In 2024, as the possibility of a Donald Trump-Joe Biden presidential rematch looks more and more possible, the University of New Mexico could break through into a new level of influence in New Mexico politics as the source of over $3 million in campaign donations. Ninety-seven percent of the donations will go to Democrats.
In the 2016 presidential cycle, according to federal records compiled by OpenSecrets.org, University of New Mexico staffers gave $206,000 to Democrats, 95% of their total political giving. In the 2020 election cycle, giving to Democrats nearly quadrupled to $812,000, this time, 97% of total giving.
If University of New Mexico donations continue on that trajectory, Democrats could receive an unprecedented – and publicly funded – windfall of more than $3 million dollars.
Critics say the overwhelming partisanship of the University of New Mexico system is a sign that the schools have become a political echo chamber where students are more likely to be indoctrinated than educated.
The top recipients of UNM money in 2020 were Joe Biden ($162,000), Xochitl Torres Small ($61,000), the Democratic National Committee ($49,000), Debra Haaland ($44,000) and Bernie Sanders ($43,000).
