New Mexico Republicans decry liberal PAC ad in GOP primary

RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) - Republicans in New Mexico called Sunday on a liberal Super PAC to pull ads that seek to favor one GOP U.S. House candidate over another.

U.S. House hopeful and former state lawmaker Yvette Herrell, who is praised in the ad for her support for President Donald Trump, said Sunday she agreed with 125 Republicans who signed a letter and asked her to denounce a new commercial by the Patriot Majority PAC.

The group began airing commercials Saturday attacking candidate Claire Chase for previous critical social media posts about Trump while praising Herrell for supporting Trump’s border wall.

“There’s Santa Fe lobbyist Claire Chase who opposed President Trump, calling him an (expletive) unworthy of the office,” a voice says while pictures of Chase are aired. “Or there’s Yvette Herrell. She’s 100% loyal to Trump, backed by 11 pro-gun sheriffs and Cowboys for Trump.”

Critics say Democrats want Chase to lose in the GOP primary because she would be a tougher candidate against U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, D-Las Cruces, in the general election to represent New Mexico’s southern district.

In a letter signed by Chase and GOP U.S. House hopeful Chris Mathys, Republicans called on Herrell to disavow herself from the ad. “Patriot Majority is a Democrat group funded by (Democratic House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi’s allies, (Democratic Senate Minority Leader) Chuck Schumer’s Super PAC, and pro-abortion extremists,” the letter said, “The group has a history of meddling in GOP primaries to support candidates they view as less electable in general elections.”

State Sen. Cliff Pirtle, R-Roswell, and state Rep. Kelly Fajardo, R-Los Lunas, were among those who signed the letter.

Herrell said she agreed with the letter. “Liberal Super PACs have no business getting involved in this primary, and they should stop immediately,” she said in a statement.

Spending reports reviewed by The Associated Press show that Patriot Majority PAC bought around $250,000 of ads to influence Republican voters in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District primary on June 2.

The Center for Public Integrity said Patriot Majority PAC was founded by veteran Democratic Party operative Craig Varoga in 2009 to support Democratic candidates.

A message to Patriot Majority PAC late Sunday through the group’s website was not immediately returned.

Follow Russell Contreras on Twitter at http://twitter.com/russcontreras