RPNM News:

Wednesday a Valencia County judge entered a temporary injunction against the Republican Party of New Mexico, its chairwoman and treasurer, and the state’s RNC committeeman.

The order prohibits, on pain of criminal contempt, all three of the aforementioned individuals from “publicly supporting” any Republican candidate in a contested primary. It also appears to direct Chairwoman Amy Barela to turn over the occupancy of the chair to the First Vice Chair, although the order’s duration is unclear, it does not direct the Party to hold new elections, and it does not declare the position of chair is vacant.

“The Republican Party of New Mexico strongly contends that this order is a prior restraint on free speech, in violation of the First Amendment,” Executive Director Leticia Muñoz said. “However, the Party will comply fully with what it understands the order to require, for as long as it remains in effect, and we are in the process of appealing to a higher court.”