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State Senator, District 8

Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below State Senate races on your ballot.

State Senator

No Recommendation

Dr. Michael Lopez is running against incumbent Pete Campos in the Democratic Primary for Senate District 8. He did not return a candidate questionnaire so the information presented is gathered only through public sources. 

Lopez is a Las Vegas, New Mexico native and works as a physician/MD for the Alta Vista Regional Hospital where he has been in practice for more than 20 years. 

Lopez’ policy priorities include women’s reproductive rights, supporting local businesses to create more jobs, and allocating funding and resources for early childhood education. He also plans to focus on environmental issues by attracting clean industry and planning for future water use. On his website, Lopez outlines a number of additional areas of focus, but many of them lack specifics about what policies he would support to achieve them. 

Lopez’ stance on tougher penalties for those who commit a crime and his use of the word “citizen” when talking about increasing educational trade opportunities give us cause for concern. 

There is not enough public information for us to make a recommendation for or against Dr. Michael Lopez for Senate District 8.
 

Pete Campos is running for re-election for Senate District 8. He has served in the legislature since 1991. He did not return a candidate questionnaire so the information presented is gathered only through public sources. Campos was a high school counselor for Santa Rosa Consolidated schools and president of Luna County Community College for seven years. Currently, he serves on the Board of Trustees for Alta Vista Regional Hospital, and on the Board of Directors for Community First Bank of Las Vegas, NM. 

Campos’ record includes supporting bills that target environmental issues, equitable wages and working conditions, and advancing equity for New Mexican workers. He has also taken action in the higher education sector by sponsoring a bill that was signed this year to create a higher education trust fund which will fund scholarships for public post-secondary education institutions.

Campos is registered as a Democrat, however, he often votes with Republicans on key issues and also opts not to vote on critical policies. Some critical votes that Campos has voted NO on are: Repeal of State Law Criminalizing Abortion (SB10, 2021), protections for abortion and gender affirming healthcare (SB13 & HB7, 2023) Establishes a Waiting Period for Firearm Sales (HB129, 2024). He also opted to not vote on legislation that Prohibits Future Interest Rate Increases i.e. predatory loan caps (HB132, 2022), 

While Campos has voted for some good policies, given the critical policies he has voted against, we cannot recommend Pete Campos for Senate District 8.

No Recommendation - SD 8

Dr. Michael Lopez is running against incumbent Pete Campos in the Democratic Primary for Senate District 8. He did not return a candidate questionnaire so the information presented is gathered only through public sources. 

Lopez is a Las Vegas, New Mexico native and works as a physician/MD for the Alta Vista Regional Hospital where he has been in practice for more than 20 years. 

Lopez’ policy priorities include women’s reproductive rights, supporting local businesses to create more jobs, and allocating funding and resources for early childhood education. He also plans to focus on environmental issues by attracting clean industry and planning for future water use. On his website, Lopez outlines a number of additional areas of focus, but many of them lack specifics about what policies he would support to achieve them. 

Lopez’ stance on tougher penalties for those who commit a crime and his use of the word “citizen” when talking about increasing educational trade opportunities give us cause for concern. 

There is not enough public information for us to make a recommendation for or against Dr. Michael Lopez for Senate District 8.
 

Pete Campos is running for re-election for Senate District 8. He has served in the legislature since 1991. He did not return a candidate questionnaire so the information presented is gathered only through public sources. Campos was a high school counselor for Santa Rosa Consolidated schools and president of Luna County Community College for seven years. Currently, he serves on the Board of Trustees for Alta Vista Regional Hospital, and on the Board of Directors for Community First Bank of Las Vegas, NM. 

Campos’ record includes supporting bills that target environmental issues, equitable wages and working conditions, and advancing equity for New Mexican workers. He has also taken action in the higher education sector by sponsoring a bill that was signed this year to create a higher education trust fund which will fund scholarships for public post-secondary education institutions.

Campos is registered as a Democrat, however, he often votes with Republicans on key issues and also opts not to vote on critical policies. Some critical votes that Campos has voted NO on are: Repeal of State Law Criminalizing Abortion (SB10, 2021), protections for abortion and gender affirming healthcare (SB13 & HB7, 2023) Establishes a Waiting Period for Firearm Sales (HB129, 2024). He also opted to not vote on legislation that Prohibits Future Interest Rate Increases i.e. predatory loan caps (HB132, 2022), 

While Campos has voted for some good policies, given the critical policies he has voted against, we cannot recommend Pete Campos for Senate District 8.

State Senate District
8

Representative, District 41

Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below State House races on your ballot.

State Representative

  • Susan Herrera photo
    Democrat

    Susan Herrera

    Website Facebook
  • Susan Herrera is running for re-election in the Democratic Primary for House District 41. Herrera has served in the seat since 2019. She is currently the Chair of the Rural Development, Land Grants and Cultural Affairs Committee (previously serving as Vice Chair), and before that was Vice Chair of the Agriculture & Water Resources Committee as well as a commitment member of the Taxation & Revenue and Appropriations and Finance Committees.

    Herrera was the founding executive director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation (LANLF) and led the organization for seventeen years. Prior to that, she also worked as director of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, as a legislative staffer in Washington D.C. and in roles at the University of New Mexico and non-profit organizations like Siete del Norte and Child-Rite. She also founded the Northern New Mexico Community College Foundation and served as President of the New Mexico Association of Grantmakers.

    Herrera is passionate about the topics of land and water use, rural economic development, and education, and her experience leading Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation and Northern New Mexico Community College Foundation, in particular, are a key driver for her in serving House District 41. As a legislator, Herrera’s key priority areas include clean energy, healthcare, and education. In the last two legislative sessions, she voted for investments in early childhood programs, increased teacher pay, and funding technical and trade school programs in Northern New Mexico. Herrera also advanced legislation to protect financially vulnerable people from predatory lending, sponsoring HB128 which was signed into law this year and caps the annual percentage rate (APR) for loans under $10,000 at 36% (previously it was up to 175%).

    Her voting record also includes support for the Paid Family Leave Act, Voting Rights Act and Native American Voting Rights Act (HB4, 2023), and Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Act (SB13 and HB7, 2023). She supports legislation that would protect workers rights, abolish rent control and expand investments in affordable housing, and increase reproductive health services in rural communities, along with expanded voting rights and access.

    We highly recommend Susan Herrera for House District 41 based on her voting record, values, and support for working and middle class New Mexicans.

    Susan Herrera

    Susan Herrera is running for re-election in the Democratic Primary for House District 41. Herrera has served in the seat since 2019. She is currently the Chair of the Rural Development, Land Grants and Cultural Affairs Committee (previously serving as Vice Chair), and before that was Vice Chair of the Agriculture & Water Resources Committee as well as a commitment member of the Taxation & Revenue and Appropriations and Finance Committees.

    Herrera was the founding executive director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation (LANLF) and led the organization for seventeen years. Prior to that, she also worked as director of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, as a legislative staffer in Washington D.C. and in roles at the University of New Mexico and non-profit organizations like Siete del Norte and Child-Rite. She also founded the Northern New Mexico Community College Foundation and served as President of the New Mexico Association of Grantmakers.

    Herrera is passionate about the topics of land and water use, rural economic development, and education, and her experience leading Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation and Northern New Mexico Community College Foundation, in particular, are a key driver for her in serving House District 41. As a legislator, Herrera’s key priority areas include clean energy, healthcare, and education. In the last two legislative sessions, she voted for investments in early childhood programs, increased teacher pay, and funding technical and trade school programs in Northern New Mexico. Herrera also advanced legislation to protect financially vulnerable people from predatory lending, sponsoring HB128 which was signed into law this year and caps the annual percentage rate (APR) for loans under $10,000 at 36% (previously it was up to 175%).

    Her voting record also includes support for the Paid Family Leave Act, Voting Rights Act and Native American Voting Rights Act (HB4, 2023), and Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Act (SB13 and HB7, 2023). She supports legislation that would protect workers rights, abolish rent control and expand investments in affordable housing, and increase reproductive health services in rural communities, along with expanded voting rights and access.

    We highly recommend Susan Herrera for House District 41 based on her voting record, values, and support for working and middle class New Mexicans.

    House District
    41
    Susan Herrera is running for re-election in the Democratic Primary for House District 41. Herrera has served in the seat since 2019. She is currently the Chair of the Rural Development, Land Grants and Cultural Affairs Committee (previously serving as Vice Chair), and before that was Vice Chair of the Agriculture & Water Resources Committee as well as a commitment member of the Taxation & Revenue and Appropriations and Finance Committees.

    Herrera was the founding executive director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation (LANLF) and led the organization for seventeen years. Prior to that, she also worked as director of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, as a legislative staffer in Washington D.C. and in roles at the University of New Mexico and non-profit organizations like Siete del Norte and Child-Rite. She also founded the Northern New Mexico Community College Foundation and served as President of the New Mexico Association of Grantmakers.

    Herrera is passionate about the topics of land and water use, rural economic development, and education, and her experience leading Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation and Northern New Mexico Community College Foundation, in particular, are a key driver for her in serving House District 41. As a legislator, Herrera’s key priority areas include clean energy, healthcare, and education. In the last two legislative sessions, she voted for investments in early childhood programs, increased teacher pay, and funding technical and trade school programs in Northern New Mexico. Herrera also advanced legislation to protect financially vulnerable people from predatory lending, sponsoring HB128 which was signed into law this year and caps the annual percentage rate (APR) for loans under $10,000 at 36% (previously it was up to 175%).

    Her voting record also includes support for the Paid Family Leave Act, Voting Rights Act and Native American Voting Rights Act (HB4, 2023), and Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Act (SB13 and HB7, 2023). She supports legislation that would protect workers rights, abolish rent control and expand investments in affordable housing, and increase reproductive health services in rural communities, along with expanded voting rights and access.

    We highly recommend Susan Herrera for House District 41 based on her voting record, values, and support for working and middle class New Mexicans.

    Susan Herrera

    Susan Herrera is running for re-election in the Democratic Primary for House District 41. Herrera has served in the seat since 2019. She is currently the Chair of the Rural Development, Land Grants and Cultural Affairs Committee (previously serving as Vice Chair), and before that was Vice Chair of the Agriculture & Water Resources Committee as well as a commitment member of the Taxation & Revenue and Appropriations and Finance Committees.

    Herrera was the founding executive director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation (LANLF) and led the organization for seventeen years. Prior to that, she also worked as director of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, as a legislative staffer in Washington D.C. and in roles at the University of New Mexico and non-profit organizations like Siete del Norte and Child-Rite. She also founded the Northern New Mexico Community College Foundation and served as President of the New Mexico Association of Grantmakers.

    Herrera is passionate about the topics of land and water use, rural economic development, and education, and her experience leading Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation and Northern New Mexico Community College Foundation, in particular, are a key driver for her in serving House District 41. As a legislator, Herrera’s key priority areas include clean energy, healthcare, and education. In the last two legislative sessions, she voted for investments in early childhood programs, increased teacher pay, and funding technical and trade school programs in Northern New Mexico. Herrera also advanced legislation to protect financially vulnerable people from predatory lending, sponsoring HB128 which was signed into law this year and caps the annual percentage rate (APR) for loans under $10,000 at 36% (previously it was up to 175%).

    Her voting record also includes support for the Paid Family Leave Act, Voting Rights Act and Native American Voting Rights Act (HB4, 2023), and Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Act (SB13 and HB7, 2023). She supports legislation that would protect workers rights, abolish rent control and expand investments in affordable housing, and increase reproductive health services in rural communities, along with expanded voting rights and access.

    We highly recommend Susan Herrera for House District 41 based on her voting record, values, and support for working and middle class New Mexicans.

    House District
    41

Other Candidates

Other Candidate - HD41

Margaret Campos is running against Susan Herrera in the Democratic Primary for House District 41. She did not return our questionnaire so all information provided is from public sources. 

Campos currently manages/owns her own business, MC Campos Consulting, and is also the Assistant Economic Development Director for Rio Arriba County. She also serves as Executive Director for the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area. Prior professional experience includes working for NM Department of Health, Los Alamos National Labs, managing her own farm, and founding Comida de Campos, a farm-to-table cooking school. 

Campos’ drive to run for office derives from her time spent with her grandparents growing up who instilled the values of honesty, integrity, and hard work in her. Her priorities include protecting the environment through policies that prioritize sustainability, investing in education and increasing after school programs and college readiness, and policies that protect seniors and veterans such as increased funding for community centers and better healthcare resources. Lastly, Campos’ supports policies that would increase affordable housing and increase addiction treatment centers to address the drug epidemic. 

Based on minimal information about the specific policies she would implement as well as the strength of her opponent, we do not recommend Margaret Campos for House District 41.

House District
41

Other Candidate - HD41

Margaret Campos is running against Susan Herrera in the Democratic Primary for House District 41. She did not return our questionnaire so all information provided is from public sources. 

Campos currently manages/owns her own business, MC Campos Consulting, and is also the Assistant Economic Development Director for Rio Arriba County. She also serves as Executive Director for the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area. Prior professional experience includes working for NM Department of Health, Los Alamos National Labs, managing her own farm, and founding Comida de Campos, a farm-to-table cooking school. 

Campos’ drive to run for office derives from her time spent with her grandparents growing up who instilled the values of honesty, integrity, and hard work in her. Her priorities include protecting the environment through policies that prioritize sustainability, investing in education and increasing after school programs and college readiness, and policies that protect seniors and veterans such as increased funding for community centers and better healthcare resources. Lastly, Campos’ supports policies that would increase affordable housing and increase addiction treatment centers to address the drug epidemic. 

Based on minimal information about the specific policies she would implement as well as the strength of her opponent, we do not recommend Margaret Campos for House District 41.

House District
41