The question in both Democratic state legislative primaries in
Doña Ana County Commissioner Oscar Vásquez Butler is challenging Senate Majority Whip Mary Jane Garcia, D-Doña Ana, on June 3. Mesilla Mayor Pro Tem Jesus Caro is challenging Rep. Joni Gutierrez, D-Mesilla.
New Mexico State University government professor Jose Z. Garcia, who is supporting Butler and Caro, said there’s a perception that both incumbents have been “very helpful to leadership” in Santa Fe on issues not supported by their constituents. The professor, who isn’t related to the state senator, mentioned the controversial tax increase to help fund Spaceport America as an example.
It was largely rural voters who, with a grassroots effort to combat an expensive media campaign by tax supporters, nearly defeated the tax proposal in April 2007. Gutierrez and Sen. Garcia supported the tax.
Gutierrez’s House District 33 includes part of the west side of
The rural-urban split in both districts makes the races interesting, several people interviewed for this article said. So does the fact that
The incumbents
Gutierrez said she has been campaigning continuously.
“I’m optimistic. I feel good about it, but I am not going to quit. I’m not taking anything for granted. We’re trying to go door-to-door and hit these people up and talk to them,” she said.
Sen. Garcia said she’s also spending a great deal of time in the communities across the district.
“I’m very optimistic. Everywhere I go people are so, so supportive of me,” she said. “… Most people, when I go talk to them, they already know me and they know the things I’ve done, and they’re thanking me for them.”
“They do good work in
Sen. Garcia is spending a lot of time touting legislative accomplishments – including bills to criminalize human trafficking, strengthen penalties for child abuse resulting in death and ban cockfighting – and awards she has received for sponsoring those high-profile bills. Gutierrez’s strength, according to Gwaltney, is her seat on the House Appropriations Committee, an influential position that helps her get her bills passed and signed. Gutierrez is also touting the endorsements of several unions and lobbying groups.
Gwaltney said both work well with leadership in
The challengers
“I’ve got plenty of support, people that have really been positive. I’ve been going door-to-door. I’ve been getting good vibes,” Caro said.
“I agree with them. It’s time for a change,”
Jose Garcia said he thinks Caro will win, in part because Gutierrez supported the spaceport tax many of the district’s residents opposed. He said Caro “reflects the conservative cultural values that are in that district much more so than Joni Gutierrez does, and so, when push comes to shove, I think voters are going to identify with him and his values rather than with Joni.”
He said he’s less familiar with Sen. Garcia’s district, so he doesn’t have a prediction about who will win.
Arturo Uribe, a resident of
“I really respect
Turnout will be key
Jose Garcia agreed with
“It really all hinges on that turnout, and I have no idea what kind of organizational structure each campaign has to get that turnout. So, in that sense, anything can happen in these races,” he said.
Gwaltney agreed that turnout will be the deciding factor in both races even while expressing confidence that the incumbents will be re-elected.
“I think it’s really important for everybody to vote. If people feel strongly about a candidate, they really need to support those candidates,” she said.