Around the Roundhouse

Tuesday night’s midterms shifted the balance of power in the U.S. Congress as Democrats convincingly took control of both the House and Senate, and the surge was so strong it even flipped Republican strongholds like Texas blue in statewide races. Already a firmly blue state, New Mexico’s Democrats gained even more strength on Tuesday night as the party gained a supermajority in the state House. It’s been 10 years since a Republican won a statewide race in New Mexico. None of Tuesday’s statewide races were remotely close. The state’s entire congressional delegation is made up of Democrats, and Dems have firm control over both bodies of the Legislature. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Republican state Sen. Jim Townsend joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to reflect on the aftermath of Tuesday’s blue wave and shares his thoughts on what his party needs to do to gain ground in New Mexico. “Ouch, that hurt,” is what Townsend said he felt Tuesday as the results came in. “It was decisive, it was complete, and it was telling.” The senator from Artesia said the outcome was at least partially a reflection of the public’s feelings toward the results of President Donald Trump’s policies. High fuel prices “hurt a lot of people in their pocketbooks” in rural New Mexico, Townsend said, and “they didn’t see an end to it.” Townsend said the party needs to focus its messaging on what it can do to improve the lives of New Mexicans, especially when it comes to the economy and affordability issues. With new leadership coming to the governor’s office with the election of Deb Haaland, Townsend shares what he’s heard from leaders in the oil and gas industry in the Permian Basin. Townsend also talks about his relationship with Stephanie Garcia Richard, who as the lieutenant governor will serve as the president of the state Senate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Four Corners region was hit with catastrophic flooding last week as heavy rains caused rivers to overflow their banks and inundate communities. Evacuations were ordered for parts of San Juan County in Northwest New Mexico last week and hundreds of homes and other buildings were destroyed or damaged. There were more than 60 water rescues, though there were no reported deaths in the county. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, San Juan County Manager Mike Stark joins Santa Fe New Mexican reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss the devastating effects of the flooding and where things stand for residents a week later. Stark says many residents who had their homes damaged or destroyed do not have flood insurance and will need assistance to rebuild. Damage estimates are still being tallied, but Stark says the final figure could total in the hundreds of millions of dollars. As a safety warning, residents are recommended not to return to evacuated areas due to hazmat concerns and the potential for more rainfall in the coming days. Stark says scammers have tried to take advantage of the tragedy. He recommends people go to the Office of Emergency Management for San Juan County Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/oemsjc/) or the office’s website at https://www.sjcoem.com to get connected with resources, recovery information and ways to help. Speaking of a timetable for recovery, Stark says it may take years for some areas to get back in good order but “we’re in it for the long haul in trying to provide for these citizens who have had their lives turned upside down.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the biggest stories of the year in New Mexico has been the construction of Project Jupiter, a controversial hyperscale data center in Southern New Mexico. In the latest episode of The New Mexican’s Around the Roundhouse podcast, hosted by politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón, state Sen. Carrie Hamblen, a Las Cruces Democrat, discusses concerns around the project, which is being built in her Senate district. Hamblen, a former broadcast journalist who spent more than 20 years working both behind the scenes and on air for local NPR affiliate KRWG, also talks about recent recognitions she received from the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, as well as the New Mexico Press Association. Hamblen, who is known at the Roundhouse for being a thoughtful and collegial legislator with a playful side, also discusses her role as president and CEO of the Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Allegra Love is an immigration lawyer who for nearly 20 years has been on the front lines of Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity by providing legal assistance to immigrants in Santa Fe and across New Mexico. On the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Love joins Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss the impact of the uptick in ICE arrests during President Donald Trump’s second administration and the toll it is having on immigrant communities. Love works with Las Cumbres Community Services to provide rapid response legal services for people whose family members have been arrested by ICE. She discusses her experiences fighting for immigrants’ rights and her perspective on the Trump administration’s narrative that ICE is only going after “the worst of the worst.” Love brings up the case of Edgar Chacon-Miranda, a Santa Fe resident who has legal status in the United States but was still arrested by ICE and detained for 30 days before being released. Love talks about how such actions impact families, noting the loss of income suffered by Chacon-Miranda’s family while he was in detention and unable to work, and the fear experienced by his daughters as they didn’t know what was going to happen with their father. Also a public elementary school teacher, Love shares how she got involved in immigration issues and describes the emotional struggles of her work as an immigration attorney.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Linda Trujillo was elected New Mexico’s new Senate majority leader Sunday by the Senate Democratic caucus, becoming the first woman to hold the position. She will take the place of fellow Santa Fe Democrat Peter Wirth, who served in the role for a decade before announcing earlier this year that he would not seek another term as majority leader. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Trujillo joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss her leadership style and the priorities that the Senate Democratic caucus will pursue in the 2027 legislative session. To start, Trujillo shares why she decided to pursue the majority leader position and describes her relationship with Wirth, who she described as a strong and steady leader during his time in the role. A major focus for the Senate Democratic caucus in the 2027 session will be affordability. In discussing priorities, Trujillo offered examples including passing a cost of living adjustment for the state’s Public Employees Retirement Association members, continuing to provide support for childcare, making housing more affordable, filling gaps in health care and supporting senior citizens.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Roybal has worked in the courts for more than a decade, spending time at both the Santa Fe County Magistrate Court and the First Judicial District Court. He’s served as a court clerk, court monitor and a pretrial services officer, and now he’s vying to earn a spot in a judge’s seat. Roybal, a Democrat and a 2008 Santa Fe High graduate, is running against Forward Party candidate Harry Montoya to be a Santa Fe County magistrate judge. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Roybal joins Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Clara Bates to discuss his background and share his reasons for running. Working in the courts since 2014, Roybal says his roles in the court system have allowed him to see the problems that plague the community. He also talks about his family’s interactions with the judicial system his firsthand experience of seeing how drugs can impact a family. Roybal says if elected he would work to get people with substance and behavioral health issues the treatment they need while also holding people accountable for their actions. Roybal also talks about his involvement with the JB White Foundation, which helps raise awareness about gun violence among youth and puts on youth basketball tournaments.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Gessing has spent the past 20 years working to shape policy in New Mexico as president of the Rio Grande Foundation, an Albuquerque-based think tank focused on promoting “individual freedom, limited government and economic opportunity,” according to the organization’s website. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Gessing joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss a proposal to raise the state’s gas tax, why he supports eliminating the personal income tax in the state, his thoughts on the gubernatorial race and more. New Mexico hasn’t seen an increase in its gas tax in more than three decades. Funds raised from the tax go to repairing the state’s roads. State Sen. Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales, D-Rancho de Taos, is considering introducing the proposed increase during next year’s 60-day legislative session. Gessing thinks raising the gas tax would be a bad idea, saying he thinks there are other places the state can draw funds from to repair its roads. “Simply put, it is crazy to even be talking about raising taxes,” Gessing said. Members of the state’s Republican Party, which is a minority in the both chambers of the Legislature, have also been pushing for eliminating personal income tax. Gessing shares why he thinks it would be a good move for the state and says he thinks it would be best to phase it out over a number of years rather than all at once. Chacón also asks Gessing to share his thoughts on the governor’s race between Democrat Deb Haaland and Republican Gregg Hull. Gessing says he wishes the public would get the chance to see multiple debates between the two candidates before the election, which seems less likely as Nov. 3 approaches.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Mexico was in the national spotlight earlier this week as President Donald Trump sent out multiple social media posts indicating a desire to rename New Mexico “New America.” The posts prompted backlash from New Mexico’s congressional delegation and others who didn’t appreciate the suggestion. New Mexico State Historian Rob Martinez has been among the voices critical of Trump’s “New America” pitch. He has been interviewed by publications including The New York Times and The Guardian, offering a lesson on the origins of New Mexico’s name and sharing some of the unique elements of the state’s history. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Martinez joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to push back against Trump’s “New America” posts, saying “our state name is no joke.” Martinez discusses the shaping of New Mexico and its complex culture. He also shares the history the region has had with the United States and Mexico, and some the prejudices that developed that he says seem to have not gone away.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before resigning from the state Senate nearly four years ago, Jacob Candelaria changed his party affiliation from Democrat to decline to state. Being unencumbered by partisan loyalties “was liberating,” Candelaria said, and working as an attorney, he says he fights for the people of New Mexico instead of for the government. Candelaria has taken high-profile cases including whistleblower lawsuits and a challenge of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s universal childcare program. This week, he filed a disciplinary complaint against state Rep. Andrea Romero for taking a part-time job in the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office. The complaint alleges multiple violations of New Mexico’s Rules of Professional Conduct. In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” Candelaria joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss his complaint against Romero, a new complaint he has filed against District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, his thoughts on the state’s Democratic Party and more. Candelaria, a state legislator from 2013-2022, recounts his time serving in the Roundhouse, which included tense moments and clashes with the governor and other Democrats. He says he doesn’t miss being a legislator and explains why he feels “state government is broken.” Chacón then asks Candelaria to go into detail about his disciplinary complaint against Romero. In the discussion, Candelaria reveals that on Wednesday he also filed a complaint against Carmack-Altwiews for hiring Romero to the office. Romero resigned from the controversial part-time job earlier this week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Harry Montoya has been a Democrat and a Republican. The former Pojoaque School Board member and Santa Fe County Commissioner says he doesn’t feel like he fits into the mold of either party anymore and is now running as a member of the newly formed Forward Party in his campaign for Santa Fe County magistrate judge. Montoya, who is facing Democrat Michael Roybal in the general election, joins the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” for a conversation with Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón on his background, his interest in the magistrate judge role and his decision to run as a Forward Party candidate. Long in the political sphere, Montoya says a continued passion for public service has driven him to pursue the magistrate judge position. He discusses what the magistrate court is and shares his thoughts on what qualities a judge should bring to the job. Montoya also talks about the Forward Party movement, saying he feels the party offers the opportunity to put narrow ideologies aside and work for progress for the people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.