[Update] How Many Democratic Delegates Voted for Jon Barela and Not Martin Heinrich?
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“If I may be frank with you, Martin Heinrich is a socialist,” says Leif Mendenhall, Democratic chairman of the 119th precinct in Bernalillo County. “He doesn’t represent New Mexico any more. And, yes, I voted for Jon Barela. ”
Mendenhall is one of a number of delegates to the Democratic pre-primary convention who cast their nominating ballot for the Republican seeking to unseat incumbent Democrat Martin Heinrich as the Congressman from New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District. How many actually cast their vote for Barela instead of Heinrich?
“I am proudly a Democrat,” says Dominic Aragon, Democratic chair of ward 16B on Albuquerque’s West Side. “I am supporting many Democratic candidates. But when it comes to CD 1–no way! New Mexico is not San Francisco, but we are getting San Francisco representation.” He can’t say how many votes went to Barela, but says there was a “buzz” of people doing it that got his attention. He says he voted for Barela after he learned others were doing the same.
“I am about positive it was around 37,” says Robert Moss, Democratic chair of ward 29B in Taylor Ranch. “That’s just the number who voted for Barela outright. A lot of people are not enthusiastic about Heinrich. I don’t appreciate what Heinrich is doing in the office. He is not representing us.”
“We have two parties [within the Democratic Party of New Mexico],” says Felix Nunez, Sr., a Democratic delegate who served in the NM House of Representatives for eight years. He says he voted for Barela and against Heinrich. “This is a wake up call for a certain Congressman,” says Nunez. He had to write Barela’s name in on the ballot as it contained but a single box beside Heinrich’s name. He is particularly offended by Heinrich’s attitude toward the military and his vote to release photographs of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib, a step opposed by President Barack Obama.
“I am not going to stand by and let our party burn so a few people can control it,” says Nunez. “I am a very proud Democrat. I know this is airing our laundry in public. But it’s time to let the public know we have dirty laundry and we have to clean it up.”
New Mexico Watchdog heard from other sources that the number of Democratic Party delegates who marked their ballot for the Republican Barela instead of Heinrich was above 30. The number most consistently mentioned was 37. We have asked the Democratic Party to release the number of Democratic delegate votes cast for Barela. We have not yet received any response to our call.
Posted under News.
Tags: Heinrich, Jon Barela, Martin Heinrich
22 Comments For This Post So Far
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Moe Lane » Meet Jon Barela (R CAND, NM-01).
[...] he’s too liberal for his own local party, to the point where some Democratic delegates were voting for Barela in their pre-primary election. This is not a sign of a secure [...]
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Meet Jon Barela (R CAND, NM-01). | RedState
[...] he’s too liberal for his own local party, to the point where some Democratic delegates were voting for Barela in their pre-primary election. This is not a sign of a secure [...]
10:58 pm on March 15th, 2010
Still beating your anti-Heinrich drum, Jim?
Didn’t know that NM Watchdog was suddenly interested in party politics.
11:13 pm on March 15th, 2010
Richard: So what is your objection to this story, that we have incorrectly quoted delegates to the Democratic pre-primary convention or that we have reported something you simply don’t want reported?
12:01 am on March 16th, 2010
Jim-
DPNM did not receive an official inquiry from you regarding the convention.
Thanks,
James Hallinan
DPNM Spokesman
12:17 am on March 16th, 2010
James: Check the phone messages on DPNM’s main number. I called earlier today and left a message. Nobody answered. Anyway, since you’re reading this, you now have it in writing. Thanks for visiting the site, by the way.
3:06 am on March 16th, 2010
Jim, it just seems odd that you suddenly care about party politics when it is bad news for someone who you railed against constantly in the 2008 elections from your TV appearances to your editorial in the Alibi.
Also, this is completely different than any other thing you have focused on with New Mexico Watch Dog. Funny how you completely ignored the White Peak land swap which was a big deal for New Mexico and a tremendous abuse of power, but go after this small embarrassment for a Democratic candidate.
8:55 am on March 16th, 2010
Richard: So if a story like this comes to my attention, and Democratic delegates and ward and precinct leaders are willing to go on the record about voting for a Republican, I am supposed to ignore it because…..? The facts are accurate as reported. This is not an opinion piece. Besides, what would be the justification for consciously choosing not to run the story? Or would you prefer to have seen this story somewhere else, say, on New Mexico Independent? But why haven’t they offered this story, especially since they were covering the Democratic pre-primary convention so closely? Maybe I found some facts other media missed or chose to ignore. If this story had been reported elsewhere you wouldn’t have seen it here.
11:36 am on March 16th, 2010
The Santa Fe New Mexican was too busy promoting, sorry, reporting, on Diane Denish this past weekend to write about this.
11:38 am on March 16th, 2010
This is a worthwhile story.
If Republican delegates wrote in a Democrat, that would also be a worthwhile story.
I also bet it’d get more coverage.
11:42 am on March 16th, 2010
Jim,
As I said, it’s telling that you, having never mentioned party politics on this website, have decided to do a story on party politics when it is 1) against the party that you primarily write stories against 2) against someone you clearly have animosity for.
It has been clear that you carry the water for the Republican Party in the state, but it has never been as clear as when you choose to write this story despite it not being the focus of your website. I hope Michael Steel is getting his money’s worth.
2:40 pm on March 16th, 2010
I find the story very interesting. I know conservatives are unhappy with Mr. Heinrich, but I never had a sense of how his fellow Democrats viewed him. The information in this story helps show that, and is therefore of interest. I haven’t seen any similar reporting in the MSM.
2:50 pm on March 16th, 2010
I am going to call the democrats named and tell them that the East Mt TEA Party appreciates people who put New Mexico before politics. Thank you for covering this.
2:56 pm on March 16th, 2010
There once was a time when Democrats stood for good government, balanced budgets and a strong defense. Our republic in now governed by the most liberal leaders I have ever seen in 30 years of voting. Thanks Jim for a story on at least a few Democrats with some common sense at the NM pre-primary convention. Jon Barela is sure to add many more disaffected Democrats and Independents as we head into election season.
2:57 pm on March 16th, 2010
Jim,
Great story and the Democrats that expressed their opinions on Mr. Heinrich just repeat what most New Mexicans have known for a long time.
Keep up the good work.
9:22 pm on March 17th, 2010
And to those who took this stand I applaud you, thank you. Rep. Harry Teague, in my crowd you would have been given a standing ovation for not voting for the Health Care bill
1:06 pm on March 18th, 2010
Martin Heinrich hijacked CD1′s seat in congress by deceiving the citizens. We won’t be fooled again. Heinrich could care less about representing the majority when he is in realty Pelosi’s bit**ch. He serves the national interests of the Progressive movement, to this purpose he lied to get us to vote for him.
8:08 pm on March 19th, 2010
Good job, Jim! Thank you!!!!!!
1:26 pm on March 22nd, 2010
I did call the people mentioned on the blog post and spoke with Dominic Aragon. I left him a message to thank him for putting New Mexicans over party politics and he called back and we had a very good conversation. After talking to him, I felt encouraged about some resolution between Republican/Democrats, but after the bill passed this weekend, I have vowed, “I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT AGAIN.” Sorry Dominic. There comes a time when even the most loyal person must change parties. This party (democrats) are at the edge of a cliff, and I want to be with the patriots who shove them over. NEVER AGAIN.
Char Tierney
East Mt TEA Party
5:17 pm on March 22nd, 2010
The Albuquerque Journal reported there were 13. Out of 2,000. In other words, less of a percentage than the people who voted for Ron Paul in New Mexico.
11:23 pm on March 23rd, 2010
Richard, I don’t read the Albuquerque Journal since they’ve abandoned small towns in the eastern section of New Mexico and began running Leslie, Joann, et. al. pieces on the front page.
Please explain your statement re: 13 out of 2,000.
Are you saying that only 13 out of 2,000 Democratic delegates voted for Mr. Barela at the Democratic convention?
Also, please clarify the remark regarding Ron Paul. Which election?
Those 13 out of 2,000 must have really stung. Otherwise, why take the time to quibble about such a small percentage.
A more correct comparison would be Heinrich picking up delegates at the Republican convention. Did this happen?
8:39 am on April 6th, 2010
I read and watch everything and everyone. And it doesn’t matter if the democrats vote Heinrich out of the Primary or NOT. The fact is … if the man or woman running is DEMOCRAT … they are also a LIBERAL.
And while I give Kudos to the democrats for voting for Henriech’s opponent in the primary … I will still vote AGAINST THEIR Canidate in the election come November …