New Poll Results Confirm New Mexicans Want Action to Address Crime!
New Mexico (February 13, 2025) – This summer, the governor called a special session specifically to address crime. While the Republicans agreed to work on crime bills, the Democrats did not support the effort. No bills were heard, and no action was taken.
Some of the same thing is happening during the current legislative session, which is nearly half over. On Saturday, 2/8/25, the Democrats tabled two important bills and threatened to do the same to other bills.
NMBC President and CEO, Carla Sonntag, said, “Two important bills that matter most to New Mexicans were tabled on a straight party-line vote. HB 107 Penalty for Drug Trafficking & Death, which targets stiffer penalties for drug dealers, and HB 136 Fentanyl Exposure as Child Abuse, which would add fentanyl to the list of child abuse issues. Children are being born addicted to fentanyl or being harmed because the substance is in their homes. It is incumbent upon lawmakers to protect our most vulnerable.”
A recent poll of New Mexico voters by CWS Research, LLC, shows that most New Mexicans want more decisive action on crime. When asked if the state should increase penalties for fentanyl and other dangerous drug dealers, 93% agreed. That level of support is held across all age groups, ethnicities, and party lines, including 100% of respondents aged 18-24 and 100% of respondents identified as Latino.
Sonntag pointed out, “These poll results show the decision to kill HB 107, which would have raised penalties for drug dealers, is directly opposed to the clear wishes of New Mexicans.”
The poll also indicated overwhelming support for other bills under consideration. When asked if repeat offenders charged with violent crimes should be held without bail until trial, 94% agreed. Again, this sentiment is reflected across party lines, with 97% of Republicans, 90% of Independents, and 95% of Democrats supporting the idea of keeping repeat violent offenders off the streets.
Sonntag asked, “So where’s the action in Santa Fe? Because we’re not seeing it.”
This survey was conducted from January 31 to February 6, 2025, with 541 respondents randomly selected from a demographically proportionate sample of New Mexico registered voters. The survey has a ±4.213 % margin of error and a confidence level of 95%. See the full poll results HERE and download this press release HERE.