Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey
Debate in New Mexico over responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
These pages were updated from March 2020 through June 2020 and do not contain the latest commentary available. To submit arguments for inclusion on this page, email editor@ballotpedia.org. To learn how Ballotpedia decides which arguments to feature, click here.
Ballotpedia is providing comprehensive coverage of how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting America's political and civic life. In addition to monitoring federal, state, and local responses to the coronavirus, we are also capturing the nationwide and local debates on whether to extend or lift coronavirus-related restrictions affecting the economy, schools, government operations, public health, religious services, and travel.
These arguments come from a variety of sources, including public officials, journalists, think tanks, economists, scientists, and other stakeholders. We encourage you to share the debates happening in your local community to editor@ballotpedia.org.
This article covers the debate over continuing restrictions and closures in New Mexico in response to the coronavirus pandemic. You will find the following:
- Debate over the stay-at-home order
- Debate over school closures
- Debate over religious service restrictions
- Debate over election policy
- Debate over parks and the outdoors
- Links to coverage of responses to the coronavirus in New Mexico
Debate over stay-at-home orders in New Mexico
This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the stay-at-home order in New Mexico.
-
24 Republican members of the state legislature (KRQUE): 24 Republican members of the state legislature urged Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) to ease the state’s stay-at-home order in counties less affected by the virus.
"After a month of forced closures throughout the state, we are hearing from a growing number of small business owners who are at their financial breaking point. New Mexico companies are going out of business at a rapid clip." - "New Mexico governor feeling heat to relax business, stay-at-home restrictions," April 28, 2020.
-
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) (The Hill): Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) explained her decision to extend the state’s stay-at-home order until May 15, 2020.
"I want to be crystal clear: While we’re making progress, we are not yet out of the woods. … We will not be able to reopen everything on May 16. The virus will not be gone. The pandemic will not be over. There is no magical date." - "New Mexico governor extends stay-at-home order: 'We're not ready to ease up'," April 23, 2020.
-
Nora Meyers Sackett, Spokeswoman for Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) (Santa Fe New Mexican): Nora Meyers Sackett argued against a plan that would allow businesses to re-open in counties that were less affected by the virus.
"Areas with few reported COVID cases are not immune. … The virus does not recognize county lines. The fight against COVID-19 is the same in every part of the state, whether there are three positive cases in a certain community or 300. Three cases becomes 300 very quickly." - "Republicans clash with Governor's Office on reopening businesses," April 28, 2020.
-
Martin Hicks (D), Mayor of Grants, New Mexico (KOB 4): Mayor Martin Hicks (D) explained his decision to allow small businesses in Grants, New Mexico to re-open in defiance of the state stay-at-home order.
"The governor is killing us. She’s totally killing us. … So we have no choice. So right now, we are reopening. Let State Police come down here." - "New Mexico mayor vows to reopen city despite lockdown order," April 24, 2020.
-
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) (CNN): Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said that she did not support lifting New Mexico’s stay-at-home order until after coronavirus cases had peaked and testing capacity increased.
"If we had better national strategies and universal testing and software-based contract tracing, then we could really figure out when opening makes sense and we could start to do that in the country." - "'I'll do what's best for New Mexico,' governor says when asked about reopening state," April 12, 2020.
-
Operation Gridlock New Mexico (Santa Fe New Mexican): Around 20 protesters at Operation Gridlock New Mexico argued that the state’s stay-at-home order should be lifted because of its negative economic impact, and that the order unjustifiably favored big box stores over small, independent stores. - "Anti-closure protest draws cars, helicopters to New Mexico Capitol," April 20, 2020.
-
Leland Taylor, president of the Albuquerque Tea Party (Sante Fe New Mexican): Leland Taylor, president of the Albuquerque Tea Party, sued Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, arguing that the state’s stay-at-home order violated his religious freedom and that the severity of the coronavirus in New Mexico did not justify the order. - "Albuquerque Tea Party president sues Lujan Grisham over coronavirus lockdown," March 25, 2020.
-
New Mexico GOP chairman Steve Pearce (KRQUE): "Outside states are gobbling up our local dollars while mom and pop businesses remain closed and Main Streets become ghost towns. … The governor must look at what areas can slowly open, areas where there are few and no cases of COVID-19 to start with." - "New Mexico governor feeling heat to relax business, stay-at-home restrictions," April 28, 2020.
-
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) (KRQUE): "We are not out of the woods yet. … Until we have a vaccine, this virus lives amongst us and it’s looking for hosts. So it’s waiting for you to show up at a business or a long-term care facility or emergency room or a grocery store or a neighbor’s house. This is exactly how it creates havoc and harm." - "New Mexico governor feeling heat to relax business, stay-at-home restrictions," April 28, 2020.
"America’s coronavirus divide is reflected in two New Mexico mayors. One asked for a lockdown. The other defied orders." - The Washington Post, May 7, 2020
"Las Cruces protesters gather at City Hall, demand New Mexico ‘open up’" - ABC7 KVIA, May 1, 2020
Additional reading
Debate over reopening plans in New Mexico
- See also: Debate over reopening plans during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on reopening plans in New Mexico.
-
Santa Fe New Mexican Editorial Board (Santa Fe New Mexican): "Because of the examples set by leaders — the governor wears a mask — and because so many residents are following suit, New Mexico is moving to its next step of reopening after the pandemic." - "Strategic reopening is working for New Mexico," June 8, 2020.
Debate over school closures in New Mexico
This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on school closures in New Mexico.
We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.
Debate over religious service restrictions in New Mexico
This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on religious service restrictions in New Mexico.
-
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) (La Cruces Sun News): Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) explained the rationale for not including an exception for in-person religious services in the state’s stay-at-home order.
"I am so grateful for the support and cooperation from the vast majority of religious leaders of all faiths who have already made the difficult decision to cancel services in the interest of the health and safety of their members. … I understand the tremendous social and spiritual burden this places on New Mexicans, but ultimately, we must do everything we can to limit the spread of COVID-19, including being absolutely clear that mass gatherings of any type are not permitted in houses of worship." - "New Mexico's mass gathering ban now includes houses of worship amid coronavirus fears," April 11, 2020.
-
Pastor Steve Smothermon of Legacy Church in Albuquerque (KRQE): Legacy Church in Albuquerque sued the state of New Mexico, arguing that its stay-at-home order prohibiting gatherings of more than five people was unconstitutional. Pastor Steve Smothermon of Legacy Church in Albuquerque defended the lawsuit.
"We’re fighting for our religious freedoms as a whole I believe…just to be treated the same as you would treat a commercial business." - "Religious communities pushing back against state orders," April 16, 2020.
Debate over election policy in New Mexico
This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on election policies in New Mexico.
-
Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court Judith Nakamura (R) (KOAT Action News): The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled that New Mexico’s June primary election could not be conducted entirely through mail-in ballots. Chief Justice Judith Nakamura explained the court’s decision.
"The other branches of government have chosen not to act and have come to this court for relief. … No one can deny the devastating effect that this virus has had and continues to have on our community, however the relief that is requested (by the Secretary of State) is specifically prohibited by New Mexico [law]." - "NM Supreme Court: Clerks can't do vote by mail election," April 14, 2020.
-
New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver (D) (Office of the New Mexico Secretary of State): New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver explained her support for conducting New Mexico’s June primary election entirely through the mail.
"I want to make sure New Mexicans know that the entire reason for asking the state Supreme Court to allow the state’s election administrators to conduct an all-mail 2020 Primary Election is to protect the health and safety of every voter wishing to participate." - "Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver Supports the Collaborative Effort Between New Mexico’s County Clerks and her Office to Conduct an All-Mail 2020 Primary Election," March 31, 2020.
"New Mexico primary: Clerks, party leaders mull safety as voting begins amid COVID-19" - Las Cruces Sun News, May 8, 2020
Additional reading
Debate over parks and the outdoors in New Mexico
This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on parks and the outdoors in New Mexico.
-
Sante Fe National Forest Supervisor James Melonas (Sante Fe New Mexican): Sante Fe National Forest Supervisor James Melonas explained the rationale for closing public areas, such as campgrounds and restrooms, at five national forests in New Mexico.
"[W]e believe people understand the serious risks posed by the facilities that draw large numbers of people into close proximity to each other." - "National forests in New Mexico to close some facilities; trails still open," March 24, 2020.
Click the links below for more on responses to the coronavirus pandemic in New Mexico.
- Changes to election dates and procedures
- Statewide stay-at-home order
- Statewide travel restrictions
- Executive orders
- Officials and candidates diagnosed with or quarantined due to coronavirus
- Enacted legislation
- Legislative session changes
- School closures
- Court closures
- Prison inmate release responses
- Rent, mortgage, eviction, and foreclosure policies
General resources
The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.
Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor
- U.S. Department of Education
- World Health Organization
- Trends in Number of COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in the US Reported to CDC, by State/Territory
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccinations, Our World in Data (Number of vaccines administered)
- Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker, New York Times (Progress of vaccine trials)
See also
- Ballotpedia: Political responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
- State government responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
- Government official, politician, and candidate deaths, diagnoses, and quarantines due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021
- Changes to ballot measure campaigns, procedures, and policies in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2022
- Ballotpedia's elections calendar
Footnotes
