Martinez had grown up as a Democrat , but switched to the Republican Party in 1995 . Describing her decision to switch parties , Martinez told the audience at the Republican National Convention that Republican friends had taken her to lunch to try to persuade her to join their ranks . She had attended the lunch simply to be polite , but stated that " When we left that lunch , we got in the car , and I looked over at husband Chuck and said , ' I 'll be damned – we 're Republicans
Republican National Convention
2012 Republican National Convention
Susana Martinez