New Mexico GOP criticized for 'complexion' remark

Dan McKay | Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE — The state Republican Party faced condemnation Friday — including from one of its own candidates — after it issued a statement accusing U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of being unfit to serve and calling for a change in the "complexion" of New Mexico's congressional delegation.

All three members of the U.S. House from New Mexico are minorities. Two are Hispanic, and one is Native American.

Luján called the GOP statement "deeply offensive to all New Mexicans."

The Republican Party, in turn, said the statement referred to the political composition of the state's congressional delegation, which is made up entirely of Democrats.

The dust-up centered on a statement issued by the Republican Party of New Mexico early Friday, targeting Luján.

The GOP described him as unfit because of a speech he delivered earlier this week as the House voted largely along party lines to impeach Republican President Donald Trump.

In remarks on the House floor, Luján said, "No one came to Congress to impeach a president" but that Trump's behavior compelled action.

The GOP called Luján disgraceful and unfit to serve.

"This is why we must all work hard to change the complexion of our Congressional delegation," the GOP said in an unsigned news release.

The state Democratic Party, Luján himself and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Gavin Clarkson — an enrolled member of Choctaw nation — quickly took issue with the statement.

"As a Hispanic representative of a majority-minority state," Luján said, "I have a responsibility to speak out forcefully when racism and dog whistles are used to further political attacks against people who look like me."

Clarkson — who, like Luján, is running for the U.S. Senate — also rejected the GOP statement, saying he found "this kind of careless word choice unfortunate to say the least."

"There is absolutely nothing wrong with the 'complexion' of our congressional delegation," Clarkson's statement said. "What makes them 'unfit' to represent New Mexico is their Socialist policies and their ceaseless, all-consuming rage against our duly elected President."

Marg Elliston, chairwoman of the state Democratic Party, accused the GOP of "singling out people of color and using racist dog whistles to attack our elected officials."

The Republican Party said the criticism is a misinterpretation of the word "complexion." The party's elected officers, it said, include a black woman, Hispanic women and men, and a Native American woman.

"Blue to red is the only 'complexion' that was referred to," the party said in an unsigned statement.

Webster's New World College Dictionary — used by The Associated Press — lists a few definitions for "complexion." The first deals with a historical usage referring to the "four humors" of the body.

The second definition refers to skin color and texture, especially on the face.

The third definition covers the general appearance, nature or character of something or someone.

Luján, the assistant House speaker, is the highest-ranking Hispanic member in the House.

U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland is a member of Laguna Pueblo and one of the first Native American women to serve in Congress. U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small is Hispanic.

New Mexico's two U.S. senators are both non-Hispanic white men — Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich.

New Mexico's population is 49% Hispanic or Latino — the highest percentage of any state, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

More: New Mexico representatives weigh in on Trump impeachment