Jim Townsend, the state senator for New Mexico District 34, said the protests and threats directed at the Republican Party have been "unbelievable." He made this statement in a post on social media platform X on April 4.
"Unbelievable but very representative of what type of people that are out there today," said Townsend. "Very unfortunate. Being triggered is a choice."
According to a post from the Republican Party of New Mexico (RPNM), Townsend's comments were in response to their call for civility and unity ahead of planned protests on April 5. The RPNM highlighted that their office had received threatening phone calls. The post said: "The Republican Party of New Mexico (RPNM) today issued a call for civility and unity as the state braces for mass anti-Trump protests planned for this weekend. This follows a firebombing at the RPNM headquarters, as well as a series of harassing and threatening phone calls the Party has received. Despite these acts of intimidation, the RPNM remains steadfast in its stance, promoting peace and constructive dialogue among New Mexicans."
Screenshot of State Senator Jim Townsend's April 4 post on X
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The protests took place on April 5 as part of the "Hands Off" movement. According to Source New Mexico, demonstrations occurred in multiple cities across the state, including Santa Fe, Ramah, Albuquerque, Taos, Gallup, Las Cruces, Portales, Socorro, Truth or Consequences, Los Lunas, Silver City, and Alamogordo. The movement opposed what participants perceived as detrimental actions by President Trump and wealthy elites against government structures and economic stability.
The RPNM also released transcripts and recordings of two threatening phone calls received by April 4. These messages acknowledged the firebombing incident at their headquarters and criticized party members.
According to Ballotpedia, Townsend has served in the New Mexico House of Representatives since 2015. His educational background includes attending New Mexico State University. He has professional experience with companies such as Southern Union Co., Southern Union Gas Company, Southern Union Refining Company, Navajo Refining Company, Holly Energy Partners, and UNEV Pipeline Company.
