New Mexico Democratic state Rep. Joseph Hernandez has ended his reelection campaign following an alcohol-related incident at a Chicago hotel that involved reports of a naked man running through the building and knocking on guests’ doors.
Hernandez, a first-term lawmaker representing House District 4 in northwestern New Mexico, announced Aug. 25 that he would withdraw from the November election and instead focus on his health and family. He plans to remain in office through the end of his current term.
The controversy stemmed from an early-morning disturbance July 29 at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza at Wolf Point, where lawmakers were staying during a National Conference of State Legislatures gathering.
According to reporting based on a heavily redacted Chicago Police Department report, officers responded after receiving complaints that a naked man was running along the hotel’s 17th floor and knocking or banging on guests’ doors.
News reports later identified that man as Hernandez. Local New Mexico reporting independently described the police report as involving a man “running naked in the hallway,” and said Hernandez subsequently acknowledged responsibility for his behavior.
Hernandez does not appear to have faced criminal charges stemming from the incident.
One witness also told the Albuquerque Journal that Hernandez allegedly pushed him near an elevator before officers arrived.
Witnesses described another incident during the same trip in which Hernandez allegedly passed out on a couch in the hotel lobby after drinking, though police were reportedly not involved in that episode.
Hernandez initially offered few details, referring to the episode as a “negative interaction” involving hotel security and Chicago police.
After additional information became public, however, he issued a more detailed apology and acknowledged struggling with alcohol.
“I want to sincerely apologize to my family and my community for my behavior during a recent stay in Chicago,” Hernandez said.
He said his actions did not reflect the standards expected of a state representative and announced he was “seeking professional help to address my challenges with alcohol.”
Two days later, Hernandez formally withdrew his candidacy.
“After careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw my candidacy from the upcoming general election,” he said, adding that he would focus on his health and family while continuing to represent his district through the remainder of his term.
Hernandez has represented District 4 since January 2025. The district includes Shiprock and other communities in San Juan County, and the New Mexico Legislature continues to list him as the sitting Democratic representative.
The scandal prompted calls for Hernandez to resign from office entirely.
New Mexico House Republican Leader Gail Armstrong called for his resignation, while Democratic House Speaker Javier Martínez said he was disappointed by Hernandez’s behavior but also wanted him to receive help.
Hernandez’s withdrawal also created an election problem for Democrats.
San Juan County Democrats selected former state Rep. Anthony Allison, who previously represented District 4, as their replacement candidate. State officials concluded the substitution came too late under election law.
The dispute eventually reached the New Mexico Supreme Court.
In a 4-1 ruling on Sept. 3, the court blocked Allison from appearing on the Nov. 3 ballot, leaving the district’s Republican candidate without a Democratic opponent on the ballot, per the Conservative Brief.
Allison later acknowledged that local Democrats had failed to meet the necessary deadline, telling Source New Mexico, “It was our fault for not staying on top of dates.”
Hernandez, meanwhile, remains a member of the New Mexico House even as the fallout from the Chicago hotel incident has effectively ended his 2026 reelection campaign.
