SANTA FE, N.M. — A coalition of Democratic state attorneys general, led in part by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, reportedly convened daily during the first months of 2025 to coordinate lawsuits aimed at countering the Trump administration’s policies. Torrez, who has received backing from left-leaning groups funded by billionaire George Soros, disclosed the intensive legal collaboration in a recent interview with Source New Mexico.
Torrez, who assumed office as New Mexico’s attorney general in 2023 after serving as Bernalillo County district attorney, described the coalition’s initial daily meetings as a concerted effort to organize legal challenges against President Donald Trump’s second term. “We were meeting on a daily basis for the first 90 or so days,” Torrez said, adding that the frequency of meetings has since decreased to every other day.
According to Torrez, this coalition has been responsible for initiating or joining 36 legal actions against various Trump administration initiatives since January 2025. Among these challenges are lawsuits contesting the deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., as well as opposition to immigration policies and the Department of Government Efficiency’s actions.
Torrez described the endeavor as an “ever-growing resource challenge” to monitor the status of ongoing litigation, reflecting the scale and complexity of the legal opposition. His role in this coalition highlights the increasing use of coordinated state-level legal strategies to influence federal policy.
Torrez’s political rise has been closely linked to support from progressive organizations, notably New Mexico Safety & Justice, a super PAC funded substantially by George Soros. Public filings from the New Mexico Secretary of State reveal that Soros contributed $107,000 to this group during Torrez’s 2016 campaign for district attorney, which was instrumental in his election victory. His Republican opponent at the time cited the financial backing as a decisive factor in withdrawing from the race.
Legal experts note that such coalitions of state attorneys general have become influential in shaping national policy through litigation. The U.S. Department of Justice has faced numerous lawsuits from state AGs in recent years, reflecting heightened partisan legal battles.
Torrez’s disclosures come amid ongoing debates about the role of state attorneys general in checking federal executive power. The coalition’s efforts underscore a broader trend of coordinated legal opposition used as a tool of governance and political strategy.
For more on the evolving role of state attorneys general in federal litigation, see the National Association of Attorneys General. Additionally, the USA.gov portal provides resources on state legal offices and their functions.
This development adds a new dimension to the political and legal contest surrounding the Trump administration’s second term, illustrating how state-level actors can mobilize resources to influence national policy through the courts.
