Following Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's recent executive order protecting access to abortion in New Mexico, chair of the House Republican Caucus and former gubernatorial candidate Rebecca Dow called the governor's order an "onslaught of virtue signaling" meant to distract New Mexicans from Grisham's policies, which have hurt working families.
In response to the recent Supreme Court's decision ruling that states can individually ban the practice of abortion, Grisham issued an executive order ensuring access to abortion in New Mexico and shielding providers from liability related to providing abortion services to out-of-state residents.
Dow (R-Truth or Consequences) called Grisham's executive order unnecessary "virtue signaling" and issued the following statement:
"Low polls and Democrat fear mongering have led to an onslaught of virtue signaling that Lujan Grisham couldn’t avoid, and instead she is playing a shell game with this latest executive order regarding abortions that are already legal in our state," Dow said, according to a press release. "New Mexicans are working tirelessly to afford gasoline just to get to their jobs and cover the ever-increasing cost of living that Lujan Grisham’s policies have directly impacted. Yet, this governor, instead of making decisions that empower working families to succeed in her failed economy, has chosen to waive a virtue signal about reproductive health in a state that already has essentially no limitations on elective abortions."
New Mexico already has some of the nation's most permissive abortion regulations, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organization focused on sexual and reproductive health and rights. New Mexico does not have any of the common types of abortion restrictions found in other states — such as waiting periods, mandated parental involvement or limitations on publicly funded abortions.
The U.S. News and World Report "Best States" rankings puts New Mexico 48th out of 50 states – falling two places since 2019. New Mexico finds itself in the bottom 15 states for its economy (44th), infrastructure (45th), fiscal stability (47th) and crime and corrections (47th), while ranking last and second to last on education (50th) and opportunity (49th), respectively.
According to Tuesday's Gas Misery Index which tracks how much more consumers are paying for gasoline on an annualized basis, New Mexicans are paying $1,222 more for gas this year than last.
According to her campaign page, Dow has represented the 38th district of New Mexico since 2017. She is currently the GOP Caucus chair and was recently a contender for the Republican nomination for governor in 2022.