City Desk ABQ checked in on how local politicians reacted to news about a shooting — suspected to be an assassination attempt — at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania Saturday afternoon. Trump was taken to the hospital but has said he is “fine.”
One person attending the rally was killed, as was the suspected shooter. Two other attendees were critically injured.
Republicans
The Republican Party of New Mexico said “please pray for President Trump and our country!”
Steve Pearce, the chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, said “we are praying that President Trump was not severely harmed by the attack and for the other citizens who also may have been injured at his rally.
Nella Domenici, who is running for the U.S. Senate, said “our prayers are with President Trump, with the supporters and law enforcement on site, and with our country today.”
Former U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell, who’s running for congress again, said “I am praying for President Trump and his family.“
State Rep. Stefani Lord, from the East Mountains, said “reckless rhetoric has led to an assassination attempt.” Editor’s note: The FBI had not publicly assigned a motive when Lord posted that statement.
State Rep. John Block, from Alamogordo, said he was “sending prayers for healing to the families of the Trump supporters murdered in the crossfire after an assassin attempted to murder President Trump at his rally.”
Jay Block, who is running for state senate in Sandoval County, said it was a “sad day for America” and later implied that political opponents of Trump were behind criminal prosecutions of Trump and the shooting. Editor’s note: At the time of the post by Block, the FBI had not identified the shooter or their motives.
Democrats
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham did not post on social media, but did send a statement that said she was horrified by the shooting and condemned political violence “in the strongest possible terms.
“I extend my deepest condolences to the family of the victim who lost their life today, and I pray for the full recovery of former President Trump and others who were hurt by this reprehensible act of gun violence.
Americans must reject and denounce any attempt to resolve our political differences with bloodshed instead of democracy. With a presidential election looming, we must redouble our commitment to respectful and constructive discourse, regardless of political affiliation. New Mexico will do its part to ensure the safety and security of all and to uphold the values of democracy, justice, and civility.”
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich said “there is NO place for violence in political discourse.”
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján said “violence has absolutely no place in our politics.”
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury thanked the “secret Service and other law enforcement officials who worked quickly to keep people safe.”
U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez said “I wish President Trump a safe & speedy recovery as well as anyone involved in this incident.’
U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez said “No matter how much we disagree, violence never has a place in our democracy.”
The Democratic Party of New Mexico said it “condemns the attack that occurred at the Trump rally today as strongly as possible.”
New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver said “political fights should be fought at the ballot box.”
New Mexico Speaker of the House Javier Martínez, himself a target in a string of shootings at the homes of local Democratic officials in 2022 later connected to a failed Republican candidate for office, said “we must stand together as a nation to condemn political violence in all its forms.”
Sen. Antonio “Moe” Maestas from Albuquerque’s Westside apologized for an earlier tweet — which has since been deleted — and said he hopes “we grow as a nation from this horrible experience.” The earlier tweet replied to someone stating today’s shooting was one of our nation’s worst events. Maestas had suggested assassinations of Lincoln and others may have been worse.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said “political violence is never the answer no matter our differences, we must come together to condemn it in all forms.”
Attorney General Raúl Torrez said “elected officials, political candidates, and voters and election workers must be protected from the kind of violence that occurred today.”
Did you see other notable responses? Share them with us at editor@citydesk.org.