NM Democratic Party official resigns, citing exclusionary actions by new leaders

SANTA FE — A top Democratic Party of New Mexico official has resigned from her post just one month after being elected, citing what she described as exclusionary actions by new party leaders.

State Party Treasurer Julie Rochman of Albuquerque, who submitted her resignation Wednesday, also expressed concern that none of the Democratic Party’s new leaders are Hispanic in a state with the nation’s highest percentage of Hispanic residents.

In an interview, Rochman said she and other candidates for state Democratic Party offices spoke about party unity during the run-up to the April 26 state central committee meeting in Albuquerque, when new officials were elected.

But upon being elected treasurer, she said she was not informed about weekly staff meetings and other party business by new Democratic Party Chairwoman Sara Attleson and Vice Chairman Cam Crawford.

“They’ve made it clear they don’t speak to me,” Rochman told the Journal.

In her resignation letter to state Democratic Party members, Rochman also said she was instructed to sign a nondisclosure agreement that would have prevented her from criticizing party officials even after leaving her elected position.

Rochman declined to sign the agreement, describing it as a “gag order for the rest of my life” and likening it to something President Donald Trump might instruct people to sign.

In a response, Attleson said that Rochman ran for party treasurer as part of a slate of candidates who, in other races, finished in second place.

Despite that dynamic, the recently elected party chairwoman said the state Democratic Party was hopeful the differences could be smoothed over.

“Contrary to her letter, we welcomed Julie to be a part of the movement we’re building,” Attleson said in her statement. “Unfortunately, shortly after the election, she decided this team wasn’t an ideal fit for her.”

“We respect her decision and wish her all the best in future endeavors and Democratic activism,” she added.

Regarding the diversity claims, Attleson pointed out several members of the state’s all-Democratic congressional delegation are Hispanic, as is Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

She also said Crawford, the state party’s new vice chairman, is African American and party chairwoman Brenda Hoskie of McKinley County is a member of the Navajo Nation.

New Mexico has turned reliably blue in recent election cycles, as Democrats currently hold all statewide offices and comfortable majorities in both legislative chambers.

But the Democratic Party’s national approval rating has sagged in recent months, and Trump picked up a larger vote share last year in 29 of the state’s 33 counties than he did in the 2020 election, though he ultimately lost in New Mexico in both elections.

Rochman, who moved to New Mexico from Florida in 2019 in part due to the political climate, said she plans to remain involved in local politics going forward, citing her position as a ward chair in Bernalillo County.

She also encouraged state Democratic Party leaders to appoint a Hispanic New Mexican from a rural part of the state to fill her post.

The decision on filling the vacancy is expected to be made by the remaining party elected officers in the coming days.