Republican New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Mark Ronchetti has come under fire, and not just by the usual political smearing campaign ads between candidates during pre-election, but instead by Albuquerque constituents online via meme form.
No matter what social media one uses, these memes can be seen far and wide on all social platforms. The first occurrences popped up about 25 days ago. Although the original origins are fuzzy, people have since come up with dozens of new memes insulting the former weather man, not exactly for his political policies, but with some silly insinuations such as his distaste for New Mexico Chile, putting ketchup on enchiladas or dipping his tortilla chips in ranch when he did just that in an interview at an Alamogordo restaurant last week.
Folks are having fun with it and have even starting sticker bombing the University of New Mexico campus and surrounding area with what people have now deemed #wrongchetti memes while mimicking the “Bad for New Mexico” ads.
Manny Crespin, vice chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, said he believes there are a few reasons people have taken to making and posting memes about Ronchetti.
“The first reason is because they know that we are at an inflection point in our state. Gov. [Michelle] Lujan Grisham has taken our state forward in so many ways and we don’t want to go back,” Crespin said. “New Mexicans know what’s at stake for this election, and they know that Mark Ronchetti’s MAGA values and zero experience in public service threaten New Mexico’s values, women’s rights, economy and our environment.”
He explained because of Lujan Grasham, New Mexico now has free college for everyone with the Opportunity Scholarship, teachers in the state are now the highest paid in the region, cannabis has been legalized, the state is rebuilding its behavioral health system, the film industry is booming like never before, it’s leading the nation in transitioning to renewable energy, and is providing unprecedented relief to those affected by this year’s wildfires.
Republicans have now followed suit with some memes about Lujan-Grisham, but the memes about her are more serious, don’t invoke humor and attack her policies, which defeats the purpose of a meme meant to be in good humor. Examples of her ‘memes’ include her decisions during the pandemic to keep businesses closed in an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID, but subsequently caused the closure of many local businesses for good in 2020.
New memes on both sides have continued to flood social media every day, but with much more criticizing Ronchetti then Lujan-Grisham, and will most likely continue until Election Day.
What is your opinion of the political meme war so far? Share what you think with us at info@neighborhoodjournal.com.
