Republican Party of New Mexico
02/20/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/20/2026 12:32
Chairwoman Barela’s statement on the state of RPNM
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February 20, 2026 Statement from Chairwoman Amy Barela It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your Chair - and without question, the hardest thing I have ever done. When I began my campaign for Chair of the Republican Party of New Mexico, I made you a promise. I promised to bring change. I promised to move this party forward. I promised to give our party strength and a voice. I meant every word of that promise, and I still do. But the truth is this: our current party rules keep my hands tied and my mouth taped shut. My team and I have worked tirelessly to change those rules so that we can speak boldly, act decisively, and defend Republicans across this state without fear of internal punishment. We brought forward proposed rule changes to give this party a stronger voice and the structural authority needed to lead. We received majority support, but under our bylaws, a two-thirds vote is required. We did not reach that threshold. Other counties stood with me. They fought beside me. They voted for reform. They understand that strengthening this party requires structural change. Yet again, despite majority support, we fell short of the two-thirds requirement. Three counties can block reforms supported by the majority. Three counties can stop progress. That is the reality. Because of these rules, we are not allowed to speak openly on situations within the party that make us appear weak. I cannot inform you about what happened regarding the U.S. Senate position. I cannot make public comment about lawsuits involving Republican candidates. I cannot address internal battles that have been ongoing for years within this party. Instead, I am required to remain silent, even when silence harms us. We have kept these battles internal. I have honored the rules. I have worked within the structure given to me. But I will be honest with you: I no longer want to operate under a "good ol' boy system." I want transparency. I want accountability. I want strength. I want a Republican Party that is unified, modern, and built to win. Because that is what New Mexico deserves. Our convention is coming up, and we will be selecting the candidates to put before you on the June ballot. This is one of the most important responsibilities we have as a party. And yet, I have heard for years, from grassroots Republicans across this state, deep frustration about Republicans bashing each other during primaries, creating division that lingers long after the election is over. This is not just a New Mexico problem. The entire nation struggles with it. Other states have implemented unity pledge agreements, commitments from candidates to support one another and ultimately stand behind whoever wins the primary. These agreements strengthen the eventual nominee and ensure that the winner reaps the full benefit of a united party going into the general election. We support implementing a unity pledge agreement here in New Mexico to bring our candidates together and reduce destructive infighting. Once again, this effort caused significant uprising from within the party, with accusations that this was yet another aggressive change in the way our party operates. Let me be clear: no one has been purposefully excluded from these conversations. The discussions were held internally and directed to delegates and State Central Committee members, exactly where party governance conversations are supposed to take place. Yet I am tired of being accused of backdoor deals. While some may not agree with airing our internal struggles publicly, it is time for people to understand what I am up against, and why we are failing the citizens of New Mexico when we cannot even fix our own structure. We have incredible elected officials who just defeated devastating legislation. We have outstanding Republican candidates stepping up to serve. We secured meaningful wins across the state in municipal elections, flipping and winning Republican seats. There is momentum. There is energy. There is hope. But if we do not strengthen this party structurally, if we do not fix what is broken internally, we risk losing New Mexico forever. This is not about personalities. It is about the future of our party and our state. We represent every Republican in New Mexico, and I am asking for your help. Contact your county chairs. Ask them where they stand on progressing this party. Ask them whether they support reform that allows your Chair to fight effectively for New Mexico. Ask them whether they support unity going into our primaries. Ask them whether they are willing to move beyond old systems that hold us back. Do not assume I am alone in this. The majority of counties support this movement. The majority want change. But without reaching that two-thirds threshold, progress is stalled. It is time for Republicans across this state to speak up. It is time to demand a stronger, more transparent, more effective Republican Party of New Mexico. It is time to stop allowing a small minority to block the will of the majority. Please stand with me. Elevate this party. Help me change its direction so that we can truly compete and win. If we want to win, TRULY WIN, we must fix our foundation. I remain committed to fighting for you, for our candidates, for our elected officials, and for the future of New Mexico. But I cannot do it alone. Let's change the direction of this party. Let's build the strength we need. Let's speak up together so we can win. Please contact your county chairs today. This is not for aggression but to let them know I need support in changing the direction of this party. While your communicate with them, join them. Volunteer in any capacity or just start attending meetings to strengthen our positions. The time for change is today. https://newmexico.gop/counties/ I am willing to be on the frontlines of this fight. I am willing to take the criticism, the resistance, and the pressure that comes with real change. I am willing to lead boldly, to challenge the status quo, and to do the hard work necessary to strengthen this party for the future. But I cannot do it alone. Leadership requires courage, and it also requires support. If we are going to reform this party, unify our candidates, strengthen our structure, and truly compete in New Mexico, I need you standing with me. Stand with me in demanding accountability. Stand with me in calling for unity. Stand with me in pushing for the reforms that will make us stronger. Together, we can elevate this party. Together, we can rebuild its foundation. Together, we can win. I am ready to lead. I am ready to fight. Now I am asking you to stand beside me. Amy Barela Chairwoman, Republican Party of New Mexico |
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