State Rep.-elect Nate Cote of Las Cruces is gaining some quick statewide exposure because of his willingness to talk with the media.
In an article in today’s Albuquerque Tribune, he is featured as one of five incoming Democratic House members who may decide today’s speaker of the House vote. As the only one who spoke with reporter Kate Nash, Cote is the focus of the article.
He told the Tribune he was a bit anxious and wouldn’t say who he’s leaning toward supporting.
“I don’t necessarily feel pressure, but I feel that this is a big decision,” the Tribune quoted him as saying. “I feel the usual stress that goes along with making a key decision.”
The support of Cote and the other freshman lawmakers could determine their political futures – if their votes become known to the candidate elected speaker. That may never happen, as the vote is by secret ballot, but with only 41 or 42 votes cast, it won’t be that hard to figure out how most representatives voted.
Cote told me two weeks ago he was leaning toward supporting Ben Lujan for speaker and said he didn’t know who he would support for majority leader.
“I’m leaning my support toward the speaker right now, although I still have a couple of weeks to go,” he told me. “He has experience. … I’m leaning that way, but I definitely have to feel comfortable as far as ethics.”
Since then, Cote and the other freshman have been heavily lobbied by both sides, but have kept quiet about how they’ll vote. They know they could make the difference, and that their political futures will likely be affected.
State Rep.-elect Nate Cote of