The first Step to Winning

I started my Senate campaign by traveling the state to understand what was important to Republican leaders and activists. I learned they/we agreed on the significant issues. But I was surprised by the animosity between factions. In a few private conversations, I was told that if I team with (fill in the blank), don’t return. But that also translated to if you are not with us, you are against us. The result is that Republicans lose one big election after another while the Democrats drag the state into anarchy. But it does not have to be this way; we can choose to focus on what unites us.

Conservatives care about what New Mexicans care about; Their safety and that of their family, not allowing violent criminals to walk free. Schools to prepare their children for a bright future and good-paying jobs, not schools to change their children into the image of their teachers. They want good-paying jobs for themselves and their children that build character and communities, not jobs in industries that destroy lives, such as drugs, sex, and abortion.

Name-calling of fellow conservatives must stop. Conservatives have called me far worse names than any construction worker has. Unfortunately, I am not alone in this experience, and individuals with thinner skin than I have walked away from the Republican party. If we do not respect one another, neither will the voters and candidates, and volunteers will walk away.

New Mexico is a “Purple State” where electing strong Conservatives in every office will not happen no matter how much we want. Heather Wilson, a centrist conservative, continued to be re-elected to CD-1. Without Heather Wilson, Michele Lujan Grisham, Martin Heinrich, and Deb Haaland all won that position. In races where far-left Democrats have won, centrist Conservatives can win, but not if we discourage Conservatives to vote for them by labeling them a “RINO.” 

Donald Trump has moved on from the 2020 election, as evidenced by his campaign website, Donald Trump for President 2024. The election category, Free, Honest, and Lawful Election, addresses future elections in 2024, not 2020. If Donald Trump is focused on winning his next election, Conservative Trump supporters can, too.

Business Conservatives, Constitutional Conservatives, Fiscal Conservatives, Christian Conservatives, Catholic Conservatives, Oil & Gas Conservatives, Right To Life Conservatives, and Agricultural Conservatives advance their candidate because they believe their interests will not be represented unless their candidate is elected. It is time for frank discussions between the various groups of Conservatives that we will support each other.

Conservatism is not an ethnic, racial, gender, or religious group. Conservatism is how we govern when serving in elected office. If you are Conservative, you are welcome and have a voice at the table.

The greatest asset of the Republican Party of New Mexico is that the activists are an integral part of selecting candidates, but the process can be manipulated, creating chaos in the primary. I suggest a simple change at the convention. Voting for candidates continues until one candidate has over fifty percent. Then the two top candidates move on to the primary election. The other candidates can seek additional signatures to get on the ballot. This will help build unity among conservatives.

Lastly, how to bring the two big dogs of the NMGOP together. I sat down with an individual to present my strategy to bring them together. He responded, “Good Luck; I tried many years ago without success. Jay McCleskey and Steve Pearce are fiercely independent individuals who will not be pulled or pushed into working together.” After a few weeks of thought, I had to agree. At the same time, realizing that McCleskey and Pearce have decades of success, and now their legacy depends on the two years. It does not seem fair. Pearce and McCleskey can continue as is and most likely rack up more losses and be escorted out. Or they can work together, giving Conservatives the best chance to win in years. Their legacy could be lasting; the New Mexico Republican Party is a Big Tent for Conservatives.

In January, I hosted the first of four events to bring an eclectic group of Conservatives together to enjoy each other’s company, food, wine, and music. I started and ended the event with these words. “I invited you here tonight to build the bridges we need to win future elections and turn our state around.” Now is the time for Steve Pearce and Jay McCleskey to build the bridges we need to win and turn our state around.  

Postscript
Next week’s article will be on fiber infrastructure. I am not an expert in the field, but in our forty-year history, we have helped expand the inter-continental microwave communication network and installed a million feet of fiber optic cable. Unfortunately, this week I found one big surprise: Where does the fiber network not reach our state?