SANTA FE – The New Mexico Senate passed by a vote of 19 to 11 Senator Jeff Steinborn’s, D-Doña Ana, bill to allow qualified New Mexico residents to register to vote up until three days prior to an election at certain locations March 1.

Current law allows voter registration to occur only until 28 days preceding an election.  If enacted, SB 224 would enable the largest expansion of voter registration rights in many years in the state.

“I am grateful to the Senate for supporting this important voting rights reform today. It is imperative that the Legislature expand voting opportunities in New Mexico, and remove hurdles where they exist,” Steinborn said. “ This bill will do...

New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller officially announced his run for Albuquerque mayor Wednesday.

Keller issued a statement in the morning saying he would focus on the city’s economy and reforming the Albuquerque Police Department.

“Albuquerque is my home – I was born and raised here – and this is where my wife and I are raising our family,” Keller said in a press release. “I’m running for mayor because I believe, together, we can meet these challenges head on and build a safe, inclusive and innovative city that works for all of us.”

If elected mayor, Keller would leave an open spot in the auditor’s office, which would be filled by appointment from Gov. Susana...

SANTA FE – Gov. Susana Martinez announced Jan. 10 her proposal to balance the state budget, which involves moving $268.5 million from various state agencies.

“This is a responsible budget that reduces the size of government while at the same time protects the progress we’ve made in diversifying our economy, reforming our education system, and keeps our communities safe,” Martinez said in a press release.

The proposal includes taking $120 million from public education in funds that Martinez’s press release referred to as “slush funds.”

Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, told NM Political Report that the proposal is a “starting point for negotiation purposes,” but that...

ALBUQUERQUE – Climate change protesters in downtown Albuquerque spoke out against four of President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks.

Rallying outside the offices of Democratic Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, protesters called on the two lawmakers to oppose the confirmations of ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, former Governor of Texas Rick Perry as head of the Department of Energy and Montana congressman Ryan Zinke as Secretary of the Department of the Interior.

Organized by 350.org, a nonprofit organization focused on cutting greenhouse gas emissions enough to...