Commentary: Today, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham took decisive action by implementing an indoor mask mandate to keep New Mexicans safe in response to the rising threat of the Delta variant, particularly among unvaccinated Americans. Governor Lujan Grisham’s action will allow New Mexico’s economy to continue its recovery while protecting vulnerable New Mexicans and the state’s hospitals and health care workers.
In contrast, New Mexico GOP “leaders” are remaining silent or even actively undermining attempts to encourage vaccination. Prominent GOP gubernatorial candidates and party leaders, including Steve Pearce, Rebecca Dow, Greg Zanetti, Greg Schmedes and Jay Block have failed to join the now-bipartisan call to encourage Americans to get vaccinated, implicitly endorsing misinformation and conspiracy theories about the safe, effective vaccine. Meanwhile, Representative Yvette Herrell has joined conspiracy theorist Marjorie Taylor Greene in an attempt to punish New Mexico’s universities for requiring vaccinations. New Mexico Republicans have shown they will not stand with the vast majority of New Mexicans to fight the war on Delta, saving thousands of lives and bolstering our economy.
“This pandemic is the kind of challenge that demands strong, principled leadership, and GOP candidates have repeatedly refused to rise to that task,” said DPNM Chair Jessica Velasquez. “It’s clear that these so-called ‘leaders’ would rather stand with conspiracy theorists than do what’s best for New Mexicans. It’s time for the GOP to grow a spine and call on all New Mexicans to wear a mask and get vaccinated.”