Progressives target conservative state Senate Dems
The coronavirus pandemic and the virtual economic standstill it has induced could hamper a progressive coalition’s bid to unseat several influential New Mexico Senate Democrats in the June primary elections.
A group called No Corporate Democrats launched a campaign last week to support primary candidates running against five Democratic senators, accusing the incumbents of favoring corporations over rural residents and criticizing them for blocking legislative initiatives on early childhood education and abortion.
The five are some of the most influential senators in the New Mexico Legislature, including Senate President Pro Tem Mary Kay Papen and Sen. John Arthur Smith, chairman of the body’s Finance Committee. The group, which also includes Clemente Sanchez of Grants, Gabriel Ramos of Silver City and George Muñoz of Gallup, tends to be fiscally conservative and has opposed expensive legislative proposals.
But longtime New Mexico pollster Brian Sanderoff said the looming downturn in the economy and state finances — driven by the state’s stay-at-home order, the closing of businesses and a huge drop in oil prices — could help those senators in the primary precisely because of their moderate stance.
Read more: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/coronavirus/progressives-target-conservative-state-senate-dems/article_667d31ee-736a-11ea-8c6e-0fcd3fa66bad.html
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