The numbers are in and Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Ronchetti outraised incumbent Michelle Lujan Grisham during the most recent four-week period which ended on Oct. 3., according to reports filed on Tuesday.
The reports show that Ronchetti had raised more than $7.8 million, while the governor had raised a total of $11.1 million. During the last four weeks, Ronchetti inched forward in his endeavors and has reported receiving nearly $1.5 million in donations with the help of yet another fake elector and other far right endorsements and donors. The Governor raised an additional $1.12 million within that same four weeks.
The Paper. had previously reported that the Ronchetti campaign accepted donations from fake electors Lupe Garcia and Donald Tripp, Jr., the husband of Rosie Tripp. The latest contribution of $10,000 comes from fake elector Deborah Maestas, former Chairwoman of the Republican Party of New Mexico. Maestas has been subpoenaed by the Congressional Committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Ronchetti’s camp also accepted a $5,000 donation from the Virginia-based extreme anti-abortion group, Susan B. Anthony List on Sept. 23. Although Ronchetti has stated he supports ending abortion after 15 weeks unless in cases of incest, rape or health of the mother, he’s also stated he’d like the issue to go on a statewide ballot.
Ronchetti’s camp also took $500 from John Eastman– Donald Trump’s previous lawyer and the main architect of the ex-president’s attempted coup.
Three MAGA GOP governors have stumped for Ronchetti in New Mexico over the last two months – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey. Texas GOP Senator Ted Cruz made it to Las Cruces to campaign for Congresswoman Yvette Herrell but Ronchetti wasn’t part of that event.
“Mark Ronchetti’s campaign is funded by dark-money extremists of all kinds, including thousands from an anti-abortion group on a mission to end abortion with no exceptions, not to mention the $13,000 he’s now accepted from three fake electors who attempted to overthrow the 2020 presidential election for Donald Trump. Ronchetti even accepted a check from John Eastman—the main architect of the coup plot to keep Donald Trump in office after President Biden won,” said Lujan Grisham’s campaign spokesperson Delaney Corcoran.
Libertarian candidate Karen Bedonie reported $15,000 in contributions this period.
The Paper. reached out to the Ronchetti campaign for comment but did not hear back as of press time.