Governor appoints former Lincoln County commissioner Rex Wilson to vacant state Senate seat

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday appointed Rex Wilson, a rancher and former Lincoln County commissioner, to fill a state Senate seat in southern New Mexico that had been vacant since mid-October.

The appointment of Wilson comes less than two weeks before the start of a 30-day legislative session, and just two days after state Republican Party officials criticized the governor for foot-dragging in filling the vacant seat.

Senate Minority Leader William Sharer, R-Farmington, praised the appointment of Wilson, saying he would be a welcome addition to the Senate Republican caucus.

"I am pleased that New Mexicans in Senate District 33 will have representation heading into this upcoming legislative session," Sharer said in a statement.

For his part, Wilson said he was ready to get to work representing the district, which encompasses parts of three different counties — Otero, Lincoln and Chaves.

"I look forward to getting meaningful things done for my fellow community members and the citizens of our great state of New Mexico," said Wilson, who lives in Ancho and was named the state's 2016 cattleman of the year by the New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association.

He also spent 18 years as a regional director for Presbyterian Medical Services, and founded Camp Sierra Blanca at Fort Stanton near Ruidoso. Camp Sierra Blanca is an alternative education program for at-risk youth.

The governor ultimately selected Wilson over two other individuals who were also nominated for the vacant Senate seat — Lincoln County Commissioner Mark Fischer and state Rep. John Block, R-Alamogordo. Under the state Constitution, legislative vacancies in districts that encompass multiple counties are filled by the governor selecting from a list of names submitted by county commissioners.

Block, who tried unsuccessfully to initiate impeachment proceedings against Lujan Grisham for the governor's 2023 emergency health order targeting gun violence, posted a statement about not being appointed on social media.

"No, I wasn't selected, not because of ability, but because standing firm for conservative values comes with a political cost," Block wrote on his X account. "I won't compromise who I am to gain a title." 

The Senate District 33 seat had been held by Republican Nicholas Paul, who abruptly stepped down in October, citing family health issues.

Although Paul's term is not scheduled to expire until 2028, a special election will be held in November to determine who holds the seat for the next two years. That's because a 2021 redistricting bill stipulated such a process for filling vacant Senate seats.

Wilson, who served as a Lincoln County commissioner from 1997 to 2003, said in a Thursday interview he plans to seek election to the seat this year.

He also said he does not plan to introduce many bills during this year's session, but intends to rely on his knowledge of health care and rural resource issues to make an impact at the Roundhouse.

"I believe people need to step up when there's a spot to fill," Wilson told the Journal.

Meanwhile, his appointment slightly narrows the Democratic majority in the Senate, as Democrats will outnumber Republicans by a 26-16 majority in the chamber once Wilson takes the oath of office and is sworn in.

The 30-day legislative session begins Jan. 20.

Dan Boyd covers state government and politics for the Journal in Santa Fe. Follow him on X at @DanBoydNM or reach him via email at dboyd@abqjournal.com.