Another Democratic lawmaker has become a casualty of his own foolish behavior.
New Mexico Democratic state Rep. Joseph Hernandez has abandoned his reelection campaign following an alcohol-related incident at a Chicago hotel that resulted in police being called after reports of a naked man running through a hallway and knocking on guests’ doors.
Hernandez, a first-term lawmaker from Shiprock representing House District 4 in northwestern New Mexico, announced Aug. 25 that he was withdrawing from the November election and would instead focus on his health and family.
“At this time, I believe the best decision for me and those I love is to focus on my health and my family, while continuing to serve the community that entrusted me with this office through the remainder of my term,” Hernandez said.
The announcement came after additional details emerged about an encounter involving Hernandez, hotel security and Chicago police during a July trip to the city.
Hernandez was staying at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza at Wolf Point while a National Conference of State Legislatures summit was taking place in the city.
According to a Chicago Police Department incident report described by local news outlets, authorities received a call at approximately 2:30 a.m. July 29 about a man “running around naked” on the hotel’s 17th floor and “banging and knocking on other guests’ doors.”
The individual’s name was redacted from the police document, but physical details in the report matched Hernandez, and eyewitnesses identified the lawmaker as the person involved.
By the time police arrived, the man was fully clothed and standing with hotel security.
According to the police report, the individual showed officers photographs of himself on his phone and demanded that they recognize who he was while insisting he be allowed to return to his hotel room.
Hotel personnel instead informed officers that his reservation had been canceled because of his conduct and violation of hotel rules.
Officers accompanied him to the room so he could retrieve his possessions and then escorted him from the property after he was formally trespassed from the hotel. He subsequently left in a rideshare vehicle for another hotel, according to the report.
Hernandez does not appear to have been criminally charged in connection with the episode.
The police report represented a considerably more detailed account than Hernandez had initially provided publicly.
Before the document became widely reported, Hernandez described what happened only as a “negative interaction” involving hotel security and police that resulted in him finding different accommodations.
Once the fuller account became public, Hernandez issued an apology and acknowledged that alcohol had played a role.
He said he was “seeking professional help to address my challenges with alcohol” and described the episode as a “regretful lapse in judgement.”
“I am truly sorry for disappointing all those who put their faith in me,” Hernandez said, adding that he intended to make changes aimed at recovering his health and rebuilding trust.
Separate eyewitness accounts reported by New Mexico media also alleged that Hernandez had passed out on a couch in the hotel lobby on an earlier night during the trip, resulting in another encounter with hotel security.
One witness further alleged that Hernandez pushed him near an elevator during the July 29 disturbance. No criminal charge was reported in connection with that allegation.
The revelations quickly generated political criticism.
New Mexico House Republican Leader Gail Armstrong called on Hernandez to resign from the Legislature altogether.
Democratic House Speaker Javier Martínez said he was disappointed by what occurred but also expressed hope that Hernandez would receive the help he needed.
“We’re very disappointed in what transpired in Chicago,” Martínez said, while adding that lawmakers wanted Hernandez to be able to address his problems for the benefit of his family and community.
Hernandez chose to end his campaign but not immediately relinquish his seat.
The New Mexico Legislature continues to list him as the representative for House District 4, which includes Shiprock and surrounding communities in San Juan County.
His late withdrawal also created an unexpected election-law dispute.
Democrats attempted to substitute former state Rep. Anthony Allison as their candidate after Hernandez withdrew. Allison previously represented the district before deciding not to seek reelection in 2024.
But the effort ran into New Mexico’s deadlines for replacing candidates after a primary.
The dispute eventually reached the New Mexico Supreme Court, which ruled 4-1 on Sept. 3 that Allison could not be added to the general-election ballot.
The court concluded that state law requires the vacancy allowing a party to replace a candidate to arise at least 90 days before the general election. Hernandez withdrew only 70 days before Election Day.
That decision means Republican Heather Ellison is the only listed candidate for House District 4 on the Nov. 3 ballot.
