SANTA FE – A New Mexico lawmaker charged with drunken driving during this year’s Legislative session won’t seek re-election, according to a statement from her lawyer.
“It has been an honor to serve the constituents of House District 26 for the past ten years. I have decided not to seek re-election in 2022. I send my sincerest thank you to everyone who has supported me over my tenure as State Representative,” Albuquerque Rep. Georgene Louis said, a statement shared by her attorney, Kitren Fischer.
Republican lawmakers called in Louis to resign after her arrest. She missed a Legislative hearing at a committee she leads shortly after the arrest. She later cast votes remotely after making bail but wasn’t seen inside the Capitol for the rest of the legislative session.
Louis, a lawyer for Tesuque Pueblo and a one-time congressional candidate, was seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party.
She initially apologized after her arrest but hasn’t commented about details later revealed in a video of it, like the fact that she flashed her lawmaker credentials to the officer.
The story was first reported by the Albuquerque Journal. The paper reports that Louis pleaded not guilty to the drunken driving charge and is scheduled to appear in court on March 16.
