A former Republican candidate in New Mexico, Solomon Pena, has been sentenced to 80 years in prison for orchestrating a series of drive-by shootings targeting the homes of Democratic officials. This decision comes after Pena’s defeat in the 2022 election for a state house seat, during which he propagated unfounded conspiracy theories about election fraud.
According to federal prosecutors, Pena orchestrated the attacks in Albuquerque, New Mexico’s largest city, shortly after losing the election. He was convicted on 13 felony charges related to the assaults on four officials, including the current state house speaker, which took place between December 2022 and January 2023. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during these violent incidents.
In a statement following the sentencing on March 6, 2025, Ryan Ellison, the U.S. Attorney for New Mexico, condemned the actions, emphasizing that “violence and intimidation have no place in our elections.” The attacks were part of a troubling trend of politically motivated violence in the United States, which has included incidents like the hammer attack on the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Pena’s legal counsel, Nicholas Hart, announced intentions to appeal the conviction. Two men, Jose Trujillo and Demetrio Trujillo, who were allegedly hired by Pena to carry out the shootings, pleaded guilty in 2024 to their roles in the attacks. Following his electoral defeat, Pena pressured members of the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners to refrain from certifying the election results. When they declined his requests, he sought the assistance of the Trujillo brothers to execute the violent acts.
The backdrop to Pena’s actions is the widespread propagation of false claims regarding election integrity, particularly following Donald Trump‘s refusal to concede the 2020 presidential election. These developments highlight the ongoing challenges facing the American electoral system and the potential for violence stemming from political grievances.
As the legal repercussions of Pena’s actions unfold, the case serves as a critical reminder of the importance of upholding democratic processes and the rule of law in a deeply polarized political landscape.
