NM Representative Jim Townsend Announces Run for NM Senate District 34

The municipal elections set for November 7th, 2023 have barley begun, and some New Mexico political leaders are already jumping ahead and planning for the 2024 General Election. It's well known that Yvette Herrell is seeking a rematch in New Mexico's Congressional District 2 against incumbent first term congressman Gabe Vasquez. But now comes an announcement that could impact Otero County significantly and move a seat of power from Alamogordo and transition it to Artesia.

Well regarded moderate Alamogordo homeboy, Senator Ron Griggs, does not appear to be running for another term in the New Mexico Senate for District 34. Ron Griggs has represented Otero County as a Senator since 2012 and not run into any serious opposition during any prior election. He was elected to the seat in the November 6, 2012. Griggs was previously Mayor of Alamogordo and owner of the Alamogordo Title Company. He was elected to the seat in the November 6, 2012 general election but was appointed by Governor Susana Martinez to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Vernon Asbill days before the term ended. Griggs has always operated on a platform with an emphasizes on job creation and his success in obtaining capital funding for roads, public infrastructure, and other projects in his district. 

Senator Griggs responded in a social media reply;

“ Chris -
The article states that I am uninterested in running for another term in the State Senate. That is not correct. We have important local elections coming up. The immediate focus should be on those elections.
I am honored to represent the citizens of Senate District 34. Any decision I make will be based on the needs of the citizens of this district.
Right now Otero County has two Senators for the first time in history. That is very positive and has been important in protecting the interests of Otero County. However, the district covers more than just this County. I am a big supporter of the people and businesses that make their homes in Eddy County. I have great friends in Carlsbad, in Artesia, and throughout Eddy County.
I am an effective voice for this district. I will continue to be.
Ron Griggs
NM State Senator
District 34” 

However, this afternoon, a press release came from New Mexico state representative District 54, that he was announcing his candidacy for Griggs seat. There has been speculation since April that Townsend would run. 

The 2024 primary election is still more than a year away, but the jockeying for seats in the New Mexico Senate is in full swing.

At least four Republicans in the state House of Representatives are considering running for Senate seats held by longtime lawmakers who also are fellow members of the GOP.

News of their interest in moving from the 70-member House to the 42-member Senate comes a week after state Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell, R-Roswell, announced her intention to run for the District 32 seat being vacated by Cliff Pirtle.

But unlike Ezzell, none of the four other House Republicans mulling a bid for the Senate — Greg Nibert of Roswell, Rod Montoya of Farmington, Larry Scott of Hobbs and Jim Townsend of Artesia had made it official; that is until today.

On April 25th, Townsend, former House minority leader, told the Santa Fe New Mexican, that his decision isn’t contingent on whether the incumbent — Sen. Ron Griggs of Alamogordo — decides to seek reelection.

“I have been asked [to run], and I am considering, although I have not declared,” he said.

Townsend said he can’t declare his candidacy as long as he is a national committeeman for the Republican Party of New Mexico.

“I cannot run against a sitting Republican; that’s just part of the rule,” he said on April 25th.

But today is a new day and an official announcement was made of him seeking a Senate Seat. In a press release from Jim Townsend posted to social media platforms:

This announcement came on the heels of a false post on August 11th that reported that Townsend had died. 

An account on X, formerly Twitter, falsely claiming to be “the official Twitter page of the Republican Party of Bernalillo County” maliciously tweeted that former New Mexico House Minority Leader Jim Townsend of Artesia had died.

“Groucho Marx said one time when somebody had reported that he had died that his demise had been prematurely reported — I guess I’m in the same boat,” Townsend, who has served in the state House of Representatives since 2015, said in a telephone interview to the Santa Fe New Mexican on August.

“My demise has been prematurely reported,” he said. “I’m still kicking.”

The post, which labeled the phony claim of Townsend’s death as “breaking” news, stirred sadness and shock among people who know the Republican lawmaker. Well indeed Townsend is still kicking and kicking hard as this Artesia based New Mexico Representative announced boldly that he is seeking to represent Senate District 34. Stay tuned to further election coverage as the 2023 municipal elections heat up and the wagons begin to circle the opportunities of 2024.

More News from Alamogordo

• “First We Bombed NM” Free Viewing Hosted by Otero County LULAC Council 8105 Otero County LULAC presents a Free Private Showing of "First We Bombed NM: A Downwinders Saga”
• Power outage downed US F-16 Per Report May be Clue to Holloman AFB Crash A report released by the Air Force may provide a clue to the most recent Holloman AFB crash from April.