New Mexico Democratic State Representative Joseph Hernandez has withdrawn his candidacy for reelection following an incident at a Chicago hotel in late July. The first-term lawmaker, who represents House District 4 in northwestern New Mexico, announced his decision on August 25, citing a need to focus on his health and family. He intends to complete his current term in office, which runs until January 2025.
"I want to sincerely apologize to my family and my community for my behavior during a recent stay in Chicago." Joseph Hernandez, New Mexico State Representative
The controversy stems from an early-morning disturbance on July 29 at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza at Wolf Point. Representative Hernandez was reportedly staying at the hotel while attending a National Conference of State Legislatures gathering. According to information based on a heavily redacted Chicago Police Department report, officers responded to multiple complaints of a naked man running along the hotel’s 17th floor and repeatedly knocking or banging on guests’ doors. Subsequent news reports identified Representative Hernandez as the individual involved in the disturbance.
Local New Mexico media outlets independently corroborated details from the police report, describing a man "running naked in the hallway." Representative Hernandez later acknowledged his responsibility for the behavior. While the incident prompted a police response, there have been no public reports of criminal charges being filed against the state representative. One witness also told the Albuquerque Journal that Hernandez allegedly pushed him near an elevator before law enforcement arrived. Additionally, another alleged incident during the same trip involved Hernandez reportedly passing out on a hotel lobby couch after consuming alcohol, though police were not involved in that particular episode.
Initially, Representative Hernandez offered limited details regarding the event, referring to it as a "negative interaction" involving hotel security and Chicago police. However, as more information became public, he issued a more comprehensive apology and openly acknowledged his struggles with alcohol. "I want to sincerely apologize to my family and my community for my behavior during a recent stay in Chicago," Hernandez stated. He further added that his actions did not align with the standards expected of a state representative and announced his intention to seek "professional help to address my challenges with alcohol." Two days after this public statement, Hernandez formally withdrew his candidacy for the upcoming general election. He reiterated his decision, saying, "After careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw my candidacy from the upcoming general election," and affirmed his commitment to his health and family while continuing to serve his district.
The fallout from the incident has created significant political ramifications, particularly for Democrats in District 4. Following Hernandez’s withdrawal, San Juan County Democrats moved to select former state Representative Anthony Allison, who previously represented District 4, as their replacement candidate. However, state election officials determined that the substitution had been submitted past the legal deadline. This dispute ultimately escalated to the New Mexico Supreme Court. In a 4-1 ruling delivered on September 3, the court blocked Allison from appearing on the November 3 ballot. This decision effectively leaves the Republican candidate in District 4 without a Democratic opponent in the general election. Allison later conceded that local Democrats had failed to adhere to the necessary timelines, telling Source New Mexico, "It was our fault for not staying on top of dates."
Despite the controversy and the end of his reelection prospects, Representative Joseph Hernandez remains a sitting member of the New Mexico House of Representatives. He began his term representing District 4 in January 2025, and the New Mexico Legislature continues to list him as the Democratic representative for the district. The scandal has prompted calls for his full resignation from office. New Mexico House Republican Leader Gail Armstrong publicly urged Hernandez to resign. In contrast, Democratic House Speaker Javier Martínez expressed disappointment in Hernandez’s conduct but also emphasized the importance of him receiving the necessary assistance for his struggles. The incident underscores the scrutiny public officials face regarding their personal conduct and its potential impact on their political careers and electoral processes.
