Debbie Maestas
 |
The information about this individual was current as of the 2016 Republican National Convention. Please contact us with any updates. |
| Debbie Maestas | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Organization: | Republican Party of New Mexico |
| Role: | Chair |
| Location: | Albuquerque, N.M. |
| Affiliation: | Republican |
| Education: | Texas Christian University |
| Website: | Official website |
Deborah "Debbie" Maestas was the chair of the Republican Party of New Mexico. Prior to her election, Maestas served as deputy campaign manager on Allen Weh's 2014 U.S. Senate campaign and as president of CSI Aviation Inc.
Career
Maestas earned a B.B.A. in management and marketing from Texas Christian University. She worked at CSI Aviation Inc. for 16 years and rose to the position of president. Over the course of her career, Maestas attended a number of executive management courses offered by Northwestern University and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. She is also a qualified real estate broker.[1]
Political activity
Maestas transitioned to politics and served as deputy campaign manager for her father, Allen Weh, during his 2014 U.S. Senate campaign. She was elected to a two-year term as chair of the Republican Party of New Mexico (NMGOP) on December 6, 2014. Her candidacy was supported by former NMGOP party chairs Allen Weh and Harvey Yates Jr. Throughout her campaign, Maestas highlighted the need for the NMGOP to build party unity and increase fundraising outreach. "The party’s goal, their responsibility, is to raise money so that we can support our candidates who are out there running," said Maestas.[2][3]
In an effort to forge Republican unity across New Mexico, Maestas completed a tour of each of the state's 33 counties in August 2015. The tour provided Maestas with opportunities to engage with local party leaders, elected officials, and grassroots activists.[4]
During the 2016 election cycle, Maestas focused party efforts on gaining a Republican majority in the New Mexico State Senate.[1][5]
2016 Republican National Convention
- See also: Republican National Convention, 2016
Maestas was an RNC delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention from New Mexico. As chair of the Republican Party of New Mexico, she was an automatic delegate. Maestas was one of 24 delegates from New Mexico bound by state party rules to support Donald Trump at the convention.[6]
Delegate rules
Delegates from New Mexico to the Republican National Convention were elected at a state convention in May 2016. New Mexico delegates were bound for the first ballot at the convention. As of July 2016, New Mexico state law explicitly criminalized the conduct of any delegate who does not vote for the presidential candidate to whom they are pledged. A violation of the delegate's pledge to support that candidate on the first ballot was considered a petty misdemeanor.
New Mexico primary results
| New Mexico Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Delegates | |
 Donald Trump |
70.7% | 73,887 | 24 | |
| Ted Cruz | 13.3% | 13,911 | 0 | |
| John Kasich | 7.6% | 7,919 | 0 | |
| Jeb Bush | 3.4% | 3,517 | 0 | |
| Ben Carson | 3.7% | 3,825 | 0 | |
| Carly Fiorina | 1.4% | 1,507 | 0 | |
| Totals | 104,566 | 24 | ||
| Source: The New York Times and New Mexico Secretary of State | ||||
Delegate allocation
New Mexico had 24 delegates at the 2016 Republican National Convention. Of this total, nine were district-level delegates (three for each of the state's three congressional districts), and 12 served as at-large delegates. New Mexico's district and at-large delegates were allocated proportionally; a candidate had to win at least 15% of the statewide primary vote in order to be eligible to receive a portion of the state's district and at-large delegates.[7][8]
In addition, three national party leaders (identified on the chart below as RNC delegates) served as bound delegates to the Republican National Convention.[7][8]
Media
Top influencers by state
Influencers in American politics are power players who help get candidates elected, put through policy proposals, cause ideological changes, and affect popular perceptions. They can take on many forms: politicians, lobbyists, advisors, donors, corporations, industry groups, labor unions, single-issue organizations, nonprofits, to name a few.
In 2016, Ballotpedia identified Debbie Maestas as a top influencer by state. We identified top influencers across the country through several means, including the following:
- Local knowledge of our professional staff
- Surveys of activists, thought leaders and journalists from across the country and political spectrum
- Outreach to political journalists in each state who helped refine our lists
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Debbie Maestas'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Republican National Committee, "Debbie Maestas," accessed April 7, 2016
- ↑ Albuquerque Journal, "GOP elects new chair," December 6, 2014
- ↑ New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan, "Race for GOP chair takes a twist with new face," November 24, 2014
- ↑ New Mexico News Network, "New Mexico GOP chair wraps up 33 county tour in Silver City," August 21, 2015
- ↑ New Mexico Political Report, "NM GOP chair highlights four Senate targets," September 17, 2015
- ↑ Republican Party of New Mexico, "National Delegates Elected at RPNM 2016 Quadrennial Convention," accessed June 28, 2016
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Republican National Committee, "2016 Presidential Nominating Process," accessed October 6, 2015
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 CNN.com, "Republican National Convention roll call vote," accessed July 20, 2016
| |||||||
