NPR lauds woke Texas Dems quietly colonizing New Mexico

The Piñon Post ^ | May 21, 2025 | Piñon Post staff

[CedarDave]

A recent article by the far-left outlet NPR highlights a growing trend of liberal Texans fleeing the Lone Star State for New Mexico — a move applauded by progressive politicians and activists hoping to transform the rural, resource-rich state into a safe haven for far-left policies.

According to NPR, over 34,000 Texans relocated to New Mexico between 2022 and 2023, more than from any other state. Many cited Texas’ conservative laws protecting unborn life, religious freedom, and children from radical gender ideology as reasons for their departure. The report framed these policies as “oppressive,” while praising New Mexico’s left-wing agenda.

The article lauded far-left lame duck Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for actively recruiting left-wing transplants. Grisham has aggressively positioned the state as a “refuge” for abortion seekers, families with gender-confused children, and doctors wanting to escape red-state medical regulations. She has allocated at least $20 million in taxpayer dollars to build two abortion facilities, including one in Las Cruces, near the Texas border.

Grisham also advertised in Texas cities to recruit OB-GYNs, tweeting “This ain’t Texas.” Despite the marketing push, the article admitted only a few doctors have taken the offer, citing high malpractice insurance costs in New Mexico.

NPR portrayed the country’s political “sorting”—conservatives to Texas, liberals to New Mexico—as a natural outcome of polarization. However, it downplayed the concerns of longtime New Mexico residents, including those who say the influx is contributing to skyrocketing housing costs and political tension.

Democrat State Sen. Moe Maestas told NPR that many of the newcomers are “more progressive than the average Democrat” in New Mexico and warned that there is friction between local Hispanic Democrats and white liberals from out of state.

[CedarDave]

A few days late but still relevant especially with Trump trying to defund bias NPR and PBS.

This story will be followed up with a YouTube video: Santa Fe - The Snobby Capital Where Liberals Bought Every Single House

[crusty old prospector]

I lived in Hobbs for a spell. It seemed like Texas just with a state income tax.

[SaxxonWoods]

Coals to Newcastle. Good, gets them out of Texas.

[Jim W N]

I’ve been in NM for seven years. Not much here to “colonize”. Not much industry or ambition.

People here think the gov’t is there to take care of them.

[CedarDave]

NM list PING!

I may not PING for all New Mexico articles. To see New Mexico articles by topic click here: New Mexico Topics

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[Fai Mao]

But NM is still trending Red in the last several elections

[CedarDave]

Santa Fe - The Snobby Capital Where Liberals Bought Every Single House

[j.havenfarm]

I say it with regret, as I descend from several of the “first families of New Mexico;” we’ve been there more than 400 years.

That said, NM right now is lost. The simpletons of the Texas legislature are determined to pee away their dominance of the state. If bleeding off sow of the loonier rats leave Texas and go to NM, then it’s to the good, at least for now

[dljordan]

Why don’t they report on the National Guard patrolling the streets of Albuquerque?

[dljordan]

“People here think the gov’t is there to take care of them.”

As they wave the Mexican flag?

[LegendHasIt]

Thanks for the pings.

I better keep my mouth shut, and keyboard not clicked very much about my personal feelings about Santa Feans or Texans, in general, in NM.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Maybe it could be a homeland for THEM too.

[CedarDave]

I'm certainly more comfortable down here in Oil Patch City (aka Hobbs) than in ABQ. Of course your living close to Ruidoso can flavor your opinion; I had the same when I lived in Santa Fe in the 1980's - too many rich Texans. But living next to the border (TX-NM), I'm finding many good conservative folks who I like associating with.

(BTW, I wrote in another thread that when I was in ABQ a few weeks ago, I went into Walmart on Eubank to purchase laundry detergent. It was locked up and I had to summon an assistant to unlock the cabinet for me. He wouldn't hand it to me and by gestures [he didn't speak English] told me to follow him to the cashier. Yeah, these days I much rather prefer Texas.)

[Dr. Sivana]

When we were looking to relocate a few years ago, my wife was drawn to Santa Fe for the cooler climate and small city vibe, but we couldn’t afford it.

[laplata]

You were wise. No one in their right mind wants to live in Santa Fe now.

[Dr. Sivana]

The only things I know about New Mexico is what I saw in the TV series “Please Stand By” and clips from “Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul”. The “New Mexican” restaurants here in Arizona are like all the southwest restaurants, but with more green chili peppers. They have oil. They should be doing better.

[Myrddin]

I had a similar experience in Greenwood Village, CO in 2000. I parked my car in the hotel garage. No in/outs without paying again. I was hungry and spotted a McDonald's down the hill. I walked down and entered to order some food. None of the employees spoke English. All Spanish speakers. The front counter had a picture menu to help illiterates order food (illiterate meaning a non-Spanish speaker here). Fortunately, I lived in San Diego long enough to manage restaurant Spanish to order dinner.

The assignment sealed my decision to strike Colorado off my tentative list of places to live. This occurred in January 2000. In late August 2000, I made the decision to relocate to Idaho and purchased a house.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

I spent a few years in Silver City around the turn of the century, before moving back to Arizona. The local government wasn’t all that bad but the state government was pretty liberal even then. I’ve never been to Albuquerque and hope I never do go there.

I do miss good New Mexican food, though.

[LegendHasIt]

Albuquerque used to be my favorite city, and I lived there several years... But I haven’t even driven through there in 6 years, and won’t go there again.

And when I was a youth, I loved Santa Fe.. (my grandfather worked and lived at the Indian School for 35+ years and they stayed nearby after he retired.) but that place lost all of its charm for me in the 1980s while I was a part-time Economic Analyst / Adviser to Toney Anaya.

[Myrddin]

When we were looking to relocate a few years ago, my wife was drawn to Santa Fe for the cooler climate and small city vibe, but we couldn’t afford it.

Small city, big houses and respect for the 2nd amendment were high on my list when I selected Chubbuck, Idaho as my replacement for San Diego. Cooler climate? Sure. Down to -27F over the years I've been here. September to early May tends to be "cooler". It is now late May. Nights are cool enough to need the heater (30 to 50F). Days are hot enough to need the airconditioner (80 to 103F). Winds are strong enough to pull rain gutter nails out if you failed to use "barn bolts". The small town vibe from late 2000 (population 9800) has been replaced with significant growth in 2025 (population > 15,000). We have actual "rush hour" traffic around 4:30 PM now. The 3900 sq ft house I purchased for $179,900 in August 2000 just had a tax assessment at $397,000. The 2nd house I purchased in 2005 for $79,000 was just assessed at $250,000. My property taxes are going up.