• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
PoliticsU.S. Politics

Trump’s Plan to Turn New Mexico Red Starts With Rio Rancho Rally Tonight

By
Natasha Bach
Natasha Bach
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Natasha Bach
Natasha Bach
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 16, 2019, 1:16 PM ET

President Donald Trump is making his way to the Land of Enchantment.

The president is planning to make a play for New Mexico in 2020, despite the odds stacked against him, starting with Monday’s rally in Rio Rancho.

New Mexico has voted for a Republican presidential candidate only once since 1992—in 2004, when George W. Bush beat John Kerry by about 6,000 votes. In 2008, John McCain lost the state by nearly 15 points. Mitt Romney, recognizing pending defeat, pulled staffers from New Mexico just weeks before the 2012 election. President Barack Obama ended up beating him by 51 points in the suburbs of Santa Fe. 

Trump himself fared poorly in New Mexico in 2016. After visiting the state just twice before the election, he lost to Hillary Clinton by about 8 points. What’s more, on one of his last visits to New Mexico, protests outside the rally quickly turned violent—a vivid reminder of the opposition to the president of many of the state’s residents. 

Democrats also saw widespread success in New Mexico during last year’s midterm elections. They won the state’s two open congressional seats, defended the third, and took the governor’s mansion. Democrats also control both Senate seats and the New Mexico state legislature. Democratic governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has proven herself to be a worthy opponent to Trump, withdrawing National Guard troops from the border, criticizing Trump’s border wall, and supporting asylum-seeking migrants in the New Mexico.

Trump would appear to have his work set out for him—he hasn’t even visited New Mexico since winning the presidency. But he has nevertheless reportedly decided to make the state one of the several that he lost in 2016 that he plans to turn red in the next election. 

Trump plans to discuss the New Mexico’s improving economy and job growth during the Monday night rally. According to his campaign, Trump hopes to appeal to rural voters and Catholic Latinos, particularly those who have entered the country through legal channels or support stricter border laws. Some Democrats in the state also have more conservative views than the increasingly progressive Democratic base across the country, which may also serve Trump well.

If the rally in Rio Rancho goes according to plan, Trump may make the Land of Enchantment a regular pit stop along the campaign trail in the months to come.

Tonight’s rally in Rio Rancho, N.M., begins at 9 p.m. E.T. and will be live streamed by several news outlets.

More must-read stories from Fortune:

—145 CEOs call on Senate to support ‘common-sense gun laws’
—These are the 2020 senate races to watch
—Black women voters are key to the 2020 presidential race. Here’s who they support
—The U.K. government’s worst case Brexit scenario looks a lot like ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’
—Can Andrew Yang win in 2020? Inside his unorthodox campaign
Get up to speed on your morning commute with Fortune’s CEO Daily newsletter.


About the Author
By Natasha Bach
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Politics

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Lists Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Lists Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Politics

robert isom
InvestingAirline industry
American Airlines CEO calls United merger ‘a non-starter’: ‘No way to view that as anything but anti-competitive’
By Jake AngeloApril 24, 2026
2 hours ago
Feds charge U.S. Army soldier who made $400,000 from Polymarket bets tied to Maduro capture
LawPolymarket
Feds charge U.S. Army soldier who made $400,000 from Polymarket bets tied to Maduro capture
By Jeff John RobertsApril 23, 2026
10 hours ago
Jensen Huang stands smiling with his arms outstretched.
Big TechBillionaires
‘Don’t leave’: Jensen Huang challenges billionaire class as he insists ‘highest taxes in the world’ are OK with him
By Jacqueline MunisApril 23, 2026
12 hours ago
You can fly almost anywhere in Europe for €20 while Spirit Airlines is staving off bankruptcy. Here’s the difference
PoliticsAirline industry
You can fly almost anywhere in Europe for €20 while Spirit Airlines is staving off bankruptcy. Here’s the difference
By Catherina GioinoApril 23, 2026
12 hours ago
President Donald Trump
EconomyImmigration
People living in the U.S. with temporary protected status, targeted by Trump, are a $29 billion economic force
By Tristan BoveApril 23, 2026
14 hours ago
Pope Leo says he carries a photo of a slain Muslim boy in his pocket: ‘I cannot be in favor of war’
PoliticsWar
Pope Leo says he carries a photo of a slain Muslim boy in his pocket: ‘I cannot be in favor of war’
By Nicole Winfield and The Associated PressApril 23, 2026
14 hours ago

Most Popular

When interest on national debt overtook military spending, it triggered a limit where the U.S. may ‘cease to be a great power,’ warns Hoover historian
Economy
When interest on national debt overtook military spending, it triggered a limit where the U.S. may ‘cease to be a great power,’ warns Hoover historian
By Eleanor PringleApril 23, 2026
22 hours ago
Despite nearing their 60s, nearly four in 10 Americans heading towards the end of their careers don’t even have a retirement account
Success
Despite nearing their 60s, nearly four in 10 Americans heading towards the end of their careers don’t even have a retirement account
By Emma BurleighApril 23, 2026
18 hours ago
Officials will flush 50,000 toilets to flood a Utah lake in order to generate electricity
Environment
Officials will flush 50,000 toilets to flood a Utah lake in order to generate electricity
By Mead Gruver, Dorany Pineda and The Associated PressApril 22, 2026
2 days ago
Cursor’s 25-year-old CEO is a former Google intern who just inked a $60 billion deal with SpaceX
AI
Cursor’s 25-year-old CEO is a former Google intern who just inked a $60 billion deal with SpaceX
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezApril 22, 2026
2 days ago
Craving work-life balance is a huge red flag, says Fortune 500 Europe CEO—and like Barack Obama, he happily works through weekends
Success
Craving work-life balance is a huge red flag, says Fortune 500 Europe CEO—and like Barack Obama, he happily works through weekends
By Orianna Rosa RoyleApril 22, 2026
2 days ago
The Iran war is pushing Southeast Asia to debate the once unthinkable: Whether ships will need to pay to transit the Strait of Malacca
Economy
The Iran war is pushing Southeast Asia to debate the once unthinkable: Whether ships will need to pay to transit the Strait of Malacca
By Angelica AngApril 23, 2026
22 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.