Chevron's significant contributions to candidates in New Mexico's state races have drawn attention. A review by Capital & Main reveals that while the company gave 4,000 directly to candidates, its donations favored Democrats. This stands out as it dwarfs the contributions of other major players in the oil and gas industry.

Unraveling the Oil and Gas Donation Landscape in New Mexico

Chevron's Dominance

Chevron's substantial donations of 4,000 directly to candidates in New Mexico's state races set it apart. This amount is a clear indication of the company's influence in the local political arena. It shows that Chevron is actively involved in shaping the political landscape by supporting candidates from both parties. However, as the data shows, a significant portion of its donations went to Democratic candidates. This raises questions about the company's motives and its perception in the political sphere. Chevron claims that its contributions are made in accordance with the law and are aimed at supporting candidates who believe in responsible energy production and good governance. But is this just a facade? Or is there more to their actions?

Compared to other major oil and gas companies, Chevron's contribution stands out. Marathon Oil, the next closest with 3,500, shows a different ratio in its donations. While Chevron's donations to Democrats were by a few thousand dollars, Marathon Oil's favored Democrats at a more than 2:1 ratio. This highlights the varying strategies and preferences within the oil and gas industry when it comes to political donations.

Industry-wide Donations

The oil and gas industry as a whole gave .7 million in donations during the 2024 election cycle. This includes contributions to both Democratic and Republican candidates. While contributions by major corporations to individuals lean left, with the top 10 oil and gas industry contributors giving .2 million to Democratic state candidates and .1 million to Republicans, the total still favors Republicans with .1 million compared to .6 million. This shows that although there is a trend towards giving to Democrats, the industry as a whole still has a preference for Republicans.

Republicans made up the difference with hundreds more donations from smaller companies and individuals in the industry. This indicates that while the big players may have their preferences, the smaller players in the industry also have a say in the political arena. These smaller donations can have a significant impact on the overall political landscape and can help to shape the decisions made by politicians.

Political Action Committees (PACs)

Oil and gas interests gave another .75 million to political action committees (PACs). Nearly a third of this, 7,000, came from Chevron alone, bringing the company's total donations to .22 million. Again, donations from the country's largest producers tended to go to left-leaning groups. Even so, Republican-leaning groups raised about twice as much PAC money overall as their Democratic counterparts. Dozens of smaller donations from smaller groups swung that balance, with donations from the Yates family and their related businesses leading the charge.

This shows the complexity of the political donation landscape in the oil and gas industry. While the big players may have their preferences, smaller groups and families can also have a significant impact. The balance of power between left-leaning and right-leaning groups is constantly shifting, and political donations play a crucial role in this process.

National vs. State Trends

These New Mexico trends bear little resemblance to national campaign spending by the same oil and gas companies. In federal elections, those multinational firms give overwhelmingly to Republicans: 85% of donations in the case of Chevron and 80% by Marathon Oil, according to federal campaign data. Overall, oil and gas companies gave 7.5 to 1 in favor of Republican candidates seeking federal office.

This contrast between national and state trends highlights the unique political dynamics in New Mexico. While the industry may have a preference for Republicans at the national level, in New Mexico, Democrats hold all the power. This shows that local politics can be influenced by a variety of factors, including the specific political landscape and the interests of local stakeholders.

Impact on Politicians

Political scientist Michael Rocca argues that huge campaign contributions do not generally change how politicians vote. He said large companies give to candidates who already vote in their favor. But what money does most importantly is it protects your allies after political access is forged.

Rocca's thoughts are echoed in the response of the largest overall donor. Bill Turenne, manager of global media relations at Chevron, said the company makes political contributions to support candidates and organizations from both parties that believe in responsible energy production and good governance. But is this just a way to protect their interests? Or do these contributions actually have an impact on policy decisions?

Local Politicians and Donations

In New Mexico, many of the biggest recipients of fossil fuel money, both Democrats and Republicans, ran unopposed this year. Eleven of the state's top-20 Democratic recipients of oil and gas money were in uncontested general election races. But before that, four of the 11 received a total of 4,000, then lost their primaries to other Democrats who went on to win the uncontested seats in the general election. Three of the final victors received no oil and gas money at all. The fourth received just ,000.

This shows that while fossil fuel money can be a significant factor in political campaigns, it does not always guarantee victory. In some cases, candidates who do not receive fossil fuel money were able to win elections. This suggests that there are other factors at play, such as the candidate's platform and their connection with local voters.

Changing Oil and Gas Regulation Landscape

President-elect Trump has vowed to reduce federal regulations once he takes office. This will place a greater share of industry policing on the state's shoulders. In New Mexico, the state has a mixed record when it comes to enforcing oil and gas regulations. While the state has passed some of the nation's toughest regulations, James Kenney, secretary of the state's Environment Department, said that his office still finds around 50% of gas and oil operations violating New Mexico emissions regulations.

The impending federal shift will have a significant impact on the oil and gas industry in New Mexico. With more responsibility placed on the state, it will be crucial for the state to enforce its regulations effectively. This will require increased resources and a commitment to protecting the environment from fossil fuel development.

One Politician's Journey

Rep. Nathan Small received ,100 from the industry in the 2022 election and saw his donations rise to ,451 in the 2024 election. He is now one of the top recipients of oil and gas donations and holds powerful positions in the New Mexico Legislature. He argues that he wants to have an open door and a large table for folks who see challenges and want to propose solutions.

However, the combination of conservation work and oil and gas money raises questions about his stance. Does he truly represent the interests of both sides? Or is he more focused on protecting the industry? These are questions that will continue to be debated as he navigates the complex world of politics and oil and gas.

Opposing Views

Republican Kenneth Brennan ran for a House seat and received 0 from two people who work in the industry. His opponent, incumbent Rep. Matthew McQueen, received ,500 from the New Mexico Gas Company. McQueen is anti-oil and gas but co-sponsored two major pieces of industry-related legislation that died in committee.

Brennan said he supports the oil and gas industry but didn't directly solicit its donations. This shows the different approaches and attitudes towards the industry among politicians. Some, like Brennan, may support the industry but not actively seek its financial support. Others, like McQueen, may be more involved in industry-related issues but face challenges in getting their legislation passed.