House District 24

Martin Heinrich is running for re-election to the US Senate. He has held the position since 2013, and serves as chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, chairman of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, and previously as chairman of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies subcommittee. 

Previously, Heinrich represented New Mexico's 1st Congressional District from 2009-13 and also served as an Albuquerque City Councilor, and Council President, from 2004-08. He has also run his own public affairs firm, led a nonprofit focused on educating young people on the environment and science, served on the executive committee of the Sierra Club's Rio Grande Chapter, and was appointed by NM Governor Bill Richardson to be the state's Natural Resources Trustee. 

Heinrich’s priorities include land conservation and protecting agriculture, ranching, and food systems, investing in infrastructure via rebuilding roads/bridges, expanding access to clean drinking water, and increasing high-speed internet access, protecting civil liberties and individual freedoms, expanding education, healthcare, and wellness programs, and leading efforts to grow jobs and the economy via renewable and clean energy.

His track record includes championing reproductive rights and healthcare – he advanced legislation protecting access to in vitro fertilization (IVF), contraception, and abortion, and co-sponsored Medicare-For-All legislation in 2017. He is a strong supporter of civil rights and was an original cosponsor of 2009 legislation to repeal the ban on gay marriage. Heinrich has advocated for and passed common sense gun safety laws, expanded health care access for veterans in both urban and rural areas, and led efforts to expand and invest in mental/behavioral services including specifically addressing the opioid/fentanyl public health crisis. 

Heinrich is also well known for his work supporting clean/renewable energy jobs and protecting the environment and public lands. He co-sponsored the Green New Deal in 2019, which would establish net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and led efforts to establish Columbine-Hondo Wilderness in the Carson National Forest, the creation of the Rio Grande Del Norte and Organ Mountains Desert-Peaks National Monuments, creating the Sabinoso Wilderness, expanded public access to the Valles Caldera National Preserve, Passed the Great American Outdoors Act to address billions of dollars of deferred maintenance on public lands, and designating White Sands as a National Park.

Martin Heinrich is being challenged by Nella Domenici. Domenici is the daughter of former US Senator Pete Domenici, who served from 1973 to 2009. Previously, she worked as CFO for Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund, and has also worked for Citadel and Credit Suisse. Domenici’s stated priorities include increasing oil and gas extraction while reducing regulations, spending more on border security and law enforcement, and lowering taxes. Additionally, on the topic of reproductive health, while she has labeled herself as moderate via TV ads, Domenici has donated close to $20K to extreme anti-abortion candidates, including Yvette Herrell and Mark Ronchetti in New Mexico, Adam Laxalt in Nevada, and her former Bridgewater CEO Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania. 

We highly recommend Martin Heinrich for US Senate based on his clear and consistent record of protecting civil and individual rights, investing in infrastructure, spurring sustainable economic growth and renewable/clean energy jobs, and championing public lands and the environment, which are essential to New Mexico’s heritage, traditions, and economy. 
 

Melanie Stansbury is running for re-election to New Mexico's 1st Congressional District. She has held the position since 2021, and serves on the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

Before serving in Congress, Stansbury served in the NM State Legislature as House District 28 Representative from 2019-21. Previously, she worked as a STEM Educator and researcher on land and water issues across New Mexico, and as a staffer for the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the White House Office of Management and Budget. She is a graduate of Cornell University, Saint Mary's College of California, and Cibola High School. 

Stansbury’s priorities include addressing the climate crisis through renewable energy and protection of natural resources, economic opportunity via fair wages, workplace protections, and supporting small businesses, increased access to healthcare including Medicaid expansion and protections for those with pre-existing conditions, and investing in public education including early childhood programs, higher education, and workforce development. 

Her track record includes: passing legislation promoting renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, working to increase funding for public education and early childhood programs, supporting bills expanding Medicaid coverage and protecting healthcare access for vulnerable populations, collaborating with local businesses and organizations to create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

Melanie Stansbury is being challenged by Steve Jones. Jones describes himself as a graduate of the University of Houston, certified Public Accountant, retired Army Medic, and has also worked as a CFO and investor in the energy sector. His stated priorities are to improve the economy by lowering taxes and reducing government spending, spend more on border security, and protect the 2nd Amendment by promoting education and training while opposing any legislative or regulatory action. 

We highly recommend Melanie Stansbury for US Congressional District 1 based on her unique blend of scientific expertise and policy experience, and her track record on climate action, economic opportunity, healthcare access, education, and her close alignment with New Mexican values.
 

Heather Berghmans is currently a policy analyst and finance consultant and recently worked as Finance Director for the New Mexico House Democratic Campaign. Previous roles include Director of Special Projects to Speaker of the House Javier Martinez, Policy Analyst for Speaker of the House Brian Egolf, and Lead Policy/Committee Analyst - New Mexico House of Representatives. She also served on the City of Albuquerque’s 2022 Redistricting Committee.

Prior to her policy and legislative work, Berghmans worked as an operations director for high growth e-commerce companies and on the administrative/operations team at New Mexico Kids Network. She received her undergraduate degree at UNM, and earned a Master’s in Public Administration from the UNM School of Public Administration.

Berghmans’ motivation to run for Senate District 15 comes from her passion for public service as a way of improving the lives of children, women, and families, and her experience with passing important policies in the legislature.

Over the last few years, Berghmans has played a critical role in the passage of policies related to protections for abortion access, gun violence prevention, access to education, working families rights, voting protections, and more. Her priorities include addressing housing and homelessness through an increase in affordable housing and rent control, public safety through improved gun control regulations, and healthcare equality through policies such as access to full spectrum healthcare and innovative initiatives to support our doctors, along with strategic expansion of telehealth and mobile health clinics.

Additionally, Berghmans supports expanding early childhood education and increasing educators' pay as well as zero dollar copays for healthcare, improving our economy by supporting both emerging industry and small businesses, and protecting our environment through a just transition to adopting renewable energy.

Heather Berghmans is being challenged by Republican Craig Degenhardt for Senate District 15. While Degenhardt’s campaign website has very little details on the policies he supports, a review of his platform and campaign Facebook shows he supports policies unfavored by New Mexicans such as increasing law enforcement presence to reduce crime, without mention of other safety programs for our communities, expanding “energy” sources by increasing oil & gas operations in our state, and addressing the current border crisis without stating any policies that would address the root cause of the issue.

We highly recommend Heather Berghmans for Senate District 15 based on her experience with policies in the state Legislature and her demonstrated commitment to New Mexicans.

Natalie Figueroa is running for re-election in the General Election for House District 30. Figueroa has held the position since 2019, and currently serves as Vice Chair of the House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs committee and as a member of the House Appropriations & Finance Committee.

Figueroa works as a Spanish language teacher at Volcano Vista High School and holds a Tier III New Mexico Teaching License. Coming from a family of educators, her passion for teaching has earned her numerous grants and scholarships, and she is well known for her leadership/volunteer experience, including serving as a mentor teacher at UNM’s School of Education, and working with the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Language and the Southwest Conference on Language Teaching. She also volunteers at The Storehouse, Asbury Pie Café, and assists with tax preparation for older adults.

She is motivated to run for re-election for Senate District 18 because of her commitment to ensuring children have access to quality education, affordable healthcare, and a safe and healthy environment. Her advocacy and work in the state legislature over the past few years include supporting critical bills like Paid Family Medical Leave, prohibiting firearms at state drop boxes and polling locations, increasing the oil and gas royalty rate, establishing state clean energy standards, and protecting abortion access and gender affirming care. She has also voted in favor of investing in affordable housing, establishing a service members suicide prevention program, and increasing funding for early childhood education and care programs.

Natalie Figueroa is being challenged by MAGA Republican and Trump supporter Kurstin Johnson. Her top priority is addressing crime via harsher sentencing, including prosecuting smaller offenses like shoplifting and trespassing instead of addressing the root causes of crime. In 2022-24 candidates surveys, she stated she supports eliminating the Gross Receipts Tax and moving to a sales tax that would disproportionately impact working families. She also stated that the oil and gas industry “should be protected and offered pathways to increase production” and would like to see additional extraction, including uranium and rare earth minerals. Additionally, she opposes Paid Family Medical Leave and raising the state minimum wage to $15/hr.

We highly recommend Natalie Figueroa for Senate District 18 based on her legislative and voting record which demonstrate her consistency to safeguarding the values of New Mexicans.

Martin Hickey is running in the General Election for re-election for Senate District 20. Hickey has held the position since 2021, and currently serves as a member of the Senate Education and Senate Health & Public Affairs Committees.

Hickey is well known for his work as CEO for True Health New Mexico, CEO for NM Health Connections, and CEO and Chief Medical Officer for Lovelace Health Systems, and is the only member of the legislature who is also a physician. Prior experience includes working as an Associate Professor of Medicine and Medical Director at UNM Medical Center and as an internist with the Indian Health Services on the Navajo Nation. He holds a B.A. in Social and Behavioral Health from Johns Hopkins University. He has also served as a board member of beWell NM, United Way Campaign, on the NM Medical Insurance Board, and is a Former Chair, New Mexico Hospital Association.

Hickey is motivated to run for re-election for Senate District 20 by his lifelong commitment to service, rooted in the values instilled by his parents, with a particular focus on education, hard work, and helping those less fortunate. His priorities include addressing public safety through a balance of accountability and investment, including increased sentencing while also increasing mental/behavioral health and diversion programs. He also supports strengthening the economy by focusing on small businesses and increasing investment in trade skills and accelerated training programs. On healthcare, he supports improving drug affordability, focusing on prevention by lowering costs and eliminating copays for behavioral health visits and common chronic illness medications, and addressing the physician shortage via tuition reimbursement for medical students who stay in New Mexico as well as extra stipends for those who choose to work in rural areas.

His track record includes voting for critical bills like requiring health insurance companies to reimburse for mental health coverage, protecting access to abortion and gender affirming care, paid family medical leave, establishing a waiting period for firearm purchases, and establishing gun storage safety reforms. He has also voted in favor of requiring disclosure of AI-generated content in political advertising, requiring public colleges and universities to include material on affirmative consent during orientation, requiring background checks for employees of the state aging and long term services department, and sponsored legislation requiring health insurance companies to provide reimbursement for mental health coverage.

Martin Hickey is being challenged by Republican Wayne Yevoli. Yevoli, a small business owner and engineer, has stated that his top priorities are addressing crime and cutting state spending. He supports eliminating the Gross Receipts Tax, increased law enforcement, and reinstating qualified immunity for police officers. He also opposes Paid Family Medical Leave and additional environmental protections, such as a one mile setback to protect children against pollution coming from oil and gas production facilities.

We highly recommend Martin Hickey for Senate District 20 based on his voting record over the past years which shows his commitment to meeting the needs of New Mexicans.

Elizabeth “Liz” Thomson is running for re-election in the General Election for House District 24. She served as a representative from 2013-2015, and again from 2017 through the present. She is currently Chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee and a member of the House Consumer and Public Affairs, House Printing and Supplies, and House Rules and Order of Business committees.

Thomson has spent her career as a pediatric physical therapist and has served on the Board of the New Mexico Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association.

She is motivated to run for House District 24 by her personal experience being the parent of an autistic child who did not have access to services/support in Albuquerque. During her time in office, Thomson has championed policies that improve education for children, especially those with disabilities. Her policy priorities include improving education opportunities through increased funding and support for public schools and educators and strengthening New Mexico’s working families by championing fair tax codes as well as diversifying our economy through renewable energy and recruitment of new companies. Thomson is also focused on reducing crime through comprehensive approaches that address root causes, including investing in mental/behavioral health and addiction resources. Thomson is also the only practicing medical professional currently serving in the NM House of Representatives.

Thomson has a strong track record of reinforcing New Mexican families. In 2024, she voted in favor of affordable housing, paid family medical leave, establishing a service member suicide prevention program, reducing state income tax rates, creating clean energy standards, establishing a waiting period for firearm purchases, and co-sponsoring a bill that requires affirmative consent be included in higher education orienation. In 2023, she voted to protect access to abortion and gender affirming care, prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity, appropriate funds for environmental and cultural preservation, and expand the voting rights act.

Liz Thomson is being challenged by Ann Edenfield. There is limited public information available on Edenfield. She ran the nonprofit Wings for LIFE International for 28 years and has stated that the founding fathers and the Bible guide her political philosophy.

We highly recommend Elizabeth “Liz” Thomson for re-election to House District 24 based on her record of voting to reinforce and protect working families, and her willingness to listen to and work with constituents in her district and across the state.