Jay Block, a state senator for New Mexico District 12, has said that the suspect accused of committing arson at the state's GOP headquarters is a "registered Democrat." He added that dismissing such attacks equates to ignoring domestic terrorism. Block made these remarks in a post on X.
"You are domestic terrorist deniers," said Jay C Block, New Mexico State Senator from 12th District (R). "Turns out this guy was a far-leftist registered Democrat with serious mental and violence issues. This guy will hopefully be going away for a long time. Huge thanks to law enforcement to bring this terrorist and others to justice."
In April 2025, federal authorities arrested Jamison Wagner for allegedly setting fire to both the New Mexico Republican Party headquarters and a Tesla dealership near Albuquerque. According to KOB 4 News, Wagner used homemade incendiary devices and now faces federal arson charges. While officials have not disclosed a clear motive, these incidents have heightened concerns about politically motivated violence in the state.
According to the FBI’s 2023 Strategic Intelligence Assessment, the agency initiated 231 domestic terrorism investigations in fiscal year 2022, marking a 40% increase from 2021. The report, also cited by the Department of Homeland Security, indicates that racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists and anti-government groups constitute the majority of threats. Both agencies regard domestic terrorism as an escalating threat to national security.
FBI data from its Uniform Crime Reporting program reveals there were 33,395 arson incidents in the U.S. in 2019, with nearly 30% targeting structures. As noted by the FBI, while arson is often associated with vandalism or insurance fraud, it can also be employed in politically motivated attacks. However, political motives are not consistently separated in public datasets provided by the agency. Comparative five-year statistics specific to politically motivated arson remain incomplete.
Block has been serving as a state senator representing New Mexico’s 12th District since January 2025. According to Ballotpedia, he previously served two terms as a Sandoval County Commissioner and ran for governor in the 2022 GOP primary. A retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, Block has publicly advocated for strong domestic security measures, including tougher drug crime enforcement and expanded police resources.
