Grant County Republicans Billy Billings, left, and Frost McGahey, right, hosted CD2 candidate Claire Chase at recent meeting.Claire Chase, a candidate for Congressional District 2, spoke at a Meet and Greet session hosted by Billy Billings and Frost McGahey, on March 16, 2020 at the Silver City Bowling Center.

Chase started off by saying that she and her husband had been politically active for years and were worried about where New Mexico was headed under the current congressional leadership.

“I'm running because I want my 3- year-old twins to be able to call New Mexico home when they grow up. That future will be impossible if D.C. politicians get their way because the Green New Deal and the fracking ban will bankrupt our state. My family raises pecans and I’ve worked in the Oil and Gas Industry, and I see both industries under assault by Democrats.”

When asked about the attack ads run by Yvette Herrell’s campaign, she said, “I was wrong about President Trump during the 2016 primary, but I voted for him. He now has my whole-hearted support. President Trump is the first politician I’ve seen who actually did what he said he was going to do. He's doing an incredible job, and I look forward to working with him to help New Mexico.”

Another reason she is running is that she noticed that the Republican Party was lacking in one important demographic – young, working mothers. “In the 2018 midterms, 100 Democratic women swept to victory. You might remember them all wearing white at the State of the Union address. On the other hand, the Republicans only had 4 new women,” she said.

One of the audience members reported that when she went for her annual check-up she was asked “Are there guns in your house?” When she responded :“Why don’t you ask me if I text while driving?” her chart was marked that she refused to answer.

Another woman added that when she took her grandson into the emergency ward for a broken leg, she was asked the same question. Startled by it, she wanted to know why she was being asked that. The emergency room doctor said that they were required by the federal government.

Chase was surprised by that question. “With young kids, I’m no stranger to the doctor’s office. I don’t think we’re being asked about guns in Roswell.”

When asked why Chase thinks she can win if she’s the Republican candidate for CD2, she answered, “Lea County, which includes Hobbs, stayed home and did not come out to vote in the 2018 midterms. I have good support in that county, and they’ll come out and vote for me.”

For more information on Claire Chase, visit her website: www.clairechase.org