………. ………. ………. ………. ………. ………. ………. ………. ………. ………. ………. ………. ………. ………. ………. ………. ………. ………. Copyright © 2018 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE – Long-simmering tensions within the New Mexico Republican Party bubbled over this week after an Election Day that saw GOP candidates generally fare poorly, with several loyalists to Gov. Susana Martinez’s political machine lashing out at current state GOP leaders. In social media posts, former Martinez staffers appeared to blame party leaders and individuals connected with Republican Yvette Herrell’s campaign for a rare Democratic victory in the southern New Mexico-based 2nd Congressional District. ADVERTISEMENTSkip Democrat Xochitl Torres Small was declared the projected winner of the seat – held by Republicans for all but two years since 1981 – following a count of more than 8,000 absentee ballots in Doña Ana County on Wednesday. Shortly after Torres Small’s projected victory was announced, former Martinez spokesman Joseph Cueto tweeted that “change is needed ASAP” in state GOP leadership. Several other Martinez campaign alumni voiced similar sentiments. In response, some of those criticized say the finger-pointing amounts to sour grapes. Herrell, a state lawmaker from Alamogordo, defeated former state GOP chairman Monty Newman in the June primary election, and several of the former Martinez campaign aides who were outspoken on social media this week – including Cueto – worked for Newman during the primary cycle. Martinez’s political adviser Jay McCleskey helped with Newman’s primary bid. Andrea Goff, a senior adviser and fundraiser for GOP gubernatorial nominee Steve Pearce… [Read full story]
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