GOVERNOR’S ABORTION NUMBERS RAISE QUESTIONS AFTER THOUSANDS OF ABORTIONS APPEAR UNACCOUNTED FOR6/25/2026 
Abortion Free New Mexico Challenges Governor to Release Source Behind 2024 Statistics By Bud Shaver, ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Abortion Free New Mexico is calling on Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to publicly identify the source of the abortion statistics she cited in her June 24, 2026, social media post commemorating the fourth anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. In that post, the Governor stated that 11,512 patients received abortion care in New Mexico in 2024, with 71% traveling from outside the state, while celebrating New Mexico’s abortion policies. However, publicly available estimates tell a different story. The Santa Fe New Mexican, citing the Society of Family Planning’s #WeCount Project, reported an estimated 18,600 abortions were performed in New Mexico during 2024, with 69% involving out-of-state patients. Likewise, the Guttmacher Institute’s Monthly Abortion Provision Study estimated as many as 18,130 clinician-provided abortions in New Mexico during 2024 using its monthly provider reporting methodology, while another Guttmacher report, using a different methodology, estimated approximately 12,700 abortions—further illustrating why New Mexico needs one universal, mandatory state reporting system rather than competing estimates.  “Whether the number is 11,512, 18,130, or 18,600, New Mexicans are being presented with conflicting abortion statistics,” said Tara Shaver, leader with Abortion Free New Mexico. “The Governor should explain where her numbers came from and why they differ so dramatically from other publicly available estimates.” Reporting Is Not a Burden — It Is AccountabilityAbortion Free New Mexico said the conflicting estimates demonstrate exactly why New Mexico needs a universal, mandatory abortion reporting system administered by the state. Both the Society of Family Planning and the Guttmacher Institute rely on abortion providers voluntarily supplying abortion data, supplemented by statistical methodologies where necessary. “During debate on SB 30, legislators argued that mandatory reporting to the State of New Mexico was too burdensome,” Shaver said. “Yet abortion providers are already voluntarily reporting abortion data to private organizations like the Society of Family Planning and the Guttmacher Institute. If providers can report to private organizations every month, they can report to the people of New Mexico. Reporting is not a burden—it is accountability.” During House committee testimony on SB 30, a Planned Parenthood representative acknowledged that New Mexico’s abortion statistics have not been publicly reported since 2019, despite state law requiring annual reports. The representative stated that responsibility for publishing those reports rested with the New Mexico Department of Health Registrar and indicated reporting ceased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Representative Alan Martínez questioned why the reporting law had not been followed. Rather than restoring compliance, the Legislature ultimately repealed the reporting statute through SB 30. “That testimony exposed the problem,” Shaver said. “If abortion providers have been voluntarily reporting abortion data to private organizations while the state’s own reporting system has gone unused since 2019, how can New Mexicans independently verify any of these numbers?” A Glaring ContradictionAbortion Free New Mexico also questioned why state leaders argued against mandatory reporting while the Governor now publicly releases abortion statistics when promoting New Mexico’s abortion policies. “If the Governor is going to release abortion numbers on social media to advance her political agenda, then the public deserves access to the underlying data,” Shaver said. “You cannot eliminate transparency and then expect New Mexicans to simply accept whatever numbers politicians choose to release.” Shaver also criticized what she described as a double standard surrounding abortion data. “When organizations like ours publish abortion statistics or document the expansion of the abortion industry, we’re accused of violating confidentiality or engaging in harassment,” Shaver said. “But when the Governor releases abortion numbers, those same statistics are presented as achievements to celebrate. New Mexicans deserve one standard of transparency—not selective transparency.”  Questions for the GovernorAbortion Free New Mexico is calling on Governor Lujan Grisham to answer three questions:
“This debate is larger than one statistic,” Shaver concluded. “It is about whether New Mexico will have one transparent, accountable reporting system that everyone can trust. The public should not have to choose between competing private estimates and political press releases. If the Governor is going to publicly celebrate abortion numbers, then every New Mexican deserves access to complete, verifiable data collected through a universal, mandatory state reporting system.” About Abortion Free New MexicoAbortion Free New Mexico works to end abortion through investigative research, public exposure, accountability efforts, and direct outreach to women and families. Through sidewalk outreach, pregnancy assistance, and educational initiatives, the organization seeks to build a culture where every preborn child is valued and protected.
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Thousands of abortions. Millions in taxpayer funding. Yet New Mexico continues to struggle with child well-being, education, public safety, and economic opportunity. By Bud Shaver, ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Abortion Free New Mexico responded today to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s statement commemorating the anniversary of the Dobbs decision by highlighting what it calls the troubling reality behind New Mexico’s abortion policies. The Governor praised New Mexico for becoming a destination state for abortion and reported that more than 11,500 patients received abortions in New Mexico in 2024, with 71% traveling from outside the state.  “While the Governor celebrates New Mexico as a national abortion destination, thousands of preborn children have lost their lives and millions of taxpayer dollars continue to be directed toward expanding abortion access,” said Tara Shaver, leader with Abortion Free New Mexico. Abortion Free New Mexico noted that the Governor’s own statistics demonstrate that New Mexico has become a regional hub for abortion, attracting women from states across the country. The organization argues that state leaders have prioritized abortion expansion while New Mexico continues to struggle with poor rankings in child well-being, education, public safety, and economic opportunity. “Rather than celebrating more abortions and more out-of-state abortion traffic, New Mexico should be investing in solutions that help mothers, strengthen families, and protect both women and their children,” Shaver said. “Every woman deserves support, and every child deserves a chance at life.”  Abortion Free New Mexico also criticized recent efforts to remove abortion reporting requirements and expand taxpayer-funded abortion programs, arguing that transparency and accountability have been weakened even as state leaders celebrate an abortion industry increasingly serving out-of-state clients. The organization noted that New Mexico taxpayers continue to bear the financial costs of abortion-related programs and infrastructure while the state’s broader challenges affecting children and families remain unresolved. “Four years after Dobbs, the question is not whether New Mexico has increased access to abortion,” Shaver added. “The question is whether expanding abortion has solved the problems facing New Mexico’s women, children, and families. The answer is clearly no.” About Abortion Free New MexicoAbortion Free New Mexico is a pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion in New Mexico through investigative research, public education, community outreach, and advocacy for women and their preborn children.
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:
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 PossibleThe 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 SERIESThe 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? |
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