New Mexico Democratic secretary of state candidates weigh in on gutting of Voting Rights Act

During a candidate forum Thursday afternoon, the two Democratic candidates running for New Mexico’s secretary of state in the June 2 primary election said the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent hollowing out of a key provision of the Voting Rights Act is a grave concern.

Before a crowd of about 40 attendees, Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark and Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin took written questions in a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Santa Fe County at The Food Depot.

Both candidates agreed that the U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision released on Wednesday weakened voter rights after the conservative majority significantly curtailed the consideration of race in voting district maps.

US Supreme Court limits use of race in congressional district remaps, diluting Voting Rights Act

Clark said the ruling “essentially narrowed our ability to contest what we see as an unfair gerrymandering among racial lines,” and said the court had upended 60 years of precedent in voting rights.

“This election is really about our vision, what we plan to do for voters, but it’s also about this administration at the presidential level,” Clark said. “We’ve got the Supreme Court now diminishing our rights to vote…these issues are real and the secretary of state will have to stand strong.”

López Askin credited the state Legislature and current Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver (a candidate for lieutenant governor) for enacting “progressive, pro-voter policies.”

She said the Supreme Court’s ruling “implies there are no racial disparities in this country anymore, which is just outrageous.” She concluded by saying the ruling underscores the need to keep the federal government out of local elections.

“If you’re not concerned — very concerned — after yesterday’s ruling, you should be, because this is when I say…we are in a street fight for our democracy,” López Askin said.
”I am not exaggerating. I believe I am the street fighter to lead New Mexico’s elections.”

The candidates frequently noted in hour-long conversation on their points of agreement, such as opposition to adopting an all-mail ballot system. Both also said they would work to establish high school programs for introducing first-time voters to the ballot box.

In their closing statements, the candidates said the primary election largely comes down to who New Mexicans determine will best fight federal overreach.

“I have spent the last year [traveling] all over New Mexico and speaking to people from different backgrounds, different perspectives, different political parties, but the thing that we continue to have in common is our concern for our country and our democracy and where it is going,” López Askin said.

Clark asked to be the state’s “champion on voting rights.”

“I want to make sure we uphold what we hold dear, which is our democracy that is so under threat right now,” Clark said.

Early voting in the primary election begins Tuesday, May 5.