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November 12, 2022

Republicans have been bemoaning Tuesday’s election results.  As to why Republican candidates did not do better, the two primary reasons given are either that the GOP had a lousy candidate or the Dems are insane and will vote for any Dem candidate, à la John Fetterman.

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I believe that there is a third reason why Republicans did not do better.  In some states, the system set up by Dems makes it almost impossible for a Republican to win statewide office, regardless of the quality of the Republican candidate.  That’s what happened in New Mexico.

Republicans thought Mark Ronchetti had a good shot of winning the governor’s race against incumbent Michelle Lujan Grisham.  Here’s why:

1. Marie Antoinette–like behavior by Governor Grisham

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In March 2020, Governor Grisham ordered all “non-essential businesses” to be closed to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  Nonetheless, it was discovered that after the lockdown order had been issued, she requested that an Albuquerque “non-essential business” jewelry store open just for her so that she could buy some jewelry.  The store opened and sold her representative the jewelry.  Rules for thee but not for me.

A review of Governor Grisham’s campaign spending reports revealed payment to a former staffer in the sum of $150,000.  Further digging revealed that the ex- staffer was paid for a sexual harassment claim.  He alleged that Governor Grisham had poured a bottle of water on his crotch in front of other staffers and then grabbed his genitals through his clothes while she laughed.

It was also discovered by inspection of public records that the governor was using contingency funds meant for food for needy children or those affected badly by the COVID-19 pandemic for personal expenses.  Those expenses included hundreds of dollars for alcohol; expensive meats, including Wagyu beef; a doggy door; and $800 to clean rugs due to animal stains.  Not a good look.

2. A crime explosion

Most places run by Democrats don’t do a good job controlling crime, and that’s especially true in New Mexico.  Criminals and criminal defense attorneys are still cheering a state constitutional amendment in 2016 that largely eliminated pre-trial bail.  FBI crime stats show that New Mexico is #2 in the country for violent crime per capita and #2 for property crime per capita.  Between Q3 2021 and Q3 2022, among the nation’s 50 largest cities, Albuquerque had the sixth highest increase in homicides.

3. An awful K–12 public school system that got even worse