Those hoping to support the lowriding community with a “Lowrider Capital of the World” specialty license plate are out of luck.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham vetoed a bill to create the license plate, citing it as an example of the skewed legislative priorities during this year’s legislative session.
To Sen. Leo Jaramillo, who introduced Senate Bill 327, it represented so much more than another license plate for people to choose from when registering their vehicles.
“Every time I introduce myself, I say I am Senator Leo Jaramillo who proudly represents the beautiful Española Valley, which is the lowrider capital of the world,” Jaramillo said in a telephone interview. “It’s where we’re brown and down and low to the ground.”
The license plate is about bringing community pride to the Valley when it needs a win, he said.
In her statement explaining the veto, Grisham expressed frustration with the legislature for its failure to acknowledge bills that could have helped New Mexicans “not because they lacked merit, but because the Legislature ran out of time or simply refused to give the legislation a hearing.”
She specifically cited the lowrider license plate bill’s passage through the Senate Appropriations and Finance Committee as an example of the legislature’s skewed focus.
“One of those license plate bills even made it through the Senate Finance Committee, where lawmakers claimed they did not have time to hear a bill that would have helped build more housing for New Mexicans,” Grisham wrote. “That was not just a missed opportunity — it was a misuse of time and priorities.”
Jaramillo said debate of the bill on both the House and Senate floors took minutes and brought together Democrat and Republic legislators. It was also an opportunity for a student from Alcalde Elementary School to testify on behalf of the bill and become involved in the legislative process.
“(Grisham) reached out all the time to our lowrider community to cruise her through parades, and I thought she would be excited about the license plate because they came through for her,” Jaramillo said.
The lowrider community has not only come through for the governor, but also the people of the Valley, often bringing positive attention to the community.
While the slick pinstripes, white-walled tires and shining rims of a lowrider grab people’s attention, Joan and Arthur “Lowlow” Medina also use them as a way to get people focused on helping those in need.
The Medinas are members of a legendary multi-generational lowrider family from the Española Valley, whose worked has gained national attention. Last year, the couple was featured in a “60 Minutes” segment, highlighting the cultural significance of lowriders and how they see themselves as volunteers to help those in need. The Española Lowrider Association sponsors things like toy, clothing and coat drives, and often appears at events throughout the year.
Joan Medina said they also took their cars to the legislature in Santa Fe on Española Day, Rio Arriba County Day and Lowrider Day to represent the community.
While she is disappointed the bill was vetoed, she is thankful to Jaramillo for introducing the bill and for all the support it received as it made its way through the legislative committees.
Joan Medina said she doesn’t mind if the bill comes in low and slow, just like her cars, as long as it doesn’t scrape the ground.
Jaramillo said he will reintroduce the bill during the 60-day legislative session in 2027.
“It is all about changing the perception of the community and showing the value that we are so much more deserving and deserve a seat at the table,” Jaramillo said. “We are not the joke because no one is laughing anymore.”