Gov’s campaign remarks generate virtual firestorm (Dem NM Gov Bans Fund Raising Events, Door to Door Campaigning)

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | August 1, 2020 | Dan Boyd

[CedarDave]

SANTA FE – With New Mexico’s general election just over three months away, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has sparked criticism – and praise – by urging New Mexico political parties to forbid their candidates from door-to-door campaigning.

During a Thursday news conference, Lujan Grisham said door-knocking, long a staple of political campaigns, was “hugely problematic” given the close proximity between voters and candidates amid a recent surge of coronavirus cases. “That is just a terrible idea in a COVID world,” she said.

While the Democratic Party said this week it has already been focused on running largely virtual campaigns, state GOP Chairman Steve Pearce accused the governor of seeking to outlaw campaigning.

He said the Republican Party was considering filing a lawsuit over the issue that would hinge on alleged constitutional free speech violations.

“We’re letting our campaigns do what they want,” Pearce told the Journal. “They should be responsible enough to do things safely.”

He also described the governor’s attempt to stifle door-to-door campaigning as an “incumbent protection program,” referring to Democratic majorities in the Legislature and an all-Democratic state congressional delegation.

Under New Mexico’s revised public health order, campaign activities are not explicitly mentioned. But some campaign activities, including political fundraisers, could be covered under the state’s ban on public gatherings of five people or more.

The state Department of Health’s general counsel warned Rep. Rebecca Dow, R-Truth or Consequences, earlier this month that a planned campaign fundraising event that involved a river float and a reception could violate that part of the order [Dow canceled the event].

“I don’t know where I violate any health orders doing that [door-to-door],” said Dow, who questioned why the governor had not also addressed mail carriers and U.S. Census workers who go door to door as part of their jobs.

[CedarDave]

Republican US Senate candidate Mark Ronchetti had this to say about Lujan-Grisham:

Just when you think the dirty tricks can’t get any worse....

My opponent, Ben Ray Lujan, is Governor Lujan Grisham’s cousin. She officially endorsed him on Wednesday. Then yesterday, the Governor said her health order bans in-person political activity, including fundraisers and door-to-door campaigning. At the same time, she said mass liberal protests are fine. That proves this has nothing to do with public health and everything to do with tilting the playing field to help elect her cousin and other Democrats.

Lujan Grisham knows this ban cripples Republicans, while having little to no effect on Democrats. Why? Because Ben Ray Lujan’s money comes from out-of-state liberal donors and special interests to the tune of millions of dollars. A whopping 75% of Lujan’s contributions come from out-of-state, so banning in-state fundraisers has little effect on his campaign. And she knows it.

Our campaign, on the other hand, is being funded by grassroots New Mexico supporters. I am proud that 93% of my contributions come from New Mexicans.
So now, after Ben Ray Lujan and Nancy Pelosi have filled his campaign coffers with millions of dollars in DC special interest cash, his cousin, the Governor, turns around and tries to ban us from doing in-person fundraisers in New Mexico so we have no way to catch up to his fundraising.

His website: https://www.markronchetti.com/

In June's primary election, Mark wasn't the most conservative Republican on the ballot (didn't come out with a Trump endorsement), but he is the most well known and has the best chance of defeating the Dem cousin of the governor and replacing radical environmentalist Tom Udall, who is retiring, with a Republican. For that reason I'm giving my support to him

[shelterguy]

So don’t call it campaigning. Call it peaceful door to door protesting.

[rktman]

Sounds like a plan. Guv moochie is special ain’t she.

[wally_bert]

Just have a generic protest sign on hand.

[CedarDave]

In a campaign email update this afternoon, Ronchetti says Lujan Grisham has walked back unconstitutional limitations on door-to-door campaigning. [However in-person fund raisers are likely still prohibited if greater than 5 persons.]

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[BenLurkin]

The Democrat Party is shameless.

More and more this whole “pandemic” thing stinks!

[JennysCool]

Not being a huge fan of politicians showing up uninvited on my porch, this doesn’t bother me.

[oldenuff35]

Have a conservative protest on every damn block and tell the lady to go screw herself.

Her game is transparent and dishonest. The left wing rioters and criminals can get together but peaceful conservatives can not.

So don’t be peaceful Knock the hell out of anyone who tries to stop a conservative gathering they you can be just like democrats.

[Skywise]

You don’t “walk back” completely unconstitutional and unamerican statements.

YOU RESIGN IMMEDIATELY for subjugating and treasonous acts against the constitution.

They’re now actively interfering with the constitutional election process - the Democrats must be held accountable for this insurrection.

[LegendHasIt]

Thanks for the ping, Dave.

Why can't 'we' gather enough people to get some media coverage with a march on the Roundhouse and the Governor's mansion? If they can gather at least 17,000 (according to the NYT, and a up to a million according to the German Press) people to march in Berlin against their covid restrictions, why can't we gather at least 1700 people to do it?

[Army Air Corps]

New Mexico’s governor is working hard to secure the title of Top Scumbag in the country.

[wjcsux]

She has a lot of competition, maybe she can pull it off.