The New Mexico Independent

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The New Mexico Independent going forward

By | 11.16.11

I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…

EIB hears more anti-cap-and-trade testimony

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By | 11.10.11

While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…

New Mexico’s largest university low in popularity

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By | 11.10.11

Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.

Elections

Albuquerque skyline. Photo: Wikipedia

Four Albuquerque city council candidates qualify for public financing

By | 06.02.11 | 11:30 am

Four candidates for city council in Albuquerque qualified for public financing according to the city’s website. The deadline for qualifying for public financing was May 31.

Photo: WDCpix

Bush press secretary Ari Fleischer endorses Wilson

By | 05.27.11 | 7:48 am

George W. Bush press secretary Ari Fleischer endorsed Heather Wilson’s Senate campaign Thursday. Fleischer has ties to New Mexico: He was once the press secretary for Sen. Pete Domenici.

Gov. Susana Martinez and Heather Wilson. Photo: Wilson for Senate, Facebook

Martinez ‘surprise guest’ at economic forum where Wilson gave address

By | 05.26.11 | 7:31 am

Just a day after she distanced herself from Lt. Gov. John Sanchez, Gov. Susana Martinez appeared at an economic forum in Albuquerque where Senate candidate Heather Wilson was speaking. Wilson posted two pictures of the herself sitting next to Martinez at the forum.

Wilson supporter says Sanchez should resign as lieutenant governor

By | 05.25.11 | 10:39 am

Heather Wilson’s Senate campaign released a statement Tuesday from state Sen. Clint Harden, R-Clovis, who says Lt. Gov. John Sanchez should resign from his position if he wants to run for Senate. This comes on the same day that Sanchez publicly announced his candidacy.

Photo: Heather Wilson for Senate, Facebook

Wilson says Sanchez ‘invented’ his conservative record

By | 05.24.11 | 3:18 pm

Former Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., wasted no time in addressing Lt. Gov. John Sanchez’s entrance into the Republican Senate primary: “We welcome Lt. Governor Sanchez into the race and look forward to contrasting Heather Wilson’s conservative record with his invented one,” a spokesperson for Wilson said.

John Sanchez. Image: YouTube

Sanchez takes apparent shot at Wilson in announcement video

By | 05.24.11 | 12:39 pm

Lt. Gov. John Sanchez officially announced his Senate candidacy on Tuesday with a web video that highlighted his personal background and outsider status — including something that may foreshadow one of his campaign’s messages against Republican frontrunner and former congresswoman Heather Wilson: “We don’t want to return people back to Washington, D.C., who got us into this mess in the first place,” he said, before vowing to defend “principled, conservative values.”

Gov. Susana Martinez. Photo: Steve Terrell, Flickr

Susana Martinez won’t endorse in Senate primary

By | 05.24.11 | 12:28 pm

Gov. Susana Martinez is keeping clear of the Republican Senate primary — for now. Martinez announced that she does “not intend to make an endorsement in the Republican primary at this time.” Martinez has ties to both top-tier Republican candidates. John Sanchez, who made it official that he is running for Senate today, is her lieutenant governor. Heather Wilson headed Martinez’s transition team.

John Sanchez to enter Senate race on Tuesday

By | 05.23.11 | 3:41 pm

Lt. Gov. John Sanchez will announce Tuesday that he is seeking the Republican nomination for the open U.S. Senate seat. Sanchez will join former U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson and two other Republican candidates in the race.

Gov. Susana Martinez. Image: susanapac.com

Susana Martinez’s PAC fundraises off immigrants’ drivers licenses, voter ID

By | 05.23.11 | 11:58 am

Gov. Susana Martinez’s new leadership political action committee, Susana PAC, uses issues such as drivers licenses for illegal immigrants and voter ID laws to fundraise. The letter, obtained by blogger Joe Monahan, asks for donations from between $25 and $1000 to the PAC dedicated to electing politicians with similar political stances as the governor.

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Willie Nelson retracts Gary Johnson endorsement

By | 05.19.11 | 2:40 pm

The Teapot Party has retracted its endorsement of Gary Johnson for president in 2012. The political party, founded by country legend and marijuana legalization advocate Willie Nelson, explained the confusion surrounding the endorsement on the party’s blog.

Gary Johnson. Photo: Ron Paul Revolt, Flickr

Gary Johnson’s PAC faces sanctions in Utah over reporting violation

By | 05.18.11 | 4:47 pm

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson’s political action committee is facing sanctions in Utah over campaign finance reporting violations, Veritas New Mexico reports. Despite the Utah Department of Commerce Consumer Protection Division telling that PAC that it cannot solicit donations in the state, it continues to do so.

Willie Nelson. Photo: Bob Jagendorf, Flickr

Willie Nelson endorses Gary Johnson for prez

By | 05.17.11 | 3:23 pm

Legendary country musician and well-known marijuana smoker Willie Nelson and his Teapot Party have endorsed Gary Johnson for president. The former New Mexico governor, who is running for the Republican nomination, is a well-known advocate for legalizing and taxing marijuana.

Rep. Ron Paul. Photo: Gage Skidmore, Flickr

Ron Paul officially announces White House run

By | 05.13.11 | 11:39 am

Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, said Friday morning “the time is right” to enter the GOP presidential race.

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After close vote, Gonzales stays on as Democratic Party chair

By | 05.02.11 | 10:42 am

Javier Gonzales kept his position as head of state Democrats after a close vote Saturday. The Democratic Party of New Mexico’s State Central Committee voted for Gonzales by just 11 votes over attorney Sam Bregman.

Eric Griego announces congressional run

By | 05.02.11 | 7:35 am

State Sen. Eric Griego, D-Albuquerque, announced Saturday that he will be running for the open 1st Congressional District seat. Griego has served in the state Senate for three years.

Photo: Heather Wilson for Senate, Facebook

Heather Wilson has a big lead in Senate primary

By | 04.29.11 | 8:11 am

Former Rep. Heather Wilson holds a commanding early lead in the Republican Senate primary, according to a Republican pollster. The poll shows that Wilson has the highest name recognition and is seen positively by a large majority of likely GOP primary voters.

Bill Richardson

Richardson campaign bigwigs push for national vote initiative

By | 04.28.11 | 4:05 pm

Some of Gov. Bill Richardson’s former campaign higher-ups were spotted in downtown Santa Fe by Steve Terrell of the Santa Fe New Mexican — not planning another presidential run for the two-term New Mexico governor, but planning on how to push for an initiative to abolish the electoral college and elect a president by the national popular vote.

Photo: Travis Pillow

Pew report: Record number of Latinos voted in midterms

By | 04.28.11 | 11:29 am

The growing participation of Latino voters shows a heightened responsibility and a need to continue voter reform efforts to further boost Latino voter participation. That’s the message the Progressive States Network is taking from new Pew Hispanic Center data.

Photo: stevepearce2010, Flickr

Pearce: Albuquerque tea party trip has nothing to do with Senate run

By | 04.28.11 | 11:15 am

U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., is traveling to speak to a tea party meeting in the state’s largest city, but he tells NMPolitics.net that his Albuquerque trip has nothing to do with a potential Senate run.

Gary Johnson. Photo: Flickr

Giuliani speechwriter, High Times staffers agree: Gary Johnson over Ron Paul

By | 04.28.11 | 8:58 am

The conventional political wisdom says that the entry of Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, into the presidential race is bad news for former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson since the two will compete for similar voters in the Republican primary. However, a former Giuliani speechwriter and the staffers at High Times, the magazine devoted to marijuana, both agree that Johnson is the better choice between the two longshot libertarian Republicans.