Amid national political tumult, Lujan Grisham joins Utah governor in call for civility

SANTA FE — At a fraught political moment, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham joined Utah Gov. Spencer Cox on Friday in Indiana to call for robust but respectful debate.

The roughly one-hour conversation came just one week after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was killed while speaking on a Utah college campus.

Cox, a Republican who has drawn plaudits for his public comments about the investigation into Kirk’s killing, was asked about how Americans can more productively disagree on issues.

He said research has shown that interpersonal interactions, including elected leaders sharing a stage together, can reduce political divisions and hatred.

“It’s really hard to hate up close,” Cox said. “Getting proximate matters.”

He also said that doesn’t mean people should avoid debating hot-button issues, saying, “We’re supposed to disagree. That’s foundational to our country.”

For her part, Lujan Grisham said she was “inspired” by how Cox handled the aftermath of Kirk’s death, including the governor’s call for Americans to limit the time they spend on social media.

Lujan Grisham, a two-term Democrat, also said the political climate has changed over the years due in large part to the internet, making it more perilous for candidates and their family members.

“I don’t think there’s any elected official in America that hasn’t had a threat of violence or an absolute death threat made against them,” said the governor, who has been on the receiving end of such threats in past years.

The event was held at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, as part of the university’s Democracy Initiative. It also marked the third time this year that Lujan Grisham and Cox had appeared together, as the two governors also spoke at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum near Los Angeles in May.

They also took part in the Western Governors Association’s annual meeting in Santa Fe, which took place in June.

Lujan Grisham and Cox were also asked Friday by the Rev. Robert A. Dowd, the president of Notre Dame and the event’s moderator, about efforts around the nation to redraw political boundary lines for political purposes.

Cox called the redistricting efforts in other states “not healthy,” though he said even independent redistricting commissions have built-in biases when it comes to redrawing political boundaries.

For her part, Lujan Grisham said New Mexico would not engage in mid-decade redistricting. The state already has an all-Democratic congressional delegation, and all statewide offices are also held by Democrats.

While both governors acknowledged they disagree on many issues, they said they’ve been able to forge a friendship through working on matters that affect both their states, including affordable housing.

Cox also said the presidency has become too powerful of an office, which has led to political polarization — and a sense of disenchantment among many voters.

“I think that politics matters far too much for a lot of people in this country, and not enough for the other part of this country,” said Cox.