2023 State Central Committee Meeting at ABQ Convention Center will Include Announcement of Officer Election Results
Albuquerque- Saturday, April 22nd, the governing body of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, the State Central Committee (SCC), will meet at the Albuquerque Convention Center to conduct official Party business, including announcing the election results for Party Officer positions, voted on by the SCC. The keynote address will be provided by US Senator Martin Heinrich.
Of the four DPNM Officer positions being voted on by the SCC, Vice Chair is the only contested election. Voting will be conducted for DPNM Officer positions from April 16 – 20. Current DPNM Treasurer, State Representative Pamelya Herndon will not be running for reelection after serving 2 two-year terms in the position. DPNM Officer terms are two years.
The roughly 500 members of the State Central Committee can vote in this election. The SCC includes mostly individuals elected at county level meetings between March 8th and April 1st, but also includes elected officials, Democrats from SCC positions allocated to sovereign tribal communities, and members from DPNM internal governing bodies and caucuses. All 33 of New Mexico’s counties are allocated positions within the SCC.
Candidates for the DPNM Officer positions are:
DPNM Chair:
- Jessica Velasquez (Incumbent)
DPNM Vice Chair:
- Manny Crespin (Incumbent)
- Bushra Elfarissi (Challenger)
DPNM Treasurer
- Rayellen Smith (Incumbent)
DPNM Secretary
- Isaac Dakota Casados (Running for open position)
No voting will take place at the meeting – all SCC voting is conducted via secure online absentee ballot, which is more accessible to Democrats across New Mexico who may not be able to attend the meeting for logistical or health reasons. This online absentee voting is the most democratic and inclusive process for giving equal voice to all members of the SCC, statewide. The SCC Meeting will also include reports from DPNM’s internal caucuses and committees.
In odd-numbered years, DPNM holds a State Central Committee Meeting where the SCC votes on officer positions, state standing committee membership, and resolutions passed out of our State Platform and Resolutions Committee. DPNM only updates the platform in even-numbered years when DPNM holds a Pre-Primary Convention.
The State Central Committee (SCC) is the governing body of the Democratic Party of New Mexico and oversees the organization’s political affairs. The SCC’s powers include: approving Party Rules and Platform, electing party officers, committee members and DNC Committee Persons, nominating statewide and federal candidates to the ballot, and filling general election ballot vacancies in special circumstances.
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