State Representative Stefani Lord of New Mexico's 22nd District has accused the New Mexico Democratic Party of sending a "deceitful and inflammatory email" that she believes was intended to incite violence against her and her party. Lord made this statement on the social media platform X.
"The NM Dems are disgusting," said Lord, New Mexico State Representative for 22nd District (R). "Their last email was absolutely despicable. It was filled with hatred and deceit. Inciting violence against me through lies in an email is not just reprehensible—it's completely intolerable."
Political tensions between Republicans and Democrats in New Mexico have intensified, particularly between Republican Representative Lord and Democrat Jessica Velasquez. According to Ballotpedia, Velasquez, who chairs the New Mexico Democratic Party, lost to Lord in the 2020 election. This loss underscores the political volatility within House District 22. The ideological differences between Lord, a critic of Democratic policies on crime and governance, and Velasquez, an advocate for progressive reforms, reflect broader partisan divides in the state.
The issue of politically motivated violence has become increasingly prominent in New Mexico politics. As reported by The Guardian, Solomon Peña, a failed Republican candidate, allegedly orchestrated shootings at the homes of Democratic lawmakers in late 2022 and early 2023. Peña reportedly believed his election was stolen and targeted several officials, including Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa. Although no injuries were reported from these attacks, they have raised significant concerns about public servant safety and the threat of political violence.
New Mexico House District 22 has remained a Republican stronghold over recent election cycles. According to Ballotpedia data, Gregg Schmedes won the district in 2018 before Stefani Lord secured victories in both 2020 and 2022. These results demonstrate consistent Republican dominance in the district despite statewide gains by Democrats.
Lord has represented District 22 since 2021. Her official biography on the New Mexico Legislature website states that she holds a degree in psychology and focuses her legislative efforts on law enforcement issues, Second Amendment rights, and public transparency. She successfully secured re-election in 2022.
