Planned Parenthood connections run through the campaign and New Mexico’s accountability system By Bud Shaver, ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Seven days after an Abortion Free New Mexico complaint was referred to the New Mexico Secretary of State, Amanda López Askin’s campaign amended its Third Primary campaign-finance report to disclose $2,291.44 in total in-kind contributions. AFNM filed its complaint with the New Mexico State Ethics Commission, documenting campaign-finance disclosure failures involving Planned Parenthood Votes New Mexico. On July 15, the Ethics Commission referred the Campaign Reporting Act claims to the Secretary of State for voluntary-compliance review. Seven days later, on July 22, López Askin’s campaign submitted an amended Third Primary Report reporting $2,291.44 in total in-kind contributions. On September 3, the Secretary of State’s Office contacted López Askin’s campaign requesting a response to AFNM’s complaint. According to the SOS letter, the campaign responded that it had already voluntarily complied through its July 22 amended filing. On September 4, SOS reviewed the amended report and certified voluntary compliance. DOCUMENT: New Mexico Secretary of State — Certification of Voluntary Compliance, SEC Case No. 2026-036 (Sept. 4, 2026) FOLLOW THE TIMELINE July 15: Ethics Commission refers Abortion Free New Mexico (AFNM) complaint to SOS. July 22: López Askin campaign files amended report reporting $2,291.44 in total in-kind contributions. September 3: SOS contacts campaign requesting a response to AFNM’s complaint. September 4: SOS certifies voluntary compliance. FOLLOW THE CONNECTIONSAFNM filed its complaint with the State Ethics Commission seeking independent accountability. Under New Mexico law, the Campaign Reporting Act claims were subsequently referred to the Secretary of State for voluntary-compliance review. That process reveals a noteworthy chain of documented connections. The Secretary of State’s Office is headed by Maggie Toulouse Oliver, who publicly endorsed López Askin to succeed her as Secretary of State—and Toulouse Oliver herself has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood Votes New Mexico. The State Ethics Commission is led by Executive Director Jeremy Farris. Farris was married to Dr. Lisa Hofler, Chair of UNM’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and former medical director of the UNM Center for Reproductive Health. Hofler's divorce of Farris was finalized on July 6, 2026. UNM describes Hofler as “a passionate advocate for reproductive rights” Her professional record also includes a direct Planned Parenthood connection: UNM Regents materials list Hofler as a clinician for Planned Parenthood–Southeast, Inc. from 2014 to 2016. UNM today also states that it “maintains clinical rotation partnerships with local Planned Parenthood health centers,” while its Complex Family Planning Fellowship page states that “Fellow training also occurs at the Albuquerque Planned Parenthood Health Center.”  Those documented relationships intersect with the subject of AFNM’s complaint: alleged campaign-finance disclosure failures involving Planned Parenthood Votes New Mexico.  Abortion Free New Mexico, Executive Director, Bud Shaver said: “We filed our complaint with the State Ethics Commission seeking independent accountability. Come to find out, the Commission is led by Jeremy Farris, whose ex-wife is a former Planned Parenthood clinician. The complaint is documented. The referral is documented. The amended filing is documented. The Planned Parenthood endorsements are documented. The audit findings are documented. And the SOS certification of voluntary compliance is documented. FOLLOW THE CONNECTIONS. FOLLOW THE RECORD. VERIFY THE FACTS. THE ACCOUNTABILITY QUESTIONThis latest development follows a recent Abortion Free New Mexico investigation into the 2026 State Auditor-commissioned special audit of Doña Ana County, where Amanda López Askin currently serves as County Clerk. The audit produced 42 significant findings countywide and a stark warning of a “sustained and widening breakdown in accountability, coordination, and organizational structure.” Records maintained by the Clerk’s Office were among those examined, with auditors identifying missing referenced documents, incomplete supporting documentation, duplicate ordinances and materials that could not be located. The audit warned that deficiencies could “reduce transparency and accessibility” of official legislative records. Read AFNM’s investigation into the audit López Askin is now seeking to move from County Clerk to New Mexico Secretary of State—the office responsible for statewide election administration and campaign-finance reporting. That record takes on additional significance because Planned Parenthood Votes New Mexico endorsed López Askin and has also endorsed sitting Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, who publicly endorsed López Askin to succeed her. Planned Parenthood’s political involvement is part of a broader electoral strategy to support candidates aligned with its reproductive-rights agenda. For AFNM, that makes the campaign-finance paper trail particularly important. AFNM’s complaint alleged that $2,291.44 in Planned Parenthood in-kind support reported by PPVNM had not been disclosed by López Askin’s campaign. Seven days after the complaint was referred to SOS, the campaign amended its report to disclose $2,291.44 in total in-kind contributions. SOS subsequently certified voluntary compliance.  Tara Shaver of Abortion Free New Mexico concluded: “That’s New Mexico for you: accountability questions arise, records get amended, and the political machine keeps moving forward. Then people wonder why nothing changes. New Mexicans deserve accountability before someone gets promoted.”
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