NEWS
New Mexico Supreme Court rejects Republican Party's appeal in dispute over GOP rules
Decision upholds lower court's order that state GOP chairwoman step down from post
Published
Modified
SANTA FE 鈥� The New Mexico Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the state Republican Party鈥檚 appeal of a lower court ruling in a dispute over whether GOP leaders followed party rules.
Specifically, the Supreme Court鈥檚 denial of the state GOP鈥檚 appeal upheld District Judge Cindy Mercer鈥檚 order that Republican Party chairwoman Amy Barela step down from her post.
The judge had issued her order late last month 鈥� less than a week before the June 2 primary election 鈥� in response to a lawsuit filed by several Republican candidates who claimed Barela and other top state GOP officials had failed to comply with party rules dealing with impartiality in contested primary races.
Those candidates included gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez and lieutenant governor candidate Aubrey Blair Dunn. Both claimed state GOP officials had backed other candidates in their respective races in a social media post and via campaign donations, thus violating a party rule requiring neutrality.
But the state Republican Party appealed the lower court ruling, arguing that forcing Barela to step down would effectively 鈥渄ecapitate鈥� the party in advance of the November general election.
The state party鈥檚 attorney, Carter Harrison, also argued that disputes over party rules should not be decided by the judicial branch.
Amid the party infighting, Barela was defeated last week in her reelection bid to the Otero County Commission by Jonathan Emery, who is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit.
Before that, Barela had rebuffed calls from several GOP county officials to step down, insisting she was not breaking a rule dealing with party officials who face competition in their campaigns for elected office.
Her primary election defeat could, at least in theory, allow Barela to run again for state Republican Party chairwoman.
A court filing in the Supreme Court case cited state GOP 1st Vice Chairman Mike Nelson鈥檚 decision to call a State Central Committee meeting on June 20 in Las Cruces.
That meeting鈥檚 agenda includes the election of a new party chair, and the state Republican Party鈥檚 attorney wrote in a Supreme Court filing before Wednesday鈥檚 decision was announced that party officials were aware of 鈥渘o basis鈥� under which Barela would be ineligible to run again for her previous post.
Dan Boyd covers state government and politics for the Journal in Santa Fe. Follow him on X at or reach him via email at dboyd@abqjournal.com.
