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Susana vs. Denish: The racial divide and an all-Hispanic ticket
Chris Lopez
Susana Martinez may have all the momentum in the world, she may have a great marketing plan of anti-Richardson themes, and she may even have the soccer mom from Alaska on her side – but her Achilles heel may be the simple fact that her running mate is a Hispanic as well.
When the GOP powers-that-be went out to make a strong-enough ticket to beat Diane Denish, they assumed Allen Weh would pull it out; therefore they needed to make sure a Hispanic took the victory for lieutenant governor. The science of politics is simple in state wide elections: two Anglos vs. one Hispanic equals a victory for John Sanchez (or pretty much any Hispanic for that matter).
With polls indicating a near tie for Susana and Denish, there are two critical questions that must be answered:
• Will Hispanic Democrats switch party lines and vote for an all-Hispanic Republican ticket?
• Will Anglo Republicans say no to an all-Hispanic ticket?
A history lesson
To further understand the ethnic loyalties that play a part in politics in New Mexico we need to track back to 1960s.
In 1962, after the death of the great U.S. Senator Dionisio “Dennis” Chavez, New Mexico’s three-time Governor Edwin L. Mechem appointed himself to the vacant U.S. Senate seat. Mechem served two years and was up for re-election to the U.S. Senate in 1964 against Congressman Joseph M. Montoya.
Both were seasoned politicians. It was an Anglo Republican vs. a Hispanic Democrat.
Come election night of this epic political battle, it looked bleak for the Hispanic congressman to topple the three-time Anglo governor. With almost all of precincts from the south and Albuquerque reporting, Montoya was down by a whopping 15 percent. Television news reporters were on the scene at both Mechem’s and Montoya’s headquarters. Mechem commented that he was “looking forward to continued service as United States senator.”
But when the reporter asked Montoya about his thoughts on the loss, Montoya replied “I am still confident that we will pull this out – for the north has yet to report.”
And in dramatic fashion the Hispanic north did come through for Montoya (with the help of both political lions, Donaldo “Tiny” Martinez and Emilio Naranjo). Montoya not only made up that 15 percent margin but ended up beating Mechem by 9 percent (54 percent to 45 percent).
Race and ethnicity do play a factor
If history has taught us one thing in New Mexico politics, it is that race and ethnicity do play a factor for a percentage of voters who feel that people of the same ethnicity will represent them the best in government.
Whichever candidate – Susana or Denish – can play the ethnicity card the best will become our first woman governor.
Lopez is the 26-year-old publisher of monthly newspaper the Las Vegas Times, which is distributed in San Miguel, Mora and Guadalupe Counties. He recently was a Democratic candidate for state representative in District 70.
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Mr. Lopez:
Thank you for the history lesson. I am sure that you have been receiving guidance from the typical northern power players–Jesus Lopez and Pete Campos et al. I admire you for your enthusiasm but I wish that you would WORK to develop a vision for northern NM instead of seeking office simply because it seems an exciting way to fill your time. Office should be attained by training your mind to hold it and not because you can due to your influence–think of it as training for a sport.
Being Hispanic in the North was, is, and will continue to be important. However, if it is to change, our future leaders cannot continue to beat the ethnic drums of the past without offering up a vision for the future. In addition to factoring in the importance of ethnicity, it would be nice for you to include the experiences that qualify these two women for the position. How do those balance against each other? My grandmother was a visionary in her time because she was able to go to college and be a teacher–imagine what she would think of two women, one of them Hispanic, running for Governor! You have a unique position to change the debate as an owner of a newspaper. If you want to step beyond the small-town, small-time, debates our region has been having for decades then you need to broaden the debate. Challenge Campos and Rep Garcia to step down from their elected positions despite the AG ruling if they want to serve in high paying admin positions. Challenge Hispanics to learn and speak Spanish–to actually learn to prepare dishes that many Nortenos’ grandmothers can only make. Challenge Nortenos to leave NM and challenge them further to return to NM to apply what they have learned for everyone’s benefit. Step beyond those who are helping you to develop your career because their vision is limited and is the product of generations of strife–and the North needs leaders who can develop their own new but still related vision. You’re not there yet. I challenge you to get there. Keep trying.
As long as people inside a racial group insist on elevating their petty territorial squabbling to the level (or depth) of racism to acquire political power and influence no good will come of efforts like this, efforts to carve out journalistic influence where there is none to be had.
There is a racial divide in NM, maybe not so much down south but what I recently learned is that an all Hispanic Governor’s ticket has never been successful in our state’s history. Why is that? It is going to be interesting to see if Denish caters to the Hispanic voters more than Susana Martinez.
I’ve noticed Martinez has an all Spanish-language television commercial, she comes from the South and she very well may make history if she does indeed pull the Northern NM Hispanic vote as EQMunoz stated.
This is the most DISTURBING quote from this guy: “Whichever candidate – Susana or Denish – can play the ethnicity card the best will become our first woman governor.”
Ethnicity card? Only in Northern New Mexico do we continue to hear this kind of ignorant and racist talk. I guess when you don’t leave San Miguel County and experience the rest of New Mexico do you continue to rely on ethnicity to win elections. Speaking of that, how has that been working out for you all? Maybe electing people because of their ethnicity is why Northern NM is behind economically than other parts of the state.
I was a Weh supporter and then started to really like Martinez and ended up voting for her. For your information Mr, Lopez, her ethnicity had nothing to do with it.
I was also a Kent Cravens supporter. Nothing in the world could make me vote for former flight attendant John Sanchez. If he was remotely smart I would have voted for him but it would not have been because of his “ethnicity”. The ticket is weak because of him. John Sanchez won because he spent lots of money that the other guys didn’t have and was able to buy TV ads.
People in Northern NM will vote for Martinez because she is smart and reflects their values. They will realize that Denish does not. There are LOTS of people that do not like Richardson in Northern NM because he has NO values!! Two peas in a pod.
By the way, I am originally from Taos so I know what I’m talking about when it comes to the Northern NM mentality.
I’m glad Mr. Lopez lost because we don’t need more Ben Lujan types in the legislature. Remember what he said to John Arthur Smith, calling him a racist SOB?
Wake up Northern NM!
Really discouraging to see this venom some Dems like to spread for the purpose of winning elections. Ethnicity has very little effect anymore folks; give up with that argument. No one told Sanchez, or Martinez, or Weh, or Arnold-Jones, or Turner to run. The “powers-that-be” did not nor would they dare try to hatch a plan based on someone’s last name. Dems may do that because power is where it’s at for them and retaining it is paramount. Playing the ethnicity card is part of the game for them.
The unfortunate part is that this divisive subject infects young Hispanos. I have the 3 most beautiful grandkids in the whole world who are half gringo and half whatever I am—not allowed to say Spanish, won’t say Mex, Hispanic is pc label–etc…..In any case, puzzled grandson asked me one day, what am I grandpa?………I said, AMERICAN and don’t let anyone ever label you.