Authoritarian Playbook Hits Home in Alamogordo: How Patronage and Purges Undermine Local Democracy

Political scientist Ruth Ben-Ghiat, author of Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present, warns that authoritarianism is not a distant foreign threat but a universal playbook that can take root anywhere — even in small city halls like Alamogordo, New Mexico. Her framework reveals a pattern of polarization, loyalty networks, and corruption that systematically capture institutions from the top down and the ground up.

In Alamogordo, this playbook unfolded in dramatic fashion in early 2026. On March 10, the City Commission voted unanimously to begin contract negotiations with Dr. Stephanie J. Hernandez, the city’s Acting Manager and a lifelong resident known for her integrity and commitment to transparency. Hernandez had led crucial reforms including performance-based budgeting, grant acquisition, and ethics training for city officials. The vote was celebrated by the community as a win for good governance.

But just 49 days later, she was forced out — a victim of what Ben-Ghiat calls a “passive purge.” Instead of firing Hernandez outright, the patronage network within the commission created a hostile environment that made her position untenable. This tactic mirrors the Trump administration’s federal-level purges, which drove out tens of thousands of civil servants without formal dismissal, clearing the way for loyalists to seize control.

Ben-Ghiat’s analysis makes clear that authoritarianism thrives on replacing expertise with loyalty and using public office for private gain. The contract between the ruler and enablers is simple: support the suppression of democratic norms and civil rights in exchange for power and wealth. Those who resist transparency and accountability like Hernandez are marginalized or eliminated.

Alamogordo’s experience is a stark reminder that the authoritarian playbook is not an abstract concept confined to national politics. It is a present danger that corrupts local institutions, undermines democracy, and betrays public trust. As Ben-Ghiat warns, such leaders do not drain the swamp — they annex city hall and deepen corruption’s hold.

We cannot afford to ignore these warning signs. The fight for democratic integrity must extend from Washington to every city commission chamber across America.