DGA Calls on Mark Ronchetti to Return Campaign Contribution from Fake Elector Who Tried to Overturn the Election for Donald Trump

Following reporting that GOP candidate for New Mexico governor Mark Ronchetti accepted a donation from a fake elector in New Mexico, the DGA is calling on Ronchetti to immediately return the contribution.

SourceNM reports Mark Ronchetti accepted $2,000 from Lupe Garcia, one of New Mexico’s fake electors who tried to overturn the election for Donald Trump. Garcia is one of the five people “who signed phony legal documents and submitted them to the National Archives in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.” Garcia and other fake electors likely broke state and federal laws in their attempt to undermine the will of New Mexico voters.

Ronchetti’s ties with Garcia are deeply concerning, especially given that the next governor is one of the people tasked with certifying New Mexico’s presidential election results.

It’s not just fake electors — Ronchetti’s inner circle is full of extremists. His running mate thinks gay marriage should be illegal and that people and businesses should be able to discriminate against members of the LGBTQ community. Ronchetti also refused to denounce extremist groups like the Proud Boys, The Oathkeepers, and the 3 Percenters. Instead, he agreed with a radio host that the groups, which are labeled extremist groups by both the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center, are unfairly criticized.

DGA Communications Director David Turner said, “Mark Ronchetti’s kitchen cabinet is full of MAGA extremists and conspiracy theorists. From sympathizing with hate groups to taking cash from fake electors, he’s shown exactly who he’d surround himself with if elected governor. The DGA is calling on Mark Ronchetti to immediately return the contribution from Lupe Garcia and come clean about the full extent of his ties with conspirators seeking to overturn the will of New Mexico voters.”