GOP optimistic about impeaching New Mexico Gov. Grisham over gun order, need 12 Democrat votes

New Mexico state legislature GOP members say they are feeling optimistic about the potential impeachment of Democrat Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham after she declared a public health emergency over gun violence earlier this month.

In early September, state representatives John Block (R-51) and Stefani Lord (R-22) called for the governor's impeachment after she suspended open and concealed carry of firearms in the city of Albuquerque for a 30-day period. That suspension has been blocked by a federal judge.

Judge David Urias of the U.S. District Court for New Mexico said in his September 13th decision that the 30-day suspension in Albuquerque and the surrounding Bernalillo County contravened a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that precedent establishes a constitutional right to carry a weapon in public for self-defense purposes. On that basis, Urias said that "issuing a TRO (temporary restraining order) to prevent the violation of a constitutional right would be in the public interest."

Grisham is facing other lawsuits as a result of her emergency order, which she declared after the shooting of an 11-year-old boy outside a baseball stadium.

On the legislative front, lawmakers leading the impeachment charge plan to get a dozen Democrats on their side. "Once we get in session, we would need to flip 12 Democrats to our side, which I think is doable," Block said in a phone interview with Just the News. "In the Senate, we would need a two-thirds vote."

Earlier this week, Lord and Block sent out a certification petition to all 112 legislators calling for an extraordinary impeachment session.

Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, all Democrats, have said they will not enforce the open and concealed carry ban.

Block said that the governor brought the impeachment call upon herself due to her unconstitutional actions. 

“I think it’s so cut and dry," he said. "We don’t have to make a case to impeach the governor. She made it herself. We just have to show the Democrats the Constitution. She violated the Constitution that she made an oath to protect. Voters don’t like politicians who say one thing and do the other.” 

The National Rifle Association (NRA) last week filed a lawsuit against Grisham and was backed by every New Mexico GOP member of the state House and Senate, the Republican Party of New Mexico and the Libertarian Party of New Mexico. 

"Please rescind your unlawful and blatantly unconstitutional orders and uphold your oath to defend the constitutional rights of those in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. Until then, we’ll see you in court," NRA-ILA Executive Director Randy Kozuch wrote to the governor in a letter obtained by Fox News Digital. 

Block says he backs all the lawsuits against Grisham. He said that all elected members in the New Mexico legislature, whether they be Democrat or Republican, have an oath to the Constitution. 

“You either stand with the governor and her radical take that violated the Constitution, or the oath you took to your office," Block said. "There is no middle ground here.”

Grisham's press secretary, Caroline Sweeney, said in a statement in response to the impeachment move that "These legislators are more focused on impeachment than working to develop real solutions to save New Mexican lives."

Charlotte Hazard is a reporter at Just the News. Follow her on X.