Half of New Mexico's production happens on federal land and amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars in royalties each year. “It really has the opposite intent,” said Robert McEntyre, spokesman for the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association. She said she supports Republican-backed legislation to prevent the administration from imposing a moratorium on new drilling permits on federal lands. The issue has been a thorny one for Democrats in New Mexico, where the oil and gas industry has been vilified over pollution concerns despite its role as the state's top economic driver. “Any step toward fixing the broken federal oil and gas leasing program is a step in the right direction," said Mark Allison, director of the group New Mexico Wild.

(AP Photo/Craig Fritz, File)SANTA FE, N.M. Michelle Lujan Grisham has not received the attention of many higher-profile candidates under consideration to be Joe Biden's running mate. The New Mexico governor has executive experience and served in the U.S. House and as her state's health secretary. But as Biden prepares to make a vice presidential pick as soon as next week, Lujan Grisham is at risk of being shadowed by more prominent contenders, including Sens. Lujan Grisham is undeterred, pledging to help Biden in any way and making the case that Latinos could decide the election. The Latino and Hispanic vote will be essential, Lujan Grisham said last week at a fundraiser for Biden.