SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Democratic U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich is throwing his political weight behind primary challengers to socially conservative Democrats in the New Mexico state Legislature.
In social media messages, Heinrich has invited constituents to attend an online campaign fundraiser this week for school psychologist Siah Correa Hemphill of Silver City in her primary election bid to unseat state Sen. Gabriel Ramos and for Pamela Cordova of Belen as she challenges state Sen. Clemente Sanchez of Grants.
Ramos, appointed in 2019 to take the Senate seat of newly elected Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, and Sanchez voted in 2019 against a bill that would have removed the state’s dormant criminal ban on most abortion procedures.
The statute could become relevant as efforts to roll back abortion rights make their way to the increasingly conservative U.S. Supreme Court. A full reversal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision means abortion policy would revert back to the states.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Correa Hemphill is campaigning in particular on the theme of improving access to health care including the proposed option of buying into Medicaid coverage and affordable “reproductive health care.”
The entire Legislature is up for election this year, as New Mexico also decides on a replacement to retiring senior U.S. Sen. Tom Udall. U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan is leaving his 3rd District seat as the presumptive Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate.
Current Senate Democrats who voted against decriminalizing abortion are all confronting primary challenges. They include Sens. John Arthur Smith of Deming, George Muñoz of Gallup, Pete Campos of Las Vegas and Mary Kay Papen of Las Cruces.
The National Institute for Reproductive Health Action Fund is devoting at least $30,000 to support Noreen Kelly’s primary election bid against Muñoz, according to the state clearinghouse for independent political expenditures.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is distancing herself from Ramos’ state Senate campaign after a recent political flier portrayed the two as close allies. Lujan Grisham spokesman Tripp Stelnicki called the mailer deliberately deceptive.
Democrats hold majorities in the state House and Senate.
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