<![CDATA[ABORTION FREE NEW MEXICO

<![CDATA[ABORTION FREE NEW MEXICO - News]]>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 13:47:30 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[AFTER DECADES OF POLITICAL CONTROL, NEW MEXICO IS STILL WAITING FOR RESULTS]]>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:41:53 GMThttps://www.abortionfreenm.com/news/after-decades-of-political-control-new-mexico-is-still-waiting-for-results

Part Four of a Continuing Series Examining Faith, Politics, and Public Policy in New Mexico

By Bud Shaver

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Following the release of the latest national child well-being rankings, on June 9, 2026, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham acknowledged that New Mexico ranks 49th in the nation for child well-being, stating:

“That ranking is a reminder that we still have work to do.”

The Governor pointed to improvements in graduation rates, literacy rates, child poverty, family income, childcare access, and increased investments in children and families, concluding:

“The work isn’t finished, but we will continue investing in children, families and opportunities because every New Mexican deserves the chance to succeed.”

The Governor’s comments came just one day after celebrating New Mexico’s abortion policies and continued abortion expansion.

The contrast was difficult to ignore.

On Monday, New Mexico’s political leadership celebrated abortion. On Tuesday, it celebrated protecting vulnerable children and improving child well-being.

Many New Mexicans see a contradiction. A society cannot claim to champion children while refusing to protect children before birth. Eventually, New Mexicans will have to decide which message they believe.

Regardless, the Governor is right about one thing:

The work is not finished.

After decades of Democratic control of the Governor’s Office, the Legislature, and most statewide elected offices, New Mexico remains a state still waiting for many of the outcomes it has repeatedly been promised.

According to the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book, New Mexico continues to rank near the bottom nationally in child well-being. Despite billions of dollars in government spending and years of promises from state leaders.

This is not a one-year problem. It is a generational pattern.

For decades, New Mexicans have been told that more spending, more government programs, and more progressive policies would improve outcomes. Yet after generations of one-party control and record government spending, New Mexico continues to rank near the bottom in child well-being, education, economic opportunity, workforce participation, and public safety, while often ranking near the top in poverty, violent crime, drug abuse, and overdose deaths.

The question is no longer whether more work remains to be done.

The question is why New Mexico is still waiting for results.

Moving from 50th to 49th is not a success story. It is a reminder that the promise never materialized.

Nowhere is that disconnect more visible than abortion policy.

New Mexico was once shaped by deep Catholic, Hispanic, and family-centered traditions that viewed the protection of innocent human life as a foundational value. Yet over time, the state moved in the opposite direction.

Governor Lujan Grisham and legislative leaders have worked aggressively to expand abortion access, recruit abortion providers from other states, eliminate abortion reporting requirements, and invest taxpayer dollars into abortion-related infrastructure.

Today, New Mexico is one of the most permissive abortion states in America.

At the same time, state leaders frequently speak about protecting children and supporting families.

As Tara Shaver, a leader with Abortion Free New Mexico, recently observed:

“Only in New Mexico can politicians spend billions of dollars, rank near the bottom in child well-being, and ask voters to celebrate the progress. Simply put, you cannot advocate for children while advocating for abortion. You cannot celebrate protecting vulnerable children on Tuesday and defend ending vulnerable children’s lives on Monday. Eventually, New Mexicans have to decide which message they believe.”

The Turnout Gap

Some New Mexicans raise concerns about election integrity, voter rolls, and transparency. Those concerns deserve to be addressed. But regardless of those debates, one fact remains:

Elections are often decided by a relatively small percentage of New Mexicans who consistently show up to vote.

In 2026, New Mexico had approximately 574,000 registered Democrats and 444,000 registered Republicans. Yet only about 30% of Democrats and 21% of Republicans participated in the primary election.

UPDATED WITH DECLINE TO STATE (DTS) NUMBERS
In New Mexico’s 2026 semi-open primary:

390,000+ voters were registered DTS
Only about 9.5% participated
Of those who did vote, about 3 out of 4 chose Democratic ballots

That means a relatively small but highly motivated segment of voters continues to exert outsized influence over the state’s political direction. These voters appear willing to support candidates advancing the Democratic Party’s abortion agenda and broader progressive platform despite New Mexico’s continuing struggles with education, child well-being, public safety, and economic opportunity.

At the same time, roughly 63% of New Mexico adults identify as Christian or Catholic. If even a fraction of those believers consistently engaged in the political process and supported candidates who shared their values, New Mexico’s political landscape could look very different.

“New Mexico is not being governed by a majority of its citizens. It is being shaped by a motivated minority that consistently shows up to vote. If people of faith and conviction participate, the future can change.” - Bud Shaver, Abortion Free New Mexico

A Different Future Is Possible

The challenges facing New Mexico were not created overnight, and they will not be solved overnight.

But voters must honestly ask whether the political establishment responsible for New Mexico’s current condition is capable of delivering a different future.

The names on the ballot change. Too often, the governing philosophy remains the same.

Supporters of candidates such as Deb Haaland, who recently won the Democratic primary for governor, argue they represent continued progress. Critics see a continuation of the same policies, priorities, and political approach that has governed New Mexico for decades.

Ultimately, the question is not whether a candidate is likable, historic, or well-connected.

The question is whether they represent a genuine departure from the policies that produced the state’s current condition.

If the same ideas continue producing the same outcomes, voters should not be surprised when the results remain the same.

New Mexico’s future is not predetermined.

If more conservatives, Christians, pro-life voters, and dissatisfied New Mexicans consistently participated in the political process, the state’s direction could change.

A motivated minority will continue to shape New Mexico until a silent majority decides to participate.

After decades of promises, New Mexico is still waiting for results.

The future of New Mexico will not be decided by those who complain about the results. It will be decided by those who show up to change them.

The question is whether New Mexicans are finally ready.

CONTINUING OPINION SERIES

The first articles in this series examined the role of faith, public engagement, and moral responsibility in shaping New Mexico’s future.

This article examines the political leadership, policies, priorities, and outcomes that have shaped New Mexico for decades.

Previous installments include:

•THE DERELICTION OF MORAL DUTY BY THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY OF NEW MEXICO— Examining the silence of much of New Mexico’s religious community amid the state’s growing social, cultural, and moral challenges.
•“WE DON’T WANT TO BE POLITICAL”: HOW NEW MEXICO CHURCHES SURRENDERED THE PUBLIC SQUARE — Examining how many churches and faith leaders have retreated from public engagement despite the consequences of public policy.
•DON'T BE POLITICAL — UNLESS IT'S THE RIGHT POLITICS — Exploring the selective standards often applied to political engagement and public accountability in New Mexico.

Together, these articles ask a broader question:

If New Mexico continues to struggle with many of the same challenges decade after decade, is it time to reconsider the ideas, institutions, and political priorities that have shaped the state’s direction?

]]><![CDATA[ABORTION FREE NEW MEXICO RESPONDS TO GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM’S CELEBRATION OF EXPANDED ABORTION PILL ACCESS]]>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:17:09 GMThttps://www.abortionfreenm.com/news/abortion-free-new-mexico-responds-to-governor-lujan-grishams-celebration-of-expanded-abortion-pill-access

Governor Celebrates Abortion Pill Access Despite the FDA’s Black Box Warning for Hemorrhage, Infection, and Sepsis

By Bud Shaver,

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Following Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s June 8 social media statement celebrating expanded abortion-pill access and New Mexico’s abortion policies, Abortion Free New Mexico is challenging the Governor’s characterization of abortion expansion as a public health success.

According to AFNM's previous reporting, 63% of all abortions performed in New Mexico in 2023 were committed using abortion pills, making chemical abortion the dominant method of abortion in the state.

AFNM argues that the Governor’s statement omitted critical facts about abortion-pill risks, ongoing litigation surrounding their distribution, and New Mexico’s continued efforts to reduce public accountability.

Abortion Pills Carry the FDA’s Strongest Warning

Although mifepristone has been FDA-approved for more than twenty years, the abortion pill carries the FDA’s Black Box Warning—the agency’s strongest safety warning—due to risks including hemorrhage, serious infection, sepsis, and other potentially life-threatening complications.

Abortion Free New Mexico has also documented that abortion facilities across New Mexico advertise abortion pill services beyond the FDA-approved ten-week protocol, with facilities currently promoting abortion-pill abortions through 11 weeks, 11 weeks 6 days, and 12 weeks of pregnancy.

AFNM has documented more than 50 abortion-related injuries and medical emergencies at New Mexico abortion facilities, including at least one woman’s death.

“The Governor says this issue is personal for women. We agree,” said Tara Shaver of Abortion Free New Mexico. “That is precisely why women deserve complete information about the risks, complications, and realities of abortion pills—not political talking points that ignore the FDA’s strongest safety warning.”

“An industry associated with documented injuries, medical emergencies, and at least one woman’s death should not be celebrated,” Shaver continued. “It should be subject to scrutiny, accountability, and ultimately replaced with policies that protect both women and their children.”

Louisiana Acted. New Mexico Celebrated.

The Governor’s statement comes amid continuing legal battles over abortion-pill distribution and renewed scrutiny of abortion-pill policies nationwide.

Concerns raised in those cases included the removal of in-person safeguards, expanded mail-order distribution, adverse-event reporting, and whether adequate protections exist for women experiencing complications from abortion pills.

Those concerns were significant enough that states such as Louisiana pursued legal action and supported efforts to restore greater safeguards and accountability surrounding abortion-pill distribution.

“Louisiana acted to protect women and preserve safeguards surrounding a drug that carries the FDA’s strongest warning. New Mexico chose the opposite path,” said Shaver.

Abortion Access Expands While Transparency Shrinks

AFNM argues that New Mexico has increasingly positioned itself as a destination for abortion following the Dobbs decision.

State leaders have welcomed abortion providers relocating from other states, supported taxpayer-funded abortion initiatives and abortion-related infrastructure projects, and recently enacted SB 30, eliminating statewide abortion reporting requirements.

AFNM currently documents approximately 15 freestanding abortion facilities statewide, including facilities that relocated to New Mexico following abortion restrictions elsewhere.

“New Mexico is no longer simply maintaining abortion access—it is actively expanding abortion infrastructure while reducing public accountability,” said Shaver.

Statement from Tara Shaver, Abortion Free New Mexico

“Governor Lujan Grisham says she has protected access to reproductive healthcare, but increasingly it appears that abortion access has been prioritized at the expense of women’s health and public accountability.

When concerns were raised about abortion-pill safety and distribution, Louisiana pursued greater safeguards. New Mexico chose expansion. Today, abortion pills account for 63% of all abortions in New Mexico despite carrying the FDA’s Black Box Warning—the agency’s strongest safety warning—for hemorrhage, serious infection, sepsis, and other potentially life-threatening complications. Some New Mexico abortion providers continue advertising abortion-pill use beyond FDA-approved protocols.

At the same time, New Mexico has eliminated abortion reporting requirements, expanded abortion infrastructure, welcomed abortion providers from other states, and reduced public transparency. Abortion Free New Mexico has documented more than 50 abortion-related injuries and medical emergencies, including a documented woman’s death, yet state leaders continue shielding the abortion industry from meaningful oversight and accountability.

If abortion is truly healthcare, it should be subject to the same transparency, safety standards, reporting requirements, and accountability expected of every other area of medicine. Instead, New Mexico is moving in the opposite direction—expanding abortion access while reducing oversight and public scrutiny.

Healthcare welcomes accountability. Ideology resists it.

An industry associated with documented injuries, medical emergencies, and death should not be celebrated. New Mexico should be working to ban abortion pills, ban abortions, protect women, and protect children—not celebrate the continued expansion of the abortion industry.”

]]><![CDATA[VIDEO: PLANNED PARENTHOOD ESCORTS OBSTRUCT DIALOGUE AS VOLUNTEERS OFFER ALTERNATIVES OUTSIDE ALBUQUERQUE FACILITY]]>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 16:20:24 GMThttps://www.abortionfreenm.com/news/video-planned-parenthood-escorts-obstruct-dialogue-as-volunteers-offer-alternatives-outside-albuquerque-facility

Video Footage Highlights Stark Contrast Outside Albuquerque’s Largest Planned Parenthood Facility

By Bud Shaver,

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Abortion Free New Mexico is highlighting what it describes as a stark contrast between abortion industry escorts and pro-life volunteers following a recent interaction outside the Planned Parenthood facility on Eubank Boulevard in Albuquerque.

Video recorded during the outreach shows an Abortion Free New Mexico sidewalk counselor respectfully asking Planned Parenthood escorts to turn down amplified music and engage in an intelligent, respectful conversation about abortion and the alternatives available to women entering the facility.

▶VIEW VIDEO FOOTAGE BELOW

Video footage recorded outside Albuquerque’s largest Planned Parenthood facility documenting interactions between Planned Parenthood escorts and volunteers offering life-affirming resources, practical assistance, and support to women facing unexpected pregnancies.

Rather than engaging in meaningful dialogue, members of the sidewalk team were met with mockery and ridicule. During the exchange, one escort repeatedly claimed that the volunteers were "stopping women from getting healthcare."

An Abortion Free New Mexico volunteer responded,

"Abortion is not healthcare. Abortion hurts women. Abortion kills babies."

The escort then replied,

"You are being ignorant."

The sidewalk volunteer went on to explain the extensive support available through Abortion Free New Mexico and its network of community partners, including pregnancy resources, financial assistance, baby supplies, mentoring, housing referrals, adoption information, and ongoing support for women facing unexpected pregnancies.

According to Abortion Free New Mexico, however, the escorts' use of umbrellas, amplified sound, and other obstructive tactics prevented many women from hearing about these life-affirming alternatives and available resources.

"Women deserve access to information, not obstruction," said Tara Shaver of Abortion Free New Mexico. "Our volunteers were willing to have a respectful conversation, explain their position, and share the practical help available to women in crisis. Instead of dialogue, they were met with ridicule and tactics designed to prevent women from hearing about alternatives to abortion."

Shaver said the encounter demonstrates two fundamentally different approaches to women facing difficult pregnancies.

“One side showed up with umbrellas, speakers, and efforts to drown out conversations,” Shaver said. “The other showed up with resources, financial assistance, baby supplies, prayer, and a commitment to walk alongside women long after a difficult moment has passed. That is the difference between a culture of death and a culture of life.”

The organization emphasized that its volunteers regularly offer practical assistance through its Life Fund and community partnerships, helping women access material support, mentorship, transportation assistance, pregnancy services, and other resources designed to help both mother and child thrive.

“When escorts actively work to prevent women from hearing about alternatives, they are not expanding choices—they are limiting them,” Shaver said. “Women deserve to hear every option available to them before making a life-altering decision.”

The incident occurred outside Albuquerque’s largest Planned Parenthood facility, where Abortion Free New Mexico says volunteers routinely encounter efforts to block communication with women entering the abortion center.

“If abortion is truly healthcare, there should be no fear of open discussion, informed consent, or women hearing about alternatives,” Shaver said. “Our team will continue showing up with compassion, practical help, and the hope found in Jesus Christ. Every woman deserves to know that she is not alone. Every woman deserves to know that help is available.”

A Clash of Cultures: Culture of Death vs. Culture of Life

Abortion Free New Mexico is encouraging the public to follow Sidewalk Team – Abortion Free New Mexico on Facebook and @sidewalkteam_AbortionFreeNM on Instagram for updates from the front lines of sidewalk outreach.

Abortion Free New Mexico is also inviting supporters to attend its upcoming Sidewalk Outreach Training to learn how to compassionately engage women facing unexpected pregnancies and connect them with life-affirming resources.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

ABOUT ABORTION FREE NEW MEXICO

Abortion Free New Mexico works to end abortion through investigative research, public exposure, accountability efforts, and direct outreach to women and families. Through sidewalk counseling, pregnancy assistance, and educational initiatives, the organization seeks to build a culture where every preborn child is valued and protected.

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