House District 53

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. 
 

Sarah Silva is running for the open seat in the General Election for House District 53. This seat was previously held by Willie Madrid, who lost in the primary election to Dr. Jon Hill. Dr. Hill passed away unexpectedly shortly after the primary election but endorsed Silva before dying. She was unanimously selected to fill the seat in a field of three candidates. 

Silva is a longtime community organizer, mother, and lifelong New Mexican. She is well known for her previous work in/around Las Cruces as the Executive Director of New Mexico Comunidades en Acción y de Fe (NM CAFe), where she successfully led efforts to raise the minimum wage, help to incorporate the City of Anthony in Doña Ana County, and seek designation of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. She has also worked nationally with Faith in Action, a national network of faith-based organizations around the country. She has continued her community organizing as a professional trainer as well as coach for many organizations including the ACLU, New Mexico Doula Association, and National Indigenous Women's Resource Center.

Silva’s priorities include securing healthcare rights/access for all New Mexicans, including access to abortion care, ensuring public entities aren’t overrun by private equity firms, and fighting to secure our land and resources for future generations. She has also stated that she’ll be “one of the most progressive voices” in the legislature if elected. 

Elizabeth “Liz” Winterrowd is challenging Sarah Silva for the open seat in House District 53. During Winterrowd’s bid for House District 53 in 2022, she signed the Abortion Free Pledge, which says “I pledge to defend life from conception to natural death…I am committed to ending all abortion and all assisted suicide in the State of New Mexico.” Winterrowd has also raised confusing claims on her campaign website, including that children are “engaging in life-changing, life-endangering abortion or transgender procedures without a parent’s knowledge or consent,” though it is not clear where she believes this is happening. Additionally, Winterrowd opposes worker protections like Paid Family Medical and raising the state minimum wage to $15/hr, and supports decreasing protections of air, land, and water in the state. She also received an AQ rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA), which is the highest rating someone can earn if they are not already in office.

We highly recommend Sarah Silva for House District 53 based on her past experience as a dedicated community organizer and her work to protect New Mexico’s working families.