Other Candidates
Marian Matthews is running for re-election to House District 27. Matthews has served in the seat since 2020, and is currently a member of the Agriculture, Acquias & Water Resources Committee and the Commerce and Economic Development Committee. She did not return a candidate questionnaire so the information presented is gathered through public sources.
Matthews is a retired attorney and prosecutor, and previously worked as an educator at Central New Mexico Community College, development director of PB&J Family Services, and Deputy Attorney General to Tom Udall.
While Matthews’ vote record is typically aligned with progressive values, some of her previous votes, sponsored bills, and most recently voting against a robust Paid Family Medical Leave bill are causes for concern. She has a history of supporting legislation that increases penalties for crimes including co-sponsoring HB79 in 2022, which allowed for more severe penalties for second-degree murder plus additional time for prosecutors to bring charges, and co-sponsoring HB68, described as a “sweeping crime package that includes recruitment and retention bonuses for police and stiffer penalties for felons.” In 2023, Matthews also sponsored HB 234, a bill that proposed to increase penalties for shoplifting and retail crime. Most concerning, in 2024, Matthews introduced HB11, an alternative paid family leave bill that offered only six weeks of paid leave time and only required employees, not employers, to pay into the state-managed fund.
Based on Matthews’ voting record to increase incarceration rates as well as voting against the robust Paid Family Medical Leave bill in 2024, we do not recommend her for House District 27.
Marian Matthews is running for re-election to House District 27. Matthews has served in the seat since 2020, and is currently a member of the Agriculture, Acquias & Water Resources Committee and the Commerce and Economic Development Committee. She did not return a candidate questionnaire so the information presented is gathered through public sources.
Matthews is a retired attorney and prosecutor, and previously worked as an educator at Central New Mexico Community College, development director of PB&J Family Services, and Deputy Attorney General to Tom Udall.
While Matthews’ vote record is typically aligned with progressive values, some of her previous votes, sponsored bills, and most recently voting against a robust Paid Family Medical Leave bill are causes for concern. She has a history of supporting legislation that increases penalties for crimes including co-sponsoring HB79 in 2022, which allowed for more severe penalties for second-degree murder plus additional time for prosecutors to bring charges, and co-sponsoring HB68, described as a “sweeping crime package that includes recruitment and retention bonuses for police and stiffer penalties for felons.” In 2023, Matthews also sponsored HB 234, a bill that proposed to increase penalties for shoplifting and retail crime. Most concerning, in 2024, Matthews introduced HB11, an alternative paid family leave bill that offered only six weeks of paid leave time and only required employees, not employers, to pay into the state-managed fund.
Based on Matthews’ voting record to increase incarceration rates as well as voting against the robust Paid Family Medical Leave bill in 2024, we do not recommend her for House District 27.
Senate District 21 is an open seat this year as Senator Mark Moores is not running for re-election. Athena Christodoulou and Phillip Snedeker are running to represent this seat. We recommend Athena Christodoulou for Senate District 21.