Top Dem Forced To Resign In Disgrace After Being Caught In Act In Hotel

A Democratic state lawmaker’s reelection campaign has come crashing down after a bizarre alcohol-fueled hotel scandal involving reports of a naked man running through the halls and knocking on guests’ doors.

And the political fallout didn’t stop there.

New Mexico Democratic state Rep. Joseph Hernandez abruptly ended his reelection campaign following the explosive incident at a Chicago hotel — only for Democrats to suffer another setback when their attempt to replace him on the ballot was blocked by the state’s highest court.

Hernandez, a first-term lawmaker representing House District 4, announced that he was withdrawing from the November election and would instead focus on his health and family.

He plans, however, to remain in office through the end of his current term.

The decision followed days of scrutiny over a heavily redacted Chicago Police Department report detailing a disturbance at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza at Wolf Point, where lawmakers were staying while attending a National Conference of State Legislatures gathering.

What allegedly happened inside that hotel quickly became a political nightmare.

Police Called Over Naked Man Running Through Hotel

According to reporting based on the police report and witness accounts, officers were summoned during the early morning hours of July 29 after receiving complaints about a naked man running along the hotel’s 17th floor and banging or knocking on guests’ doors.

News reports subsequently identified the man described in the report as Hernandez.

Hernandez does not appear to have been criminally charged over the incident.

But the allegations didn’t end there.

One witness told the Albuquerque Journal that Hernandez allegedly pushed him near an elevator before police arrived.

Reporting also described a separate incident during the same trip in which Hernandez allegedly passed out on a hotel lobby couch after drinking. Police were reportedly not involved in that encounter.

Initially, Hernandez offered a considerably more vague account.

In a statement released through New Mexico House Democrats, he described what happened merely as a “negative interaction” involving hotel security and Chicago police.

Then the police report became public.

And the story changed dramatically.

Democrat Admits Alcohol Played A Role

As more details emerged, Hernandez issued a broader apology acknowledging that alcohol had played a role in his behavior.

“I want to sincerely apologize to my family and my community for my behavior during a recent stay in Chicago,” Hernandez said in his subsequent statement.

He acknowledged his behavior fell short of the responsibilities of his office and said he was “seeking professional help to address my challenges with alcohol.”

Hernandez characterized the incident as a lapse in judgment and said he accepted responsibility.

Then, two days later, he pulled the plug on his reelection campaign.

“After careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw my candidacy from the upcoming general election,” Hernandez said.

“At this time, I believe the best decision for me and those I love is to focus on my health and my family, while continuing to serve the community that entrusted me with this office through the remainder of my term.”

But his withdrawal created an immediate political mess for Democrats.

Republicans Demand He Resign Completely

Hernandez has represented District 4 since January 2025 and serves on the New Mexico House Appropriations and Finance Committee as well as the Transportation, Public Works and Capital Improvements Committee.

Republican House Minority Leader Gail Armstrong argued that simply abandoning his reelection campaign wasn’t enough.

She called on Hernandez to resign his legislative seat entirely.

Democratic House Speaker Javier Martínez also expressed disappointment over Hernandez’s conduct, while saying the lawmaker should receive the help he needs to address his problems and support his family and community.

But Democrats now had another urgent problem:

Who would replace Hernandez on the ballot?

The answer quickly produced yet another setback.

Democrats Try To Replace Him — Supreme Court Says No

The Democratic Party of San Juan County selected former state Rep. Anthony Allison, who held the District 4 seat before Hernandez, as its replacement nominee.

There was just one problem.

State election officials determined Democrats had acted too late to substitute Allison under New Mexico law.

The fight eventually went all the way to the New Mexico Supreme Court.

Democrats lost.

In a 4-1 ruling on Sept. 3, the court determined that Allison could not be placed on the November ballot.

That means an already embarrassing personal scandal has now created a potentially serious electoral headache for the party.

What began with reports of a bizarre late-night disturbance inside a Chicago hotel ultimately ended with a Democratic incumbent abandoning his reelection bid — and his party being blocked from simply swapping in its preferred replacement.

Hernandez says he’ll now focus on his health and family while finishing his term.

But for New Mexico Democrats, the political damage from one wild night in Chicago may last considerably longer.