Politics, more specifically, campaigning for public office, is expensive. On May 13, 2022, Gubernatorial candidate Mark Ronchetti (R) reported over $2.4 million to The New Mexico Campaign Filing System. Governor Lujan Grisham (D) declared a $5.3 million war chest, while gov. candidate Jay Block (R) reported $244,899 in his campaign fund; the financial cost of politics is massive and continues to climb.
Candidates are limited on how they spend this money; however, the amount spent is gray. For example, many candidates will have a small paid staff. Further, advertising isn't free, nor are "meet and greet" events, flyers, and business cards. Additionally, campaigns are allowed to spend money on travel, food, and even a spouse's travel, food, and lodging costs while on the campaign trail. In a recent search of campaign finance reports, Ellis McMath (R. D-17), currently running for state house, spent $4060 on advertising in January 2021, payable to Raiden El Patron, LLC.
One-Stop Campaign Machine
In New Mexico, the choices for campaign management and advisory companies are limited. One up-and-coming political strategist is Raiden Apollo Ruiz. According to Ruiz's LinkedIn page, He is the owner of Raiden Marketing Strategies, co-owner of Praetorian Strategies LLC, and Praetorian Printing. Interestingly, Ruiz is a board member of the Praetorian PAC. A search of OpenCorporates.com reveals that Ruiz is also the owner of Raiden El Patron, LLC. Mr. Ruiz claims he is also an active New Mexico Army National Guard officer in his "About The Owner" page on the Raiden Marketing Strategies website.
The Ruiz/Praetorian Web
Praetorian PAC
Praetorian Political Action Committee (PAC) first appeared on Twitter in May 2021. The PAC describes itself as "A conservative [PAC], focused on fundraising efforts to support Republican minorities running for office. According to the New Mexico Sec. of State website, "Political Committees are required to appoint and maintain a treasurer and file a statement of organization with the office of the Sec. of State." Registration also requires a $50 registration fee before accepting contributions or spending any money.
In searching the NMSoS PAC registration database dating back to 2014, Praetorian PAC has never been registered in New Mexico. However, Raiden Ruiz's LinkedIn page lists him as a board member.
While the PAC does have a website listed on its Twitter and Facebook pages, the website, PraetorianPAC.com doesn't exist.
According to the New Mexico Secretary of State, a political action committee cannot receive contributions, nor can they give money to candidates. Director of Finance and Fundraising Tony Reeve doesn't seem to understand this, as he tweeted a link to a GoFundMe account set up in the name of Praetorian PAC.
Praetorian Strategies, LLC
A newcomer to the NM political scene, the LLC registered with the New Mexico SoS on April 11, 2022; however, the company's Twitter account began advertising its services in March 2022.
On its website, Praetorian Strategies claims to be a "One-stop shop for political campaigns across the country," offering fundraising, digital media marketing, event coordinating, volunteer coordination, and print mailer production and distribution. The website itself is unfinished. While the homepage exists, the "Meet the Team" page is just a template with no information about the company "team."
The Praetorian Strategies "Team" is Raiden Ruiz, "Tony" Reeve, and Kailee Pete Randall. Ruiz says he is a co-owner on his LinkedIn page, as does Kailee P. Randall. In his Twitter bio, Tony Reeve states he is "Partner/Director of Finance and Fundraising of Praetorian Strategies." Further, pictures were posted on March 23, 2022, showing the three owners, and another on March 24 and 25th, showing their new business cards.
Praetorian Strategies, LLC announced on Facebook that it had signed a contract with Raiden Marketing Agency (owned by Raiden Ruiz) on March 23, 2022.
Update: As of May 15, 2022, the Twitter username @AntonioMReeve no longer exists. However, a new account, @TonyReeveForNM, was created the same day with the user name Tony Reeve. In the bio for this new account, Tony is the funding director at Praetorian Strategies, LLC.
Praetorian Printing
On its website, Praetorian Printing "Helps businesses in New Mexico gain recognition and meet their target audience through strategic marketing." The printing company has three employees, two of whom are Kailee Pete Randall and Raiden Ruiz, and a third is listed only as a "LinkedIn Member." The New Mexico SoS business listings database reveals that Praetorian Printing is not yet licensed to operate in New Mexico.
A new Twitter account (@RaidenforNM) was created in May 2022 under the name "Raider Ruiz;" a comparison of the LinkedIn and Twitter profile pictures shows that the third employee of Praetorian Printing is Raiden Ruiz.
Caught in Web
In Open Source Intelligence, researchers often have to rely on social media networks to make connections between people and/or companies. In the case of Raiden Ruiz and his companies, this technique was the only available; Praetorian PAC and Praetorian Printing are not registered. Further, Raiden Marketing Agency, Raiden El Patron, LLC, and Praetorian Strategies, LLC are private companies and may not be subject to New Mexico's Inspection of Public Records Act. A possible list of clients is created by comparing the Social Media accounts of the Ruiz business, Raiden Ruiz, Anthony Reeve, and Kailee Pete Randall. This list is cross-referenced with the New Mexico SoS Candidate Financial System (CFIS). Each candidate's financial disclosure form was scanned for money paid to any Ruiz businesses. The following candidates are followed by and follow Praetorian Strategies LLC or Praetorian PAC (or both), Antonio Reeve, Kailee Pete Randall, and "Raider Ruiz":
Stephanie Lord (R-NM House D-22 )
Michaela Chavez (R-Bernalillo County Commission, D1)
Michael Eustice Jr (R-Bernalillo County Commission, D5)
Dereck Scott (R-Bernalillo County Sheriff)
Ellis McMath (R-NM House NM-17)
Jacquelyn Reeve (R-US House)
Ant Thornton (R-Lt. Governor)
Jay C. Block (R-Governor)
By cross-referencing this list with each candidate's financial disclosure form, Jay Block, Ellis McMath, and Michael Eustice Jr. list Ruiz's companies as vendors they have used to create a picture of how Raiden and his partners have tried to influence New Mexico candidates, and elections become clear.
McMath reported receiving $4060 in "in-kind" donations from Raiden El Patron, LLC for "advertising"). McMath also spent $1900 paying Raiden Marketing Agency for advertising. Michael Eustice Jr. reported paying Praetorian Strategies, LLC $500 in their May 9, 2022, reporting documents.
According to campaign finance reports, Block spent over $19,000 on Praetorian Strategies services.
The Catch
Owning and operating a registered PAC, political consulting firm, or advertising/print and digital media company isn't illegal by federal or state law. However, some rules and regulations within governmental organizations govern how non-political officeholders and members of the US Military, Reservists, and National Guard can participate in the political process.
The Hatch Act and Department of Defense Directive 1334.10 limit the political activities of some federal and local government employees who work in connection with federally funded programs; this includes active duty military members, active reserve military members, and members of a state's Army/Air Force National Guard. The DoD and Executive Branch allow members to participate in political activities with some caveats. US Military members can participate in almost every aspect of the political process as long as they do not use their position in the military to influence others. For example, service members can join partisan and nonpartisan political clubs and attend meetings as long as they do not wear their uniforms or any other indication of military service. Members can sign political petitions, serve as election officials, and write letters to the editor expressing political views as long as the member ensures that their affiliation with a branch of service is not mentioned or anything written clearly states that the opinions depressed are those of the individual and not the US Military or Federal/State government.
On the other hand, the Hatch Act and DoDD1334.10 clearly state that military/guard members are not allowed to march or ride in partisan political parades, sell tickets or promote partisan political dinners or other similar fundraising events. Service members cannot participate in any organized effort to help voters get to the polls. Interestingly DODD 4.1.3 states that commissioned officers shall not use condescending or derisive language.
On the Raiden Marketing Agency's "About the Owner" page, Raiden Apollo Ruiz clearly states that he "...proudly serves in the New Mexico Army National Guard as a Commissioned Officer [sic]." Further, a picture of Ruiz in uniform is at the top of the page.
As a co-owner of Praetorian Strategies, LLC, the contract signed on March 23, 2022, between the LLC and Raiden Marketing Strategies appears to violate the Hatch Act and the DOD directive. If Praetorian Strategies, LLC sends candidate business to Raiden Marketing Agency, Mr. Ruiz is clearly in uniform, representing the New Mexico Army National Guard in a partisan political campaign. Further, as a member of the Praetorian PAC, Mr. Ruiz is participating in a partisan organization. The rules specified in the Hatch Act and DoD 2334.10 are clear. Mr. Ruiz should be investigated and, if necessary, prosecuted.
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