Election Preps and Unchecked COVID Spread | 10.30.20

This week on New Mexico in Focus… NMiF producer Matt Grubs talks with reporters across the state to discuss important issues in their areas before the election. First up is Dan Boyd of the Albuquerque Journal, who assesses the general election chances of progressive Democratic senate candidates against Republican challengers, after the progressives ousted moderate members of their own party in the primaries. Several Republican senate seats in the Albuquerque area are also at risk, as Democratic challengers hope to turn the area blue.    Matt Grubs also does an election roundup with three other reporters. He speaks to Hannah Grover of the Farmington Daily Times about an amendment to the state Constitution which seeks to turn the Public Regulation Commission from an elected to an appointed post, and also seeks to reduce its numbers from 5 to 3.  He also hears from Geoffrey Plant of the Silver City Daily Press about two contentious legislative races in the area, in Senate District 28 and House District 38. Matt Grubs then talks to Algernon D’Ammassa of the Las Cruces Sun-News about the race to replace longtime legislator Sen. John Arthur Smith.    Gene Grant and The Line opinion panelists take their turn with their viewpoints on Election Day outcomes and the influence of early and first-time voters, and what part voter intimidation may play in the races. They also look further into pandemic updates and what our state is doing to reverse the rising trend of COVID cases.   Finally, the show looks to warnings about the surge in coronavirus cases from medical experts, who took a step forward into the public eye this week to address concerns about the state’s capability to handle the spike in COVID-19 cases.