ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, the nation’s only Latina governor, said Saturday she will not support Donald Trump for president, adding to a growing list of Republicans who are denouncing or distancing themselves for the GOP presidential nominee after an unearthed 2005 video had him making lewd comments about women.
Martinez said Saturday has withheld her support for Trump and now can’t back him after she heard his lewd remarks.
“What Trump brags about is appalling and completely unacceptable. No woman should ever be treated the way he claims he treated women. Unfortunately, there is a pattern of disturbing conduct and offensive rhetoric that raises serious questions about his fitness to be President,” the Republican said in a statement. “That’s why I have withheld my support from the very beginning, and will not support him now.”
The chair of the Republican Governors Association did not say who she would back for president.
Martinez’s comments come as Republicans around the country are denouncing Trump for remarks he made about women in a 2005 video.
She had previously denounced Trump for comments he made about Mexican immigrants.
Trump then harshly criticized Martinez for her handling of the state’s economy at an Albuquerque rally that turned violent. He later called the Santa Fe New Mexican and said he wanted an endorsement for Martinez.
Key politicians rushed to Martinez’s defense, including U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, whom Martinez endorsed for the presidential nomination in March as his campaign faltered.
Martinez had resisted endorsing Trump as she crisscrossed the country to speak at GOP conventions and fundraisers. She said she needed to know more about his plans to support New Mexico’s national weapons laboratories and military bases and ensure other federal funding to the state.
Martinez previously said she couldn’t support Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton or Libertarian presidential hopeful and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson.
___
Follow Russell Contreras on Twitter at https://twitter.com/russcontreras . His work can be found at https://bigstory.ap.org/content/russell-contreras .
Please read our comment policy before commenting.