Former New Mexico Candidate Convicted in Drive-By Shooting Targeting Democrats

In a shocking turn of events, Solomon Peña, a former Republican candidate, was convicted on all counts related to orchestrating drive-by shootings against four Democratic officials. The alarming incidents occurred following Peña's electoral defeat, sparking national conversations around political violence and accountability.

In a striking case of politically motivated violence, Solomon Peña, a former Republican candidate for the New Mexico state legislature, was found guilty on March 20, 2025, of orchestrating a series of drive-by shootings against Democratic officials. The jury took roughly five hours to conclude that Peña was responsible for directing the attacks on the homes of four Democrats in December 2022 and January 2023, marking a chilling chapter in American electoral politics.

Peña’s conviction stems from an unsettling scenario where shots rang out at the residences of his political opponents, none of whom were injured—though a bullet penetrated the bedroom of a child belonging to a state senator. Among the 13 counts for which Peña was convicted are conspiracy, weapons-related charges, and interference in federally protected activities, according to officials from the U.S. attorney's office in New Mexico.

This case highlights the unsettling consequences of political rivalry. Following his significant electoral loss, in which he failed to secure a statehouse seat against an incumbent in a district that predominantly supports Democrats, Peña allegedly engaged in efforts to contest the election results. Despite falling behind by a notable margin, he did not accept defeat. Instead, he is accused of visiting the homes of several Democratic officials, demanding that they refuse to certify the election results while claiming fraud.

Peña’s network included two co-defendants, Demetrio Trujillo and his son Jose Trujillo, who pleaded guilty last year to related charges. When Peña was arrested in January 2023, authorities reported that he had not only financed the shooting spree but also communicated specific addresses to the men involved, indicating premeditated assaults on the Democratic officials’ homes.

Following the trial, which commenced on March 10, his lawyer denounced the verdict, asserting that it reflected political bias rather than an impartial judicial process. Peña now faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 60 years if convicted on these federal charges—a stark reminder of the serious repercussions tied to political violence.

Peña’s criminal history includes a 2008 conviction for multiple state offenses, leading to imprisonment and subsequent probation, underscoring a troubling pattern. With this conviction, the case serves as a cautionary tale about the rising tension in the political realm and the necessity for safeguarding the integrity of democratic processes against acts of violence.