New Mexico

NM Democratic delegates rally behind Harris

Published

2 years ago

July 23, 2024

Press Room

NM Democratic delegates rally behind Harris

‘She will get the job done,’ congresswoman says

Austin Fisher
| Source New Mexico

President Joe Biden handily won New Mexico’s primary election earlier this year, and most of the state’s delegates who were pledged to him are starting to coalesce around Vice President Kamala Harris to take the top of the ticket.

New Mexico’s presidential delegates will represent the state at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month.

They will elect the next Democratic nominee for U.S. president and vice president, and determine the national party’s platform when the DNC takes place Aug. 19 through 22.

New Mexico has 45 delegates, and three alternates.

In the 24 hours following Biden’s announcement that he won’t seek reelection, high-ranking elected officials in the Democratic Party of New Mexico released statements backing his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for president.

New Mexico’s 11 automatic delegates, according to party rules, include DNC members who live in the state, and any Democrats elected to be U.S. president, vice president, governor, members of Congress, and other distinguished party leaders.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham joined every Democratic governor in the U.S. and endorsed Harris on Monday morning, calling her the “party’s most effective voice in the fight to restore reproductive health care rights.”

“A former prosecutor, Vice President Harris is best equipped to make the case against convicted felon Donald Trump,” Lujan Grisham said.

New Mexico’s entire Congressional delegation endorsed Harris on Sunday afternoon.

Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez said Harris “will bring renewed energy, unity and vibrancy to this race.”

“She will get the job done,” Fernandez said of Harris.

DPNM Chair Jessica Velasquez and Vice Chair Manny Crespin endorsed Harris on Sunday evening.

“From Attorney General of California, U.S. Senator, and Vice President, Kamala Harris’ resume speaks volumes to her qualifications,” they wrote in a news release. “New Mexico Democrats believe our Party’s best days are ahead of us and are thrilled to do our part to make Kamala Harris the first woman and Asian-American President of the United States.”

With Biden watching, Harris on Monday gave a speech from Wilmington, Delaware to staff to kick off the run, setting the tone she will take on against Trump.

“They lead to inequality and economic injustice, we are not going back,” Harris said.

She also said she wants to pass gun safety measures like red-flag laws and mandatory background checks for new gun purchases. Reproductive health measures in her speech offered a stark contrast to Trump.

“The government should not be telling a woman what to do with her body,” Harris said.

“In the next 106 days we have work to do, we have doors to knock on, we have phone calls to make, and we have an election to win,” she said.

Harris’ running mate not yet known

Twenty-three of New Mexico’s delegates were elected at three district-level party conventions in June.

John Dyrcz, of Albuquerque, is a delegate for Congressional District 1. He is supporting Harris. He said he doesn’t have a preference for a vice presidential running mate but said, “we need somebody who can blunt the things that J.D. Vance might bring to the Republican ticket.”

He suggested someone from a Rust Belt or Appalachian state, like North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper or Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, for example.

Augustine Montoya, of Torrance County, is a delegate for the same congressional district. He is supporting Harris. He said he has no opinion on a vice presidential nominee, but he trusts Harris to pick one.

Montoya said LGBTQ+ rights are essential to any platform, and he wants to bring that message to the DNC in Chicago and back to rural New Mexico.

CD3 delegate Isaac Dakota Casados, of Santa Fe, is also the New Mexico Democratic Party secretary. He endorsed Harris along with the party’s other executive officers.

New Mexico’s seven at-large delegates, along with the three alternates, are determined by the results of the statewide primary vote and were elected by county-level delegates at the DPNM post-primary state convention in June.

At-large delegate Rayellen Smith, of Albuquerque, is also the state party’s treasurer, and she endorsed Harris along with the party’s other officers.

New Mexico’s four pledged party leaders and elected official delegates, according to party rules, include big city mayors and statewide elected officials, state legislative leaders, state lawmakers, and other elected officials and party leaders at the state and local levels.

One of them is Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, a former state senator.

“I look forward to the opportunity to play a role in this historic and important process,” he said. “With so much on the line for our families, I’m grateful for the opportunity to help shape the direction of our country at this critical moment.”

Editor Shaun Griswold contributed reporting to this story.

Austin Fisher is a journalist based in Santa Fe. He has worked for newspapers in New Mexico and his home state of Kansas, including the Topeka Capital-Journal, the Garden City Telegram, the Rio Grande SUN and the Santa Fe Reporter. Since starting a full-time career in reporting in 2015, he’s aimed to use journalism to lift up voices that typically go unheard in public debates around economic inequality, policing and environmental racism.

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New Mexico

Crowd, Urgency, Response: New Mexico Faces Boise State at Home in the PIT

Published

5 hours ago

February 7, 2026

Press Room

photo courtesy of UNM Athletics

Boise State vs. New Mexico Preview

Lobos Look to Respond at The Pit

Game: Boise State Broncos vs New Mexico Lobos

Date: Saturday, February 7, 2026

Location: The Pit in Albuquerque, NM

Radio: 77Kob Lobo Radio Network

Play-by-Play: Rob Portnoy, Hunter Greene

The Pit is where the New Mexico Lobos (18-5) will try to defeat the Boise State Broncos (14-9) on Saturday.

Saturday night at The Pit isn’t just another conference game for the New Mexico Lobos—it’s a chance to respond.

Lobos look to get back to their PIT Winning Ways

The Pit has been a fortress for New Mexico all season, but Wednesday night was a reminder that nothing comes easy in the Mountain West.

After seeing a 23-game home winning streak end against conference-leading Utah State, the New Mexico Lobos return to their home court Saturday night with something to prove as they face a hot Boise State team.

With the Mountain West race tightening and March approaching, this feels less like a bounce-back chance and more like a statement moment.

For a team that has thrived on energy, pace, and crowd momentum, how the Lobos respond may reveal as much about their postseason readiness as any win this season.

After their 23-game home winning streak was broken earlier this week by conference-leading Utah State, New Mexico returns home looking to bounce back against a hot Boise State team they lost to earlier in the season.

As the Mountain West race becomes more competitive and each game grows more crucial, the Lobos realize that their margin for error is shrinking if they hope to make a postseason appearance in the Big Dance in March.

New Mexico enters the matchup after winning eight of its last 10 games, while Boise State comes in riding the momentum of five wins in its last six.

Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. at The Pit, with the game broadcast on CBS Sports Network and the Lobo Radio Network.

Boise State enters the matchup after a 91-87 win over Nevada, relying on efficient offense and strong guard play.

The Broncos shot over 50 percent from the field and made clutch free-throw shots, with Dylan Andrews leading with 25 points.

The win marked another step forward for a Boise State team that has won five of its last six games and has now returned to .500 in Mountain West play.

Meanwhile, New Mexico aims to bounce back after an 86-66 loss to Utah State on Wednesday night at The Pit.

The Lobos had trouble finding an offensive rhythm and couldn’t stop the Aggies’ scoring efficiency, despite Tomislav Buljan’s 17-point effort.

Still, New Mexico remains one of the league’s most balanced teams, averaging over 80 points per game while ranking among the Mountain West’s top defensive units.

The Lobos (18-5, 9-3 MW) are back home with purpose after Wednesday’s loss to Utah State ended one of the nation’s longest active home winning streaks.

Despite the setback, New Mexico still stays in the Mountain West title race and knows that defending The Pit is crucial as the season winds down.

Freshman sharpshooter Jake Hall continues to be a major story, leading the Mountain West with 70 made three-pointers—the most by any freshman in the country.

With New Mexico’s speed, intensity, and defensive strength, the Lobos remain one of the league’s most tough opponents—especially at home in Albuquerque.

Boise State (14-9, 6-6 MW) heads into The Pit playing its best basketball of the season. After a rough 1-5 start in conference play, the Broncos have regrouped and returned to .500 in the Mountain West.

Led by Drew Fielder, averaging 13.3 points per game, Boise State relies on tough defense, rebounding, and half-court plays.

The Broncos also draw confidence from their 62-53 win over New Mexico in the first meeting on December 30 in Boise.

New Mexico: Jake Hall’s shooting stretches defenses, but the Lobos’ guard play and transition offense will be key as they aim to play with urgency and energy.

Boise State: Drew Fielder leads the Broncos’ offense, while their ability to control the pace and limit second-chance opportunities will be tested inside The Pit.

Response and Energy: How New Mexico reacts after Wednesday’s loss could set the tone early.

Tempo Control: The Lobos want speed; Boise State wants structure.

Home-Court Edge: New Mexico maintains a 9-4 all-time record at The Pit, where few teams leave comfortably.

The all-time series is tied at 15-15, showing how evenly matched these teams have been. While Boise State won the first meeting this season, winning in Albuquerque has always been a much tougher task.

Boise State’s recent streak makes this a tough challenge, but New Mexico’s urgency, perimeter shooting, and home-court advantage should drive a strong comeback.

Expect a very physical game before the Lobos create separation late.

Prediction: New Mexico rebounds at The Pit and remains strongly in the Mountain West title race.

Following Saturday’s matchup, the Lobos head to Phoenix for a midweek non-conference road game at Grand Canyon on Wednesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m., with coverage on FS1.

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New Mexico

Warm temperatures and a brief shower in southern New Mexico.

Published

17 hours ago

February 7, 2026

Press Room

Warm temperatures and a brief shower in southern New Mexico.

Most of the state will be dealing with warm temperatures that are above average for the next couple of days. There will also be a specific storm system that could cause rain in southern New Mexico, but most of the state will remain dry. It’s not a significant rain event.

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