近距离内射合集

LAS CRUCES 鈥� Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a leading figure in progressive U.S. politics, made an unusual endorsement this month in one New Mexico primary election, giving his nod to county commissioner candidate Daisy Maldonado in Do帽a Ana County.

Maldonado is running for an open seat on the southern New Mexico county鈥檚 board. The Las Cruces Democrat and first-time election candidate is campaigning in a district that encompasses Mesilla, part of Las Cruces and areas to the city鈥檚 west and south, including colonias and agricultural communities such as La Mesa, San Miguel and Mesquite. 

Maldonado was included in a list of 81 candidates for federal, state and local office across the country meeting Sanders鈥� approval.

Sanders, 84, is an independent who sought the Democratic nomination for president in 2016 and 2020. He recently told The New York Times he is boosting like-minded younger candidates, including those in down-ballot local contests, stating, 鈥淲e鈥檙e building a movement for the future.鈥�

Maldonado鈥檚 platform highlights concerns about water quality and supply, pollution driven by industrial development, housing, economic opportunity and government transparency.

Prior to her run, Maldonado was a prominent opponent of Project Jupiter, the hyperscale data center under construction in Santa Teresa for use by Oracle and OpenAI that is being financed with the support of a $165 billion industrial revenue bond approved by commissioners last September in a vote that has prompted lawsuits and that critics and open government advocates have called rushed and opaque.

Maldonado鈥檚 campaign said the Sanders endorsement is part of 鈥渢he national conversation about the unchecked expansion of AI infrastructure, the influence of billionaire tech corporations in local government decision-making, and the urgent need for community-centered leadership at every level of government.鈥�

In addition to Project Jupiter, Meta is building a new close to the southern New Mexico community of Chaparral, with development proceeding quickly as residents seek answers about groundwater, air quality, energy costs and the public incentives local governments offer in exchange for sunny promises about jobs and economic growth.

Maldonado鈥檚 primary rival is Angela Garcia, a child development advocate operating childcare centers in Las Cruces. Garcia has emphasized childcare, education, juvenile crime and healthcare in her own campaign.

Although her endorsers include some lawmakers supportive of Project Jupiter, such as state Reps. Sarah Silva and Nathan Small, Garcia criticized the developers and county leaders for a 鈥渧ery rushed鈥� approval of public financing  and has vowed to hold the project accountable to its promises on jobs and meeting New Mexico鈥檚 statutory renewable energy targets. 

When endorsements matter

Local endorsements by national political figures in New Mexico typically focus on federal offices or contests for governor.

President Donald Trump has endorsed Republican candidate Greg Cunningham, who is challenging Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez in New Mexico鈥檚 southern congressional district. Previously, Trump endorsed Mark Ronchetti in his 2022 run for governor.

Former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama have backed fellow Democrats in New Mexico鈥檚 congressional elections and endorsed Michelle Lujan Grisham for governor in 2018 and 2022.

Endorsements by prominent politicians and celebrities are still seen as boosts to candidates鈥� credibility and fundraising efforts, but they are potentially more influential to voters in down-ballot contests, said Brian Sanderoff, political analyst and president of Albuquerque-based Research & Polling Inc.

In a general election, Sanderoff said in an interview, 鈥淵ou don't need the endorsement of a newspaper or a legislative leader or celebrity to decide how you鈥檙e going to vote for president.鈥� In contests that get less attention, on the other hand, endorsements may serve as guideposts.

鈥淓ndorsements help the voters make decisions without studying the candidates鈥� positions,鈥� Sanderoff said. 鈥淜nowing a person has received Bernie Sanders鈥� support, one could then assume that candidate is a very progressive candidate, whereas if a candidate is receiving all the endorsements from state party leaders, then that candidate may be more aligned with the local and state Democratic party structure.鈥�

Maldonado boasts endorsements from local progressive Democratic leaders such as state Rep. Angelica Rubio and Las Cruces City Councilor Johana Bencomo, as well as organizations such as Conservation Voters of New Mexico, Semilla Action and Young Democrats of New Mexico, among others.

Garcia, for her part, has lined up an array of endorsements from local Democratic legislators right up to state House Speaker Javier Mart铆nez and Lt. Gov. Howie Morales. 

鈥淭hey know their districts better than anyone and that's why their support means so much to me,鈥� Garcia told the Journal. 鈥淭he leaders our community trusts to represent them trust me. 鈥� On the County Commission, I will bring these trusted relationships to help solve some of our county's most challenging issues."

She also has the backing of unions representing Do帽a Ana County sheriff鈥檚 deputies and electricians.

The candidates鈥� contrasting coalitions are accompanied by a fundraising gap, with Garcia鈥檚 haul running laps around Maldonado鈥檚. At the end of the most recent reporting period this month, Garcia had raised over $39,000. Maldonado had brought in $7,060, with more individual and smaller donors contributing as little as $10. Maldonado ended the quarter with $5,240 on hand compared to Garcia鈥檚 $30,712, with early voting underway and the June 2 election fast approaching.

鈥淏eing an underdog is nothing new to me,鈥� Maldonado said, 鈥渂ut I know this community and I know I have the knowledge and experience to lead on the County Commission.鈥� 

The winner will face Republican Samantha Barncastle Salopek, running unopposed in the Republican primary, in the November general election.

Algernon 顿鈥橝尘尘补蝉蝉补 is the Journal鈥檚 southern New Mexico correspondent. He can be reached at adammassa@abqjournal.com.