The Roundhouse in Santa Fe (Photo by Peter St. Cyr)
With progressives gaining seats and influence in the New Mexico Legislature in recent years, the Albuquerque Journal takes a look today at what this group of lawmakers is all about:
“These Democratic lawmakers have defined themselves as a new breed in New Mexico. Most are young, all are dedicated and idealistic. They tend to ignore the tiptoeing tendencies of newly elected officials, recently speaking out boldly — often in direct opposition to the wishes of party leadership — in favor of tax increases to protect spending for public schools and social programs,” the article states.
The article is definitely worth a read if you’re seeking to understand the shifting dynamics in Santa Fe.
One point, however. The article quotes prominent pollster Brian Sanderoff as saying that progressives have increased their influence in Santa Fe with a new model that focuses mostly on challenging other Democrats instead of Republicans.
That’s largely true of the progressives who have unseated incumbent lawmakers in Albuquerque, but it isn’t true in Las Cruces at all.
Three Democratic lawmakers have been elected in recent years in Las Cruces with the help of progressive activists – state Reps. Nate Cote and Jeff Steinborn and state Sen. Steve Fischmann. Fischmann unseated then-Senate Minority Whip Leonard Lee Rawson, R-Las Cruces, in 2008. Cote unseated then-House Minority Whip Terry Marquardt, R-Alamogordo, in 2006. And Steinborn won an open seat in 2006 that was being vacated by Republican William “Ed” Boykin.
Seems to me that this idealistic group of activists in New Mexico is targeting any lawmaker they think doesn’t share their values and is vulnerable, regardless of party affiliation.
Update, 3 p.m.
Sanderoff wrote this in an e-mail:
“The exactness of my comments in the Journal article was lost in the paraphrasing. I agree with you that many of the Progressive seats were gained in General Elections,” he said.