Yesterday, the Albuquerque Journal released Yvette Herrell’s responses to their candidate questionnaire. On the issues of abortion and election integrity, she simply avoids giving a clear response. Yvette Herrell knows her record of hardline opposition to reproductive rights and alignment with dangerous factions of the Republican Party is too extreme for the voters of New Mexico’s Second Congressional District.

In response to the question “What is your position on abortion? Do you think states should be able to place restrictions on it?” Yvette Herrell answers,“I am pro-life and believe that the states should have the final say in how abortion is regulated.”

Yvette Herrell left out that she actually opposes abortion in any circumstance, including in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is at risk. She co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act which would would ban all abortions and certain types of contraceptives, such as IUDs. She also voted against safeguarding women’s right to travel to another state for an abortion and, as a state legislator, she co-sponsored a bill to criminalize victims of rape who receive an abortion. Her record is clear: Herrell wants to punish people who get an abortion and doctors.

On the same questionnaire, Herrell refused to give a direct answer when asked if she believed Donald Trump’s claim that he was the rightful winner of the 2020 presidential election. The Albuquerque Journal asked for “yes or no” answers only, however Herrell refused to give a straight answer. Where her response should have been, the Albuquerque Journal wrote, “Respondent did not limit answer to yes or no as requested.”

It’s no surprise Yvette Herrell would not give a straight answer to this question; her first vote in Congress was against certifying the 2020 Presidential election. Recently, Herrell voted against the Presidential Election Reform Act, which will help protect our electoral system from future subversion attempts, like the January 6th insurrection.

Yvette Herrell also has a close association with criminal former Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin, who refused to certify the 2022 primary election results and had to be ordered to by the New Mexico Supreme Court. He was also charged and sentenced for his participation in the January 6th insurrection. Yvette Herrell’s record of opposition to protecting democratic institutions and her allegiance to the most far-right factions shows why she refused to answer the Albuquerque Journal’s question.

“Yvette Herrell refuses to give voters straight answers on the Albuquerque Journal questionnaire,” said Democratic Party of New Mexico Communications Director Daniel Garcia. “Not only does she completely ignore her opposition to all abortion, she refuses to give a yes or no answer when asked if she believes in election denial conspiracies. Herrell should be direct with voters about her record and platform.”

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