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Republican Party of New Mexico Chair Amy Barela鈥檚 decision to seek reelection for her county commission seat in a contested primary has set off GOP infighting as some state leaders accuse her of violating party rules.

Barela sits on the Otero County Commission and filed to run for reelection this year. A challenger, longtime Otero County Sheriff鈥檚 Office deputy Jonathan Emery, filed to run against her in the June 2 Republican primary. The party鈥檚 say when the state鈥檚 party chair 鈥渇iles as a candidate for public office and there is another Republican who has filed for the same office, the state officer shall immediately vacate the party office.鈥� 

Mark Murton, the first vice chair of the Republican Party of Bernalillo County, said the case couldn鈥檛 be more 鈥渃ut and dry.鈥� 

鈥淭he issue is very simple. The speed limit is 65 mph and you鈥檙e going 85,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ur position is that 鈥� she鈥檚 already vacated the position. She鈥檚 no longer a legitimate chair.鈥�

When reached by phone Monday, Barela said she was 鈥渘ot ready鈥� to answer the question of whether she鈥檇 step down and declined to answer further questions. 

The Democratic Party of New Mexico in a statement said Barela 鈥渁ppears to be blatantly violating RPNM rules by running for public office in a contested primary election.鈥�

Barela鈥檚 continued presence as party chair has generated a partywide falling out on social media. In , state Sen. James Townsend, R-Artesia, shamed Barela鈥檚 critics and appeared to argue that the heart of the matter comes down to the way the party鈥檚 rules are written. The rules state that the chair must resign if they filed for office 鈥渁nd there is another Republican who has filed for the same office.鈥� Since Barela is an incumbent, Townsend wrote, she isn鈥檛 challenging anyone for the Otero County Commission seat.

鈥淪he (AMY) is and has been a County Commissioner. She has been for a full term. The person is running against her, she did not challenge him. What you want is the right to weaponize the rule for your own purpose which is absurd,鈥� Townsend wrote. He added that Bernalillo County Republicans seem to believe 鈥渢hey are the 鈥楽anhedrin,鈥欌�� a reference to ancient Israel鈥檚 high court, and said they are 鈥渕ore interested in showing everyone how smart and powerful they are instead of winning elections.鈥�

Former Alamogordo Mayor Susan Payne, who is also a Republican, said those arguments seem like an effort to circumvent the rules.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e trying to get around it with, 鈥� 鈥楽he鈥檚 not running against anybody 鈥� he鈥檚 running against her,鈥欌�� Payne said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 pretty juvenile, don鈥檛 you think?鈥�

In his Facebook post, Townsend said he was advocating for the good of the party and that the rules might need to change if they want to get more Republicans on the ballot across the state. Murton, though, said he thinks Barela鈥檚 alleged willingness to play fast and loose with the rules is bound to hurt the party on Election Day.

鈥淕ood luck getting people to get off the couch and come out to support your party,鈥� he said.