New Mexico Megachurch Pastor Endorses Political Candidates, Challenging Johnson Amendment

Pastor Steve Smothermon of Legacy Church, a nondenominational congregation with nine locations in New Mexico, has publicly endorsed two Republican candidates for the 2026 midterm elections. Smothermon expressed support for congressional candidate Greg Cunningham in August and gubernatorial candidate Gregg Hull in October, urging his congregation to vote based on a biblical worldview.

These endorsements have drawn scrutiny regarding the Johnson Amendment, a 1954 federal law that prohibits tax-exempt organizations, including churches, from participating in political campaigns or endorsing candidates. While the law remains in effect, the political activity at Legacy Church occurs amid ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to challenge federal restrictions on such endorsements.

In a statement provided to The Guardian, Smothermon defended his actions by arguing that government restrictions on political speech are unconstitutional. He stated that the church decided to speak out against what he characterized as government tyranny, noting that the congregation views such censorship as null and void. Legacy Church has not provided further comment to other media outlets regarding the potential legal implications of these endorsements.