In First New Mexico Debate, Gov. Lujan Grisham Defines Clear Contrast Between Her Leadership and Mark Ronchetti’s Extremism

By the end of the first New Mexico debate, the contrast between the two candidates in the governor’s race couldn’t be clearer. Gov. Lujan Grisham defended her strong record of improving public education, creating jobs, and funding law enforcement, and promised to continue to protect reproductive freedoms in New Mexico.

Meanwhile, Mark Ronchetti took a “theatrically aggressive stance” as he doubled down on his plan to implement an abortion ban and tried to walk back his record on denying climate change.

Here’s where Gov. Lujan Grisham and Mark Ronchetti defined themselves in the first debate on the issues that matter to working families in New Mexico:

On abortion: 

• Gov. Lujan Grisham: “Lujan Grisham…used the debate to cast herself as a staunch defender of access to abortion.” – Associated Press

• Mark Ronchetti: “Ronchetti floated his proposal to institute a ban on abortion services after 15 weeks of pregnancy…” – KUNM

On climate change flip-flops:

• Mark Ronchetti: “Ronchetti affirmed that climate change is real, an inconsistent message since he left TV weather forecasting for GOP politics…He disagreed with a position Lujan Grisham shared about concern for climate change, pollution..” – KUNM

On lowering costs: 

• Gov. Lujan Grisham: “Lujan Grisham noted her administration already this year delivered cuts to taxes on sales and gross receipts, along with tax rebates of up to $1,500 per household, touting her ability to work with a Democrat-led Legislature. – Associated Press

On getting things done: 

Gov. Lujan Grisham: “Lujan Grisham repeatedly highlighted her experience and suggested Ronchetti had only superficial plans for tackling complex problems.” – Albuquerque Journal