Vote For Elisa Martinez On June 2

New Mexico does not need a R.I.N.O.* in the U.S. Senate.




*Republican In Name Only

Vote for Elisa Martinez on June 2.

Elisa Martinez Announces U.S. Senate Endorsements

We're proud to announce the long list of leading conservatives across the state who have endorsed Elisa Martinez. She is the only U.S. Senate candidate endorsed by leading conservatives in New Mexico and the only candidate you can trust. Fmr. U.S. Congressman Bill Redmond State Senator William Sharer (R-San Juan) State Representative Dr. Gregg Schmedes (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe) Fmr. U.S. Senate Candidate, Owner of Calibers, Louie Sanchez Sandoval County Commissioner Jay C. Block Union County Commissioner W. Carr Vincent Lea County Commissioner Jonathan Sena Fmr. State Representative Sharon Clahchischilliage (R-San Juan) Mayor of Hatch, Fmr. State Representative Andy Nunez (R-Dona Ana) Fmr. State Representative Janice Arnold Jones (R-Bernalillo) Former Mayor of Cuba, Ethel Maharg LtCol Michael Kozeliski USMC, Purple Heart Recipient Pastor Steve Smotherman, Legacy Church Pastor Richard Mansfield, New Beginnings Church Pastors Dr. Mark and Kim Mullaney, Jesus First Transformation Warehouse Dr. Dinah Dye, Executive Director, On Fire Prayer John Robb, Chairman, International Prayer Connect Pastors Dr. Mark and Kim Mullaney, Jesus First Transformation Warehouse Shauna Abney, United Conservative Movement Mark Cavalier, Founder and Executive Director at Southwest Coalition for Life ... These conservative leaders know Elisa is the ONLY candidate in this race who: Has a record of taking on the radical Left and winning Will support and work with President Trump to turn New Mexico RED Can actually defeat Ben Ray Lujan and win New Mexico's open U.S. Senate seat We only have 19 days left to ensure Elisa wins the June 2nd Primary. Will you join these conservative leaders and rush a contribution of $25, $50 or even $100 or more to help Elisa win the Republican nomination and defeat Ben Ray Lujan? Thanks, Team Elisa Stand with Elisa ›› Elisa Martinez is a Latina and Native American conservative Republican running to represent New Mexico in the United States Senate. She is the founder of New Mexico Alliance for Life and will be a strong voice for traditional values, personal freedom, and economic prosperity. To support Elisa's campaign, please chip in $5 or more today!

Paid for by Elisa for New Mexico

New Mexico Republican Deal Breakers

Claire Chase has been violating Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment (against Yvette Herrell) with attack ads: "Thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican." That would be a deal-breaker for me if I lived in the district. Makes me wonder if she's a troll for Torres-Small.

A video surfaces of Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Mark Ronchetti badmouthing Donald Trump last year.

From the Albuquerque Journal:

Mark Ronchetti’s rivals for the Republican nomination in the U.S. Senate race are criticizing the former television meteorologist for saying at a climate change event last year that he was a Republican “until the orange one.”

Gavin Clarkson labeled Ronchetti a “Never Trumper” in a YouTube ad showing a clip of the comments made at a University of New Mexico event, which appear to be a reference to President Donald Trump. And Elisa Martinez called for him to withdraw from the race.

I am supporting Elisa Martinez for U.S. Senate, but in this matter, I agree with Gavin Clarkson (I would vote for him should he get the nomination).

We don't need any "Jeff Flake RINOs" representing New Mexico.

Mick Rich Ends Senate Campaign

Above, Mick Rich in March 2018 in Gallup. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This morning, I received an email from Mick Rich, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate.

I met Rich two years ago when he ran against Sen. Martin Heinrich. He is a capable man who is a valuable asset to the New Mexico Republican Party. I would hope that whomever becomes the GOP nominee for U.S. Senate (I am now supporting Elisa Martinez) they would enlist Mick Rich to join their steering committee or in come other capacity.

He wrote:

Dear Armand Vaquer, I appreciate the support I received from across the state for my campaign for U.S. Senate. Though I have ended my campaign, I remain committed to the success of all Republicans running for office in New Mexico, starting with President Trump. As a result of my experiences over the past five years – and the great people I've met along the way – I will find other opportunities to serve. With gratitude,

Mick Rich I met Rich two years ago when he ran against Sen. Martin Heinrich. He is a capable man who is a valuable asset to the New Mexico Republican Party. I would hope that whomever becomes the GOP nominee for U.S. Senate (I am now supporting Elisa Martinez) they would enlist Mick Rich to join their steering committee or in come other capacity.

Elisa Martinez For U.S. Senate

Above, Elisa Martinez.

Yesterday, the Pre-Primary Republican Convention was held in Albuquerque and the candidate field for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Tom Udell. The convention vote left two candidates standing and will be on the ballot for the June 2 Primary.

The Albuquerque Journal reported:

Anti-abortion advocate Elisa Martinez and former television meteorologist Mark Ronchetti emerged as the top Republican challengers to Democratic Congressman Ben Ray Luján in the race to replace Tom Udall in the U.S. Senate. 

Martinez received the most votes, and Ronchetti finished second at the New Mexico Republican Party Pre-Primary Convention on Saturday at Hotel Albuquerque. Former Trump administration official and ex-New Mexico State University professor Gavin Clarkson, Albuquerque contractor Mick Rich and businessman Louie Sanchez failed to receive 20% of the vote required to secure places on the ballot, and must submit more petitions to remain in the primary race. 

“The bottom line is that New Mexicans have been left behind by our politicians in D.C.,” said Martinez, who credited her first-place finish to her grassroots campaign. “It’s time we start putting New Mexico first. … We’re behind. We’re last in everything good, and first in everything bad. And we need to flip that by focusing on the economy and jobs.”

Electing Rep. Ben Ray Lujan to the U.S Senate would be a disaster for the country and New Mexico. His stands on the issues is in direct opposite of common sense and what the people want. His cousin, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is one of the most unpopular governors in the country. She has caused deep divisions within the state and Ben Ray Lujan also part of the left-wing wackos who have taken over the Democrat Party. To paraphrase Rev. Jesse Jackson, "Stay out of the Lujans!"

As such, I see Elisa Martinez as having the best chance to defeat Lujan in November. I agree with her stands on the issues and has already built a good campaign organization. Ronchetti may be a good man, but in comparison to Martinez, he is a political novice.

Accordingly, I am supporting Martinez for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate from New Mexico. I have notified her campaign of my support and made a contribution to her campaign. 

To access Elisa Martinez's campaign website, go here.

New Mexico Republican Pre-Primary Convention Held Today

Above, U.S. Senate Candidate Elisa Martinez garnered most votes and will be in the top position on the Republican Primary ballot.

New Mexico certainly has a different system of selecting party candidates for federal offices.

Today, the New Mexico Republican Party held its pre-primary convention in Albuquerque.

According to KRQE:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Saturday, more than 800 Republicans from around New Mexico took part in the State Pre-Primary Convention. Delegates had been elected from their counties to attend the convention and they selected federal candidates for New Mexico’s June 2 primary election. 

The votes capped the convention steered by Convention Chair, and former Party Chair, John Billingsley and current Party Chair Steve Pearce. All 16 candidates gave speeches in hopes of snagging the open U.S. Senate and three Congressional District seats. 

In the U.S. Senate race, Elisa Martinez received the most votes and will be in the top ballot position. Mark Ronchetti will also be on the ballot. 

To get on the primary ballot, candidates must have received 20% of the vote. If they fall short, they may elect to get signatures to try to qualify to get on the primary ballot.

The New Mexico Primary Election is on June 2.

To read more, go here. 

New Mexico GOP U.S. Senate Primary Campaign

Former California Assembly Speaker Jesse Unruh famously said, "Money is the mother's milk of politics!"

Campaign money is the topic of this blog post.

Any one of the three Republican primary candidates for the U.S. Senate from New Mexico would be vastly preferable to Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, who will be the likely Democrat nominee.

They are: Gavin Clarkson, Elisa Martinez and Mick Rich.

I have met Mick Rich. He ran against Sen. Martin Heinrich last year. Now he's running for the senate seat being vacated by Sen. Tom Udall next year.

I have not decided on whom I will support during the Republican primary campaign. One major criteria that will weigh heavily on my decision will be who can raise the campaign funding to wage a winning campaign. To construct a winning campaign organization and wage an effective media campaign, it takes money. Lots of it!

It is a foregone conclusion that the radical left-wing political action committees (PACs) will flood the campaign coffers of Lujan and mount their own ad campaigns. To win, the Republican nominee has to raise enough funds to counter the smear campaigns they will wage. The left did this last year.

I have signed onto the Federal Elections Commission's FEC Notify website to get notifications on how much each candidate raises.

At present, Mick Rich and Gavin Clarkson are about neck-and-neck on contributions. There are no available reports from the Elisa Martinez campaign presently. That will change in the coming weeks.

If the Republican nominee can't raise the funds to wage a winning campaign, their campaign will be just an exercise in futility against the money machines of the left.

If New Mexico citizens want to keep Ben Ray Lujan from winning the senate seat, they have to contribute to the Republican nominee. Links to each Republican candidate's website are provided above and have widgets for making contributions.

Elisa Martinez Running For U.S. Senate

Above, Elisa Martinez. Photo from her campaign website.

A third Republican candidate has entered the race for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senator from New Mexico.

The Albuquerque Journal reported:

Elisa Martinez has fought battles in New Mexico about abortion and women’s issues as leader of the nonprofit New Mexico Alliance for Life. 

She is now in a fight of another kind in announcing her bid for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated next year by Democrat Tom Udall, who is not running for reelection to a third term. 

Martinez said she wanted to be a “clear and strong voice for New Mexico working families” in announcing her bid in front of a room full of supporters at Hotel Chaco in Albuquerque.

Martinez joins Republican Mick Rich and Gavin Clarkson in the race for the GOP nomination.

According to her website:

Elisa Martinez is a native New Mexican and a dedicated and accomplished advocate for small business growth, economic freedom and the values of life and liberty. 

On her father’s side, Elisa traces her Hispanic roots over 15 generations in New Mexico and on her mother’s side she's both Zuni and Navajo. Elisa is an enrolled tribal member of the Great Navajo Nation. Elisa grew up in Gallup NM, the heart of Indian Country, where her great grandparents owned one of Gallup’s first trading posts. Elisa grew up working in her father's small business, Martinez Indian Jewelry. 

Elisa graduated from Gallup public schools and worked her way through college at the University of New Mexico, where she earned her degree in Economics. 

With the Libre Initiative, Elisa promoted economic policies of free markets, self-reliance and entrepreneurship in New Mexico’s Latino communities. 

In 2014 Elisa founded the New Mexico Alliance for Life, where she built a successful bipartisan statewide coalition of 28,000 fellow New Mexicans in support of women and in support of unborn life. She currently serves as its Executive Director.

To access Elisa Martinez's campaign website, go here.

To read more, go here.