State Republicans have chosen Harvey Yates to serve on the Republican National Committee in a shakeup of party leadership.
Yates unseated national committeeman Pat Rogers on Saturday at the state Republican convention by a vote of 278-195 among local delegates.
The contest has ramped up tensions about state party leadership as Republicans defend their majority in the state House of Representatives and aim to take control of the Senate. Rogers has held the committeeman post since 2008.
In his campaign, Yates has voiced concerns about New Mexico's lagging economy and says the GOP needs to work more closely with conservative Democrats. He lays much of the blame on Gov. Susana Martinez and her political adviser Jay McCleskey.
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12:10 p.m.
A member of the Republican National Committee from New Mexico is urging local party colleagues to unify behind Donald Trump as the presumptive GOP presidential nominee prepares to visit the state.
Republican National Committeewoman Rosie Tripp addressed Republicans from across New Mexico on Saturday at a state convention on the outskirts of Albuquerque.
She calls politics a team sport and says it is essential that all Republicans, from volunteer activists to office holders, support Trump's bid. Trump plans to campaign in Albuquerque on Tuesday.
Some Republicans at the state convention continue to express reservations about Trump and what they see as populist politics. New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez has not said whether she would vote for Trump.
Tripp is married to New Mexico House Speaker Don Tripp.
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10:10 a.m.
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez says she wants the Republican Party to take control of the state Senate in fall general elections.
The second-term governor and chairwoman of the Republican Governors Association addressed a convention of fellow GOP members Saturday as they chose delegates to the Republican National Convention and decide on a national leadership post.
The entire state Legislature is up for election in 2016. Republicans took control of the House of Representatives in 2014 for the first time in 60 years.
Martinez is criticizing "crazy, unnecessary, job-killing environmental regulations" and said Republicans are striving to diversify the state economy and reduce dependence on federal spending. She made no mention Saturday of presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.
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1:10 a.m.
New Mexico's GOP is holding a convention at a resort north of Albuquerque to select delegates to the Republican National Convention as tensions simmer on leadership issues within the state party.
Convention participants on Saturday are resolving a heated contest for a seat on the Republican National Committee that has veered into recriminations about New Mexico's lagging economy.
Albuquerque attorney Pat Rogers is seeking to extend his eight-year tenure as a Republican national committeeman. He is being challenged by former party chairman and oilman Harvey Yates. Yates has leveled criticism at New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez and her political adviser Jay McCleskey.
The party is selecting 21 delegates to send to the national convention in Cleveland. The state party chairwoman and two national committee members also act as delegates.
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