ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Laughter is a universal language but a New Mexico comic is using his political past for new punch lines as he starts a new chapter in life.

Tripp Stelnicki has been in the spotlight before, working for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office.

“I was doing comedy before I worked in the governor’s office, so it predated that,” Tripp said.

Political zingers are part of Tripp’s shtick – but it’s not his whole act.

“Not that you want to try and keep everybody happy because comedy’s about breaking taboos. I try and just say what I believe. And obviously it has to be funny first, but then if it’s not coming from an authentic place of how you really feel about things, I try and not make it the focus of things,” Tripp said.

Readers of Albuquerque the Magazine seem to believe he’s doing a good job. They voted him best local comic recently.

His focus isn’t on his recent success, though. It’s on the growth of his fan club – at home.

“[This is my] last show as nonparents,” Tripp said to the audience at Dry Heat Comedy Club.

Tripp and his wife, Anna, welcomed their newborn baby to the world. The couple met during the pandemic and married about a year and a half ago. Their spotlight, now, is on their growing family.

Meet them and see their full story in the video above.