday afternoon that Jeff was disqualified from the ballot “due to noncompliance with the Campaign Reporting Act.”

Amy Bailey, the general counsel of the department, later added more information. “I need to review the file for specifics, but the noncompliance is associated with reports which were due in past filing periods and the fines associated with those past issues,” Bailey said in an email. Jeff said in a phone interview on Wednesday that she was aware and was deciding whether or not to contest the disqualification. She described herself as undecided on whether or not to continue her run for State Senate.

2016 elections

She’s back! Sandra Jeff to challenge Shendo in primary

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Former State Rep. Sandra Jeff is back for another run at the state legislature. This time, she is setting her sights on a Senate seat. She is running in the Democratic primary against Sen. Benny Shendo in Senate District 22. Jeff told NM Political Report that she felt “very confident” after she finished the filing process on Tuesday afternoon. She said Shendo has a bad habit of not returning to his district and talking with his constituents.

2016 elections

Who’s running for state House, Senate seats?

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Today is filing day for all seats in both chambers of the state legislature. All 112 seats (42 in the Senate, 70 in the House) will be up for election this November. But first, candidates must run in their party’s respective primaries. Earlier, we looked at some key seats to keep an eye on as November draws ever closer. By the end of the day, we’ll have the full list of legislators who are filing to run for reelection.

2016 State Senate
Marijuana

No legalized pot: Senate kills effort

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The Senate rejected legislation Sunday evening that would have allowed voters to decide whether to legalize and tax the sale of marijuana in New Mexico. After a 45 minute debate, the Senate voted 17-24 to against  the proposed constitutional amendment sponsored by Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque. Ortiz y Pino, who has pushed similar legislation in previous years, said he proposed the legislation as a constitutional amendment to send a message to the federal government. He called the federal regulation on marijuana a “wrongheaded approach.”

“I only hope this is one time New Mexico will not be the 49th state to act,” Ortiz y Pino said. While some Democratic members voted against the proposal, only Republican members spoke out in opposition.

2016 elections

Steinborn makes the ‘big decision’ and will run for state Senate

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State Rep. Jeff Steinborn announced on Tuesday that he will run for State Senate in 2016. The Democrat from Las Cruces will be running for District 36, the seat currently held by Sen. Lee Cotter, a Republican. New Mexico Political Report spoke to Steinborn on the phone Tuesday night about his decision to run for a seat in the state Senate. He admitted that it was a “big decision” but said it was one he was ready to make. “This was an opportunity to kind of take that to the next level.