Outside groups spending big on NM legislative races as Election Day nears

SANTA FE — With Election Day approaching, outside groups have been pumping hefty sums of money into New Mexico legislative races.

All 112 legislative seats are up for election this year, and the outcome of the Nov. 5 election could play a key role in determining the fate of bills at the Roundhouse dealing with paid family leave, guns and the environment.

Given that backdrop, candidates and their political committees have reported sizable contributions from corporations, labor unions and individuals, according to campaign reports filed this week with the Secretary of State’s Office.

Chevron, for instance, has given more than $1.1 million to about 90 legislative candidates — both Democrats and Republicans — and legislative political committees during the 2024 election cycle, according to filed reports.

Another group, the political arm of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, a Washington -based labor union, gave $315,600 to more than 40 Democratic candidates and political committees.

And the Committee on Individual Responsibility, an Albuquerque-based political committee affiliated with the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association, has made $295,500 in contributions to 44 candidates — all Democrats.

A Chevron spokesman said the oil company’s contributions are legal and publicly posted on the website.

“Chevron makes political contributions to support candidates and organizations from both parties who believe, like we do, in the value of responsible energy production and good governance,” company spokesman Bill Turenne told the Journal.

This week’s campaign finance reports were the first required from candidates for the general election cycle. They cover campaign spending and fundraising from June 30 through Sept. 2.

Two additional reports are required to be filed before Election Day, with a final report due in January.

Staying on lawmakers’ ‘good side’

Michael Rocca, a University of New Mexico political science professor, said oil companies and other business groups making big contributions are “hedging their bets” in the state.

“What they’re doing is giving money to allies who have perhaps supported some of their positions in the past,” Rocca said, adding such groups typically support incumbents and legislative committee chairs.

He also said the campaign contributions could make it more likely company executives have their phone calls returned and are able to schedule meetings with legislators.

“These corporations understand that, and they want to make sure they stay on the good side of the power players in the Legislature,” Rocca told the Journal.

In addition to Chevron, other oil companies such as Exxon Mobile and Jalapeno Corporation, an Albuquerque-based company led by former state GOP chairman Harvey Yates Jr., have made significant contributions to legislative candidates during the 2024 election cycle.

While many of the contributions have gone directly to candidates, legislative political committees, or PACs, also have reported receiving large donations.

Specifically, three of the four legislative caucus committees run by top-ranking lawmakers to bolster their candidates of choice reported having more than $400,000 in campaign funds as of this week.

The New Mexico Senate Democrats reported having about $549,000 cash on hand, while the New Mexico House Republican Campaign Committee reported having roughly $506,000.

The caucus committees are specialized political committees that can collect more cash than other PACs, or individual candidates, and were approved in 2019 after being added into a campaign finance disclosure bill that was signed into law by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Changing legislative election landscape

There are guaranteed to be numerous new faces in the Legislature once the 60-day legislative session starts in January.

That’s because 27 incumbent lawmakers — 16 in the Senate and 11 in the House — are either not seeking reelection or were defeated in the June primary election.

In addition, four House members are giving up their seats to run for Senate seats — Reps. Natalie Figueroa of Albuquerque, James Townsend of Artesia, Larry Scott of Hobbs and Candy Spence Ezzell of Roswell.