NEW-MEXICO

Gov. Susana Martinez at White House for Hispanic heritage event

Dan Boyd
Albuquerque Journal
President Donald Trump, second from right, kisses Cuban-American restaurant owner Irina Vilariño, second from left, during a Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. Luis G. Rivera Marín, Secretary of State and Lt. Governor of Puerto Rico, watches at right.

SANTA FE - Gov. Susana Martinez was front and center at the White House on Monday for a Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration hosted by President Donald Trump.

Martinez, the state's two-term Republican governor, stood behind the president and was publicly recognized by him during the event in the White House's East Room that focused largely on employment growth and Hispanic-owned businesses.

"Thank you, Susana. Great job," Trump said in introducing Martinez, according a White House transcript of the event.

Another New Mexico elected official, Democratic U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, recently rejected Trump's invitation to attend the reception due to the president's comments about the death toll in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.

Lujan Grisham, who is the chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, is running for governor this year against Republican Steve Pearce. The race is open because Martinez is barred from seeking a third consecutive term and will step down at the end of the year.

More:Attack ads belie civil debate between Steve Pearce and Michelle Lujan Grisham

Martinez traveled to Washington, D.C., on Sunday for meetings and to attend the White House event, according to an aide, and is scheduled to return to New Mexico Tuesday. Her trip has been categorized as official state business, meaning her travel expenses are being covered by taxpayers.

The Governor's Office has not provided additional information about the nature of Martinez's meetings in the nation's capital.

The governor criticized some of Trump's campaign rhetoric in 2016 — including his remarks about Mexican immigrants — and did not attend either of his campaign rallies in New Mexico that year. But Martinez has been largely complimentary of Trump since he took office in 2017.

Per the state Constitution, Lt. Gov. John Sanchez serves as acting governor while Martinez is traveling outside New Mexico.

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