Senate District 42

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. 
 

Gabe Vasquez is running for re-election to New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District. He has held the position since 2022, and serves on the House Armed Services Committee and House Agriculture Committee. 

Prior to serving in Congress, Vasquez was a member of Las Cruces City Council from 2017-21. Previously, he worked as Deputy Director of the Western Conservation Foundation, Deputy Director of New Mexico's chapter of the Wilderness Society, Director of Community Relations for the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, and was also executive director of the Las Cruces Hispano Chamber of Commerce and a Field Representative for Senator Martin Heinrich’s office. He is a graduate of New Mexico State University. 

Vasquez’ priorities include strengthening economic development by investing in renewable energy and promoting sustainable agriculture, protecting natural resources, improving healthcare by strengthening the Affordable Care Act, expanding Medicaid, and increasing funding for community health centers, and supporting veterans via mental health support and job training programs. 

His track record includes leading efforts to designate the Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument, sponsoring legislation to return water rights and management to the Pueblo of Zuni, investing in smart technology to detect fentanyl at ports of entry, and providing a pathway to citizenship for essential workers and agricultural workforces. 

We recommend Gabe Vasquez for US Congressional District 2 based on his focus of creating good-paying jobs, protecting our land and water, improving healthcare, and supporting our veterans. 
 

Teresa Leger Fernandez is running for re-election to New Mexico's 3rd Congressional District. She has held the position since 2021, and serves on the House Rules Committee, House Committee on Natural Resources, House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and is Vice Chair of the Congressional Democratic Women’s Caucus and a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Previously, Fernandez was Founder & Primary Counsel at Leger Law & Strategy where her focus areas included impact litigation, community project financing, civil and voting rights, and tribal law. Prior to that, she worked as a General Counsel for Nordhaus Law, specializing in representing Native American sovereign entities and their business and social development entities. She has also served as a Clinton and Obama presidential appointee, White House Fellow on housing issues, Vice Chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and as an acequia commission in Northern NM. Fernandez is a graduate of Yale University, received her law degree from Stanford Law School, and was born and raised in Las Vegas, New Mexico, 

Fernandez’ priorities include supporting local economies by improving access to education and job training programs, protecting and expanding access to affordable healthcare, particularly in rural areas, addressing the opioid epidemic by investing in mental/behavioral health programs, and building sustainable economic growth through investments in renewable energy, infrastructure, and small businesses. 

Her track record includes sponsoring or co-sponsoring legislation to return water rights and management to the Pueblo of Zuni, improve emergency obstetric services and training for rural areas, get unhoused disabled veterans into housing built exclusively for them on veteran land, and increase access to mental/behavioral programs for the opioid/fentanyl public health crisis. Additionally, Fernandez has advocated for a just transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy and clean energy jobs, Medicare for All, and to ban the sale of weapons of war including semi-automatic rifles. She also supports the DREAM Act, comprehensive immigration reform, and has advanced legislation to reinforce Native American communities in access to credit/finance as well as investing in Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) to increase homeownership for tribal communities in rural areas.

Teresa Leger Fernandez is being challenged by Sharon E. Clahchischilliage. Clahchischilliage is a member of the NM Public Education Commission and served in the NM Legislature as the House District 4 representative from 2013-18. She has also worked as a special education teacher and for the Navajo Nation, and was nominated/appointed by George W. Bush and Heather Wilson to executive branch roles. While there is limited information on her priorities and proposed policy, her website states that she is focused on private lands issues, agriculture, and education. 

We highly recommend Teresa Leger Fernandez for US Congressional District 3 based on her close collaboration with our state’s tribes, nations, and pueblos, commitment to public service, and track record of investing in education, expanding healthcare access, and creating economic opportunities for all New Mexican families.