2022 New Mexico Governor Voters Guide

Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) vs Mark Ronchetti (R)

Governor | Election | Nov 8, 2022

The Candidates

Michelle Lujan Grisham

Michelle Lujan Grisham

Democrat

Incumbent
Mark Ronchetti

Mark Ronchetti

Republican

The Issues

Abortion

Ban or legal?

Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)

Legal. “Access to abortion is access to health care,” “New Mexico will continue to be a state that protects and preserves the rights of women.” “A woman has the right to make decisions about her own body.”

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Climate Change

Should climate change be a top priority?

Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)

Yes. At 2021 UN Climate Conference committed state to climate actions such as reducing methane emissions by 45-50% by 2025, engaging in large-scale reforestation and supporting a low-carbon vehicle fuel standard. Signed a bill to make solar-generated electricity easy to access.

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Education

How to address teaching the history of race and racism in the United States?

Increase funding for K-12 and higher education?

Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)

Yes. Signed a bill making college tuition at public colleges free for most New Mexicans. Raised teachers’ salaries, and increased annual spending on K-12 public education by roughly $425 million in 2022, up 12 percent from the year before.

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Environment

Loosen or tighten environmental regulations?

Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)

Tighten. Adopted stricter environmental regulations than federal standards. Proposed rules to reduce pollution from the oil and gas industry. Voted against repeal of Obama-era rules reducing coal mining pollution.

Mark Ronchetti (R)

Loosen. Opposes a ban on fracking. Supports increasing New Mexico oil production. Says smaller oil and natural producers are “hurting badly” because of Grisham’s restrictions.

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Gun Laws

Pass less or more restrictive legislation on guns?

Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)

More. Supports a statewide ban on AR-15-style rifle sales. Signed a “red flag” law enabling courts to remove firearms from people posing a threat and a bill requiring background checks before most gun sales.

Mark Ronchetti (R)

Less. Received the NRA’s highest rating. “Completely” supports the Second Amendment and opposes a federal ban on the sale of military style semi-automatic rifles.

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Health Care

Increase government role in health care, such as expanding Medicaid, limiting drug prices, or promoting COVID safety?

Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)

Yes. Established funds to cut the cost of health insurance and medical expenses for working families, and to support rural hospitals. Increased Medicaid spending for nursing homes and care for new mothers, especially those in poverty. Implemented strict and widespread COVID-19 public health measures.

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Immigration

How to handle immigration? Support a path to citizenship for “DACA” participants brought to the US as children?

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LGBTQ Rights

Limit or expand LGBTQ rights?

Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)

Expand. Says “every LGBTQ+ New Mexican” is “valued and protected.” Signed a bill prohibiting businesses from discriminating against employees based on sexual orientation.

Mark Ronchetti (R)

No position found.

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Marijuana

Should recreational marijuana be banned or legal?

Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)

Legal. Legalized adult-use cannabis in state, saying it would create “thousands of good paying jobs for years to come.” Celebrated the first weekend of cannabis sales, totaling $5.2 million, and said it is “one of the most successful of any state.”

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Minimum Wage

Keep or raise the state minimum from $11.50 per hour? If raise, how much?

Mark Ronchetti (R)

No position found.

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Police and Community

How to address police use of force?

Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)

Replaced top law enforcement official to further a shift from traditional policing tactics to community policing and protecting civil rights. Signed a bill eliminating police immunity from prosecution in state courts. Signed a law requiring police officers to wear body cameras to reduce use of excessive force and increase accountability.

Mark Ronchetti (R)

Says the police have been “demonized” by the “political elites;” “will go after the criminals, not cops.” “We must support our law enforcement and back the blue.” Regarding the killing of George Floyd, said “bad cops and those who engage in police brutality and worse must feel the absolute full force of the law.”

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Student Financial Aid

Support lowering interest on student loans or forgiving them?

Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)

Yes. While in Congress, co-introduced a 2017 bill to expand student loan forgiveness to more public service employees.

Mark Ronchetti (R)

No position found on loans. Opposes “free college” as a provision of the Green New Deal.

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Taxes

Should corporations and wealthier individuals pay more or less taxes?

Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)

More. While in Congress, voted against 2017 tax cuts that cut the corporate tax rate down to a flat 21% and cut top-bracket individual rates. Also signed a bipartisan bill eliminating state tax on social security for single filers up to $100,000 and couples $150,000.

Mark Ronchetti (R)

No position found on taxing corporations and the wealthy, but supports a large tax cut on small businesses and supports “growing the private sector through cutting taxes.”

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Voting Rules

Support tightened restrictions on such voting rules as absentee and early voting, and voter ID?

Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)

No. Proposed a bill (did not pass) to extend the early voting period, create a permanent absentee voter list for receiving mail ballots, and expand online voter registration.

Mark Ronchetti (R)

Mostly yes. Supports “absentee voting,” but opposes “automatically mailing ballots without voter request.” Calls Grisham’s proposed bill “an alarming gateway to voter fraud.” “Strongly supports voter ID measures.”

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We have space to include only candidates polling 15% or more. But check out others including Karen Bedonie (L).

guides.vote is a nonpartisan effort to show where candidates stand, with links to credible sources. We do not support or oppose any political party or candidate for office. Vote411.org offers guides to local races.

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Michelle Lujan Grisham

democratic Party

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Mark Ronchetti

republican Party

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Michelle Lujan Grisham

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Mark Ronchetti

republican

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Abortion

Ban or legal?

Legal. “Access to abortion is access to health care,” “New Mexico will continue to be a state that protects and preserves the rights of women.” “A woman has the right to make decisions about her own body.”Mostly ban. ”Will champion…the Right to Life.” Says New Mexico is “one of our nation’s capitals for abortion.”Would allow abortion “up to 15 weeks and in cases involving rape, incest, and when a mother’s life is at risk,” and “end the barbaric practice of late-term abortions.”
Climate Change

Should climate change be a top priority?

Yes. At 2021 UN Climate Conference committed state to climate actions such as reducing methane emissions by 45-50% by 2025, engaging in large-scale reforestation and supporting a low-carbon vehicle fuel standard. Signed a bill to make solar-generated electricity easy to access.Mostly no. Says climate change is “real” and “needs to be addressed.” However, “we can’t restrict our economy when countries like China and India continue unrestricted pollution. The financial burden would crush our middle and lower class.” Criticizes Grisham climate initiatives.
Education

How to address teaching the history of race and racism in the United States?

Signed a law requiring school districts to implement an anti-bullying programs that includes gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion, and ability as areas to focus on.“Children should not be divided into victims and oppressors based on the color of their skin.” Believes schools should focus on teaching core subjects, “rather than trying to indoctrinate children in liberal ideology.”
Environment

Loosen or tighten environmental regulations?

Tighten. Adopted stricter environmental regulations than federal standards. Proposed rules to reduce pollution from the oil and gas industry. Voted against repeal of Obama-era rules reducing coal mining pollution.Loosen. Opposes a ban on fracking. Supports increasing New Mexico oil production. Says smaller oil and natural producers are “hurting badly” because of Grisham’s restrictions.
Gun Laws

Pass less or more restrictive legislation on guns?

More. Supports a statewide ban on AR-15-style rifle sales. Signed a “red flag” law enabling courts to remove firearms from people posing a threat and a bill requiring background checks before most gun sales.Less. Received the NRA’s highest rating. “Completely” supports the Second Amendment and opposes a federal ban on the sale of military style semi-automatic rifles.
Health Care

Increase government role in health care, such as expanding Medicaid, limiting drug prices, or promoting COVID safety?

Yes. Established funds to cut the cost of health insurance and medical expenses for working families, and to support rural hospitals. Increased Medicaid spending for nursing homes and care for new mothers, especially those in poverty. Implemented strict and widespread COVID-19 public health measures.

No. Opposes a single-payer health system as “disastrous.” Would keep Obamacare in place until it can be replaced by a better plan. Outside of testing and distributing PPE, a federal role in COVID is not needed, would be “top-down government.”

Immigration

How to handle immigration? Support a path to citizenship for “DACA” participants brought to the US as children?

Signed a law allowing immigrants to get a driver’s license without showing immigration status.  Withdrew the majority of National Guard troops deployed at the state’s southern border. On DACA, says “We need a pathway to citizenship. Dreamers cannot wait any longer.”Opposes amnesty for people living illegally in the U.S. “because it incentivizes even more illegal immigration.” “We need a barrier, more staffing or increased air patrol for a more secure border.” “Sanctuary cities in New Mexico exacerbate our crime problems.” No position found on DACA.
Labor

Make it easier or harder for unions to organize?

Easier. “New Mexico is a proud pro-union state.” Signed laws to provide accountability and reduce delays in handling petitions to unionize workplaces. Signed a bill allowing employers to require labor union membership for employment.Harder. Says “favoring union contracts” is “antiquated and regressive.” “We need to be a right-to-work state."
LGBTQ Rights

Limit or expand LGBTQ rights?

Expand. Says “every LGBTQ+ New Mexican” is “valued and protected.” Signed a bill prohibiting businesses from discriminating against employees based on sexual orientation.No position found.
Marijuana

Should recreational marijuana be banned or legal?

Legal. Legalized adult-use cannabis in state, saying it would create “thousands of good paying jobs for years to come.” Celebrated the first weekend of cannabis sales, totaling $5.2 million, and said it is “one of the most successful of any state.”No position found on legalization. Wants New Mexico to “be the most aggressive state in the nation in keeping marijuana away from children and prosecuting drugged driving.”
Minimum Wage

Keep or raise the state minimum from $11.50 per hour? If raise, how much?

Raise. Signed a bill to raise the minimum wage from $7.50 an hour when she became governor in 2019 to $11.50 in January 2022 and $12.00 in 2023. Supports a $15 minimum for state employees and school workers.No position found.
Police and Community

How to address police use of force?

Replaced top law enforcement official to further a shift from traditional policing tactics to community policing and protecting civil rights. Signed a bill eliminating police immunity from prosecution in state courts. Signed a law requiring police officers to wear body cameras to reduce use of excessive force and increase accountability.Says the police have been “demonized” by the “political elites;” “will go after the criminals, not cops.” “We must support our law enforcement and back the blue.” Regarding the killing of George Floyd, said “bad cops and those who engage in police brutality and worse must feel the absolute full force of the law.”
Student Financial Aid

Support lowering interest on student loans or forgiving them?

Yes. While in Congress, co-introduced a 2017 bill to expand student loan forgiveness to more public service employees.

No position found on loans. Opposes “free college” as a provision of the Green New Deal.

Taxes

Should corporations and wealthier individuals pay more or less taxes?

More. While in Congress, voted against 2017 tax cuts that cut the corporate tax rate down to a flat 21% and cut top-bracket individual rates. Also signed a bipartisan bill eliminating state tax on social security for single filers up to $100,000 and couples $150,000.

No position found on taxing corporations and the wealthy, but supports a large tax cut on small businesses and supports “growing the private sector through cutting taxes.”

Voting Rules

Support tightened restrictions on such voting rules as absentee and early voting, and voter ID?

No. Proposed a bill (did not pass) to extend the early voting period, create a permanent absentee voter list for receiving mail ballots, and expand online voter registration.Mostly yes. Supports “absentee voting,” but opposes “automatically mailing ballots without voter request.” Calls Grisham’s proposed bill “an alarming gateway to voter fraud.” “Strongly supports voter ID measures.”

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