Extreme Speaker Mike Johnson Endorses a Reliable MAGA GOP Vote, Yvette Herrell

Dec

2023

PRESS RELEASE

Extreme Speaker Mike Johnson Endorses a Reliable MAGA GOP Vote, Yvette Herrell

Herrell Affirms Her Votes Against Reproductive Justice, LGBTQ+ Rights and New Mexican’s Priorities

Today, Yvette Herrell’s campaign for New Mexico’s Second Congressional District celebrated the endorsement of far-right Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. This endorsement should come as no surprise, given that Yvette Herrell has always been in lock-step with the national GOP.

Johnson’s support demonstrates his faith Herrell will continue the House GOP’s extremist agenda, including a national abortion ban and denying the outcome of the 2020 election. During the brief time they were both in Congress, they rarely disagreed, almost never voting differently on key issues. They both voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, against certifying the 2020 election results, and both sponsored a bill that would ban all abortion nationwide.

Democratic Party of New Mexico Chair Jessica Velasquez released the following statement in response to the endorsement:

"New Mexicans deserve representation that’s focused on delivering for their district, not catering to the extremist agenda of Republicans in Congress. New Mexico is a safe haven for access to reproductive health care, and Mike Johnson knows that he can count on Herrell to be a reliable party-line vote for his anti-choice agenda. They share similar records on wanting to ban all abortion, trying to overturn free and fair election results, and putting corporate interests over working families.

“Most recently, Mike Johnson’s Republican Leadership refused to fund RECA relief for New Mexicans, which would provide critical support for individuals exposed to radiation from weapons testing. With Yvette Herrell’s record of toeing the Republican party line, she could be counted on to vote however GOP leadership tells her to, just as she always has. Johnson endorsed Herrell because she has always been beholden to hyper-partisan Washington Republican leadership.”

While Herrell held the NM-02 seat from 2021 to 2023, her record included:

Sponsoring the Life at Conception Act, which would ban all abortions and certain types of contraceptives, such as IUDs nationwide - including New Mexico.
Undermining democracy by voting against certifying the 2020 election results.
Promoting the use of Ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19, putting people in danger with this bizarre conspiracy.
Voting against help for New Mexico fire victims of the Calf Canyon/Hermit’s Peak fire.
Associating with criminal insurrectionist Couy Griffin and touting his endorsement.