Ant Thornton, a senator from New Mexico, recently joined Bob Clark on KKOB News Radio with Jay Block to discuss political rhetoric, the Special Session, and healthcare access. This statement was made on X.
"LISTEN: Today, I had the opportunity to join Bob Clark on KKOB News Radio with State Senator Jay Block," said Anthony Linn Thornton, New Mexico State Senator from 198th District (R). "Below is a link to our full conversation regarding the intensified rhetoric coming from the left, the upcoming Special Session, and our Healthcare Access Task Force coming up next week."
In September 2025, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a special session starting October 1 to address federal cuts to Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and public broadcasting. The announcement has sparked partisan disputes over the scope of the agenda. According to SourceNM and NM Political Report, Republicans have pushed to add malpractice reform and health workforce issues, while Democrats have opposed broadening it to include immigration detention or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policy. These debates reflect both policy priorities and concerns over divisive rhetoric surrounding healthcare access.
The October 2025 special session is scheduled for about 30 days, with lawmakers tasked with protecting state programs from federal budget cuts. According to the governor’s office and SourceNM, the governor’s call includes Medicaid, nutrition, and rural health funding but excludes proposals on immigration detention. Republican legislators have urged the inclusion of malpractice reform and interstate medical compacts, reflecting broader disputes over healthcare policy.
Between 2019 and 2024, New Mexico was the only state to experience a net decline in physicians, losing 248 doctors. Nearly 40% of its current workforce is over 60 years old and nearing retirement. As reported by Think New Mexico and the Cíceron Institute, the state is projected to face a shortage of over 2,100 physicians, leaving many rural areas designated as health professional shortage zones. These figures highlight significant barriers to healthcare access.
Anthony "Ant" Thornton began representing Senate District 19 on January 1, 2025, after winning the 2024 election as a Republican candidate. A retired aerospace engineer who worked at Sandia National Laboratories, he holds advanced degrees from the University of Colorado, Stanford University, and Purdue University. Thornton previously ran for lieutenant governor in 2022 and now serves on Judiciary and Education committees focusing on justice, education, and fiscal policy.
