Gubernatorial candidates Michelle Lujan Grisham and Steve Pearce squared off on Wednesday night for a debate hosted by KOAT that highlighted the major differences in their platforms.
Through the entirety of the debate, the candidates distanced themselves from each other not only politically, but also morally and ethically. Pearce’s opening statement ended with “this race is about the insider, my opponent, versus the outsider, myself,” and he often used the term “corrupt” to describe Grisham. Grisham compared Pearce to President Donald Trump, and accused Pearce of profiting unethically through his connection to the oil and gas industry.
The candidates faced off on almost every major issue, including immigration, education, the economy, gun violence and healthcare.
When asked about the caravan of migrants heading to the U.S., Pearce advocated for further securing the border and clamping down on illegal immigration. Grisham indicated support for immigration reform.
Neither Grisham nor Pearce supported arming teachers to prevent school shootings, but differed in their views of gun control. Grisham said that students and parents at Cleveland called for policies aimed at preventing the sale of certain types of guns to dangerous or mentally unstable individuals. Pearce warned that her policies threatened Second Amendment rights, and advocated increasing security and updating technology.
On the topic of raising the minimum wage, Pearce problematized dictating a spike in the minimum wage, saying it would hurt businesses. Grisham advocated an immediate increase in the minimum wage to $10 and a gradual increase to $12, saying the current minimum wage is insufficient for New Mexican families to get by.
Several questions had the candidates speak on healthcare, where Grisham said, “I have spent my entire career fighting so that New Mexicans can have access to healthcare; my opponent has spent his entire career working to take it away.” She discussed her plan to increase rural access to care, enforce reimbursement structures, and implement a Medicaid buy-in policy to provide an affordable option.
Pearce targeted the Affordable Care Act, saying it increased cost and took away choice. He also reiterated an accusation against Grisham that she profited from her involvement with New Mexico’s high-risk pool.
Grisham and Pearce used these and their positions on other issues to emphasize the drastic differences in their campaigns. New Mexico’s next governor will be decided on Nov. 6 along with seats in the New Mexico legislature, the attorney general and five judges.
Gabriella Rivera is a news reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @gabbychlamps.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
