Enchantment State News

The Rio Grande Foundation researched legislation that was discussed at New Mexico’s primaries held on June 2, where New Mexico saw several important races.

Running for a Senate seat, John Arthur Smith (D-Deming) saw defeat.

Rio Grande Foundation President Paul Gessing saw this as “the most notable defeat,” as it will impact New Mexico’s economic future.

“The defeat of Smith means that come 2021 (barring a massive Republican upsurge in November) there will be little opposition to ‘progressive' efforts to tap the permanent fund at least in the Legislature,” Gessing wrote in a June 3 blog post.

At the center of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s economic strategy is tapping into New Mexico’s permanent funds.

“Her path to do that just got much easier,” Gessing wrote.

The Rio Grande Foundation said Smith has not been able to reform New Mexico’s broken tax code, economic incentives or budget processes — aside from blocking attacks on the Land Grant Permanent Fund.

“From a fiscal conservative perspective, while Smith has done a lot of good for New Mexico there’s also no concern that he allowed spending to grow out of control on his watch,” Gessing wrote. “He’s allowed millions to be paid out in film subsidies.”

It is up to the GOP, especially the Senate, to provide ideological alternatives, according to Gessing.

“With Smith gone the GOP (especially the Senate) will need to provide an ideological alternative as opposed to operating as a support structure for Democrats like John Arthur Smith. While there is no question that Smith is better than the progressive alternative on policy, his presence also neutered many in the Senate GOP,” Gessing wrote.

Clemente Sanchez (D-Grants) and Mary Kay Papen (D-Las Cruces) were also defeated during primaries. Gregg Schmedes (R-Tijeras) and David Gallegos (R-Eunice) were added to the Senate on June 2.

“[They] will hopefully provide a stronger ‘loyal opposition’ in the Senate than has existed in the past, but the Senate is still likely to be a heavily-Democratic controlled body next year and those Democrats just became a lot more ‘progressive,’" Gessing wrote.