By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper.
Democrat Elise Falanga Taylor is ending her campaign for New Mexico House District 23, saying she won’t let what she calls “vile tactics” from Republicans overshadow the issues at stake. Incumbent Rep. Alan Martinez, the House Minority Whip, denies he or his campaign had anything to do with it.
In a statement posted to social media Aug. 16, Falanga Taylor said Martinez’s campaign exploited a past experience with an abusive ex-partner to insinuate she was somehow tied to crimes committed by that person. She called the claims traumatic and said the race had strayed from what should matter to voters. Reached by The Paper., her campaign responded with an automated message reiterating the statement without addressing specific questions about the nature of the alleged attacks or who was behind them.
Martinez rejected the accusation outright. “Neither I nor anyone affiliated with my campaign would have any reason to release anything negative about another candidate,” he said, adding he has no knowledge of Falanga Taylor’s past. He also disputed her characterization of his voting record, calling it “stretched at best,” and pointed to his opposition to the last four state budgets over spending levels, along with his support for organizations including Haven House and funding for law enforcement and court training on domestic violence.
Falanga Taylor said she’s stepping aside to protect her mental health, not because she’s unwilling to fight, and said she hopes another Democrat can take up the race against Martinez. Martinez said he intends to keep his campaign “about the issues not about personalities, no matter who the Democrats put up to run against me.”
What’s next for HD23?
Once Falanga Taylor’s withdrawal is official, Sandoval County Democratic Party Chair Greg Bennett said the party will begin identifying potential replacement candidates. Under New Mexico law, there’s no new primary — the party’s county central committee selects the nominee, the same mechanism Democrats are currently using at the state level to fill their lieutenant governor vacancy. Bennett said only precinct committee members within House District 23 will vote on the replacement — roughly 18 people, since the district covers three precincts. He said the party is vetting interested candidates now and won’t release names until someone formally agrees to run. The filing deadline is Aug. 25 to place a replacement candidate on the November ballot.