Democrats Re-Districting Plans Taking Shape

Heath Haussamen

NM Politics - One reason Republicans haven’t seen much work from Democrats during the current redistricting special session is that Democrats have been negotiating behind the scenes to draft plans they hope can pass with or without Republican support. Looking at the Democrats’ redistricting plan for the state House of Representatives, you can see that a lot of behind-the-scenes work has taken place. For example, look at House District 53, which is held by Republican Rick Little from Alamogordo. Little unseated Democrat Nate Cote in last year’s election largely because of overwhelming support from two precincts in Otero County. Cote has already stated his intention to try to retake the seat next year. And in the Democrats’ redistricting plan, those Otero precincts are no longer in District 53. You can see hints of some possible wrangling among Democrats as well. Much of Rep. Rodolpho “Rudy” Martinez’s District 39 is taken away by Rep. Dona Irwin’s District 32 in the proposal, and the new Martinez district would stretch all the way from the Arizona border into Doña Ana County – making it the eighth House district located wholly or in part in the state’s second largest county. That’s probably not favorable for Martinez, who under the new plan might face a primary challenge from a Las Crucen. Read full story here: News New Mexico

Democrats Re-Districting Plans Taking Shape