Republican Candidate Convicted for Violent Attacks on Democrats

A jury found Peña guilty on all counts after linking him to violent intimidation tactics following his electoral defeat.

Former Republican candidate Solomon Peña was convicted on Wednesday for orchestrating a series of drive-by shootings aimed at the homes of four Democratic officials in New Mexico. Peña, who lost a statehouse election in 2022, faced a jury that deliberated for around five hours before reaching a unanimous decision on all 13 counts against him, which included conspiracy, weapons-related offenses, and interference with federally protected activities.

The drive-by shootings began just weeks after Peña's defeat, occurring in December 2022 and January 2023. Although no one sustained injuries during these incidents, bullets penetrated the home of a state senator where a 10-year-old girl was present. Following his arrest in January 2023, Peña was accused of planning the attacks and hiring four men to execute them, directing them through messages with specific targets.

Nicholas Hart, Peña’s legal representative, announced intentions to appeal the verdict, calling it a politically motivated trial. "This verdict does not reflect the facts," Hart stated. Despite his loss, Peña attempted to contest the election results, alleging fraud, and had confronted several Democratic officials at their homes to challenge the outcome.

The evidence presented during the trial described Peña's behavior as persistent and aggressive, even after losing a contest in a predominantly Democratic district by a significant margin. The trial commenced on March 10 and concluded after more than two weeks of testimonies.

Should he not succeed in his appeal, Peña faces a mandatory minimum of 60 years in prison as a consequence of his federal conviction. This recent ruling adds to Peña's troubled past, including a prior conviction in 2008 for various state charges, leading to his probation and eventual discharge in 2021.