"Traitors" -- it's a bold word, spray-painted across the Republican Party of New Mexico's building.The organization has been targeted before, but when members witnessed the latest vandalism this morning they felt it had a deeper meaning. A personal attack against their newer members Stella Padilla and Dinah Vargas."There's a lot of reasons why I think they would be against us, simply because we're sticking up for New Mexicans rights," said Republican Stella Padilla.In 2017, Padilla campaigned to become Albuquerque's Democratic mayor, but she was defeated by her opponent, and her political views have since shifted."Stella, I feel you're a Democrat, you ran as a Democrat, your five past generations have been Democrats, well they're not the same Democrats," said Padilla.Both Padilla and Vargas say because they're Hispanic, and South Valley natives' people don't like them because they support president Donald Trump.But they say it doesn't give people the right to attack them."We're not out there with Tiki torches trying to burn down the roundhouse, no. We're here exercising our fundamental rights," said The Republican Party of New Mexico employee, Dinah Vargas.The two aren't sure who spray-painted the word traitor, but they feel bad for them."I feel sorry for them and they're cowards. They should be able to come to my face and dispute with me and after we disputed our differences I think they would flip," said Padilla.The organization says the spray-painted word is the only damage to their building, but it will cost them a few hundred dollars to repair.They've filed a police report with the Albuquerque Police Department and they are investigating to find out who vandalized the building and why they did it.

"Traitors" -- it's a bold word, spray-painted across the Republican Party of New Mexico's building.


The organization has been targeted before, but when members witnessed the latest vandalism this morning they felt it had a deeper meaning. A personal attack against their newer members Stella Padilla and Dinah Vargas.

"There's a lot of reasons why I think they would be against us, simply because we're sticking up for New Mexicans rights," said Republican Stella Padilla.

In 2017, Padilla campaigned to become Albuquerque's Democratic mayor, but she was defeated by her opponent, and her political views have since shifted.

"Stella, I feel you're a Democrat, you ran as a Democrat, your five past generations have been Democrats, well they're not the same Democrats," said Padilla.

Both Padilla and Vargas say because they're Hispanic, and South Valley natives' people don't like them because they support president Donald Trump.

But they say it doesn't give people the right to attack them.

"We're not out there with Tiki torches trying to burn down the roundhouse, no. We're here exercising our fundamental rights," said The Republican Party of New Mexico employee, Dinah Vargas.

The two aren't sure who spray-painted the word traitor, but they feel bad for them.

"I feel sorry for them and they're cowards. They should be able to come to my face and dispute with me and after we disputed our differences I think they would flip," said Padilla.

The organization says the spray-painted word is the only damage to their building, but it will cost them a few hundred dollars to repair.

They've filed a police report with the Albuquerque Police Department and they are investigating to find out who vandalized the building and why they did it.