A New Mexico district court judge has ordered Amy Barela, chairwoman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, to step down following a lawsuit filed by fellow Republicans, just days ahead of the state’s first semi-open primary election. The lawsuit, brought by three Republican candidates running for office in New Mexico, claims that RPNM officers violated party bylaws, specifically conflict-of-interest rules.One rule states that a party officer must step down immediately if they file for public office and face a Republican challenger in the primary. Barela, who is an Otero County commissioner running for re-election, is facing a Republican opponent in the primary. “Amy Barela’s position as party chair gives her a higher profile and may lend her an aura of greater party legitimacy than her challenger,” the judge wrote in the ruling. Another party bylaw prohibits officers from endorsing Republican candidates in a primary. The judge found that two defendants, GOP National Committeeman and State Sen. Jim Townsend and RPNM Treasurer Kimberly Skaggs, violated this rule by endorsing candidates despite contested GOP races. “The judge is saying if these political parties are going to make some rules, they got to follow their own rules,” KOAT Political Expert John Day said.The court has ordered Barela to step down as party chair and directed the defendants not to publicly endorse any Republican candidate who has a GOP opponent. This includes endorsements made through social media, email lists, mailers or events. The lawsuit was filed by GOP gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez, Republican lieutenant governor candidate Aubrey Blair Dunn, Otero County commissioner candidate Jonathan Emery, among other plaintiffs. Their attorney, Gary Mitchell, told KOAT his clients are thrilled with the ruling and emphasized the courage it took for them to challenge their own party. “I think it’s very important for people to realize how much courage political candidates take if they’re taking on their own party to make certain that the rules are followed,” Mitchell said. “That’s a big leap to take. They took it because it was the right thing to do.” RPNM Executive Director Leticia Muñoz stated that RPNM will comply with the judge’s order but plans to appeal the decision to a higher court. “The Republican Party of New Mexico strongly contends that this order is a prior restraint on free speech, in violation of the First Amendment. However, the Party will comply fully with what it understands the order to require, for as long as it remains in effect, and we are in the process of appealing to a higher court,” Muñoz wrote.Muñoz indicated RPNM’s first chair would take over for Barela. However, RPNM’s website does not indicate the identity of the first chair.Barela and Barela’s attorney did not respond to requests for comment.
A New Mexico district court judge has ordered Amy Barela, chairwoman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, to step down following a lawsuit filed by fellow Republicans, just days ahead of the state’s first semi-open primary election.
The lawsuit, brought by three Republican candidates running for office in New Mexico, claims that RPNM officers violated party bylaws, specifically conflict-of-interest rules.
One rule states that a party officer must step down immediately if they file for public office and face a Republican challenger in the primary.
Barela, who is an Otero County commissioner running for re-election, is facing a Republican opponent in the primary.
“Amy Barela’s position as party chair gives her a higher profile and may lend her an aura of greater party legitimacy than her challenger,” the judge wrote in the ruling.
Another party bylaw prohibits officers from endorsing Republican candidates in a primary. The judge found that two defendants, GOP National Committeeman and State Sen. Jim Townsend and RPNM Treasurer Kimberly Skaggs, violated this rule by endorsing candidates despite contested GOP races.
“The judge is saying if these political parties are going to make some rules, they got to follow their own rules,” KOAT Political Expert John Day said.
The court has ordered Barela to step down as party chair and directed the defendants not to publicly endorse any Republican candidate who has a GOP opponent. This includes endorsements made through social media, email lists, mailers or events.
The lawsuit was filed by GOP gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez, Republican lieutenant governor candidate Aubrey Blair Dunn, Otero County commissioner candidate Jonathan Emery, among other plaintiffs.
Their attorney, Gary Mitchell, told KOAT his clients are thrilled with the ruling and emphasized the courage it took for them to challenge their own party.
“I think it’s very important for people to realize how much courage political candidates take if they’re taking on their own party to make certain that the rules are followed,” Mitchell said. “That’s a big leap to take. They took it because it was the right thing to do.”
RPNM Executive Director Leticia Muñoz stated that RPNM will comply with the judge’s order but plans to appeal the decision to a higher court.
“The Republican Party of New Mexico strongly contends that this order is a prior restraint on free speech, in violation of the First Amendment. However, the Party will comply fully with what it understands the order to require, for as long as it remains in effect, and we are in the process of appealing to a higher court,” Muñoz wrote.
Muñoz indicated RPNM’s first chair would take over for Barela. However, RPNM’s website does not indicate the identity of the first chair.
Barela and Barela’s attorney did not respond to requests for comment.
