Senate District 3

Shannon Pinto is running for re-election for Senate District 3. She has held the office since 2019. Pinto was originally appointed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, and then ran for and won re-election to the seat in 2020. She currently serves as Chair of the Indian, Rural & Cultural Affairs Committee, and as a member of the Senate Education Committee. She did not return a candidate questionnaire so the information presented is gathered only through public sources.

Pinto is a member of the Navajo Nation and was born and raised in Tohatchi, New Mexico, a small rural community in McKinley County between Gallup and Shiprock. Her grandfather also served as a state senator for many years. Currently, she works as a Teacher at Tohatchi High School and is also known for her advocacy and community organizing around education reform, tribal sovereignty, affordable housing, healthcare access, and economic development, reflecting her commitment to empowering marginalized communities and ensuring their voices are heard.

Her priorities include education reform, tribal sovereignty, affordable housing, healthcare access, and economic development. Additionally, she is also focused on addressing income equality by attracting higher paying jobs in the community, and increasing mental health and addiction resources for Native Americans. Her voting record in the 2024 and 2023 legislative sessions includes supporting establishing a waiting period for firearm purchases (HB129), requiring public colleges and universities to provide information on affirmative consent in orientation (HB151), requiring disclaimers on political advertising that uses AI-generated content (HB182), and prohibiting firearms at polling places (SB5), and establishing state protections for gender affirming care (HB7).

We highly recommend Shannon Pinto for Senate District 3 based on her history of supporting critical issues for New Mexicans.

Joseph Hernandez is a community organizer and serves as Diné Energy Organizer for NAVA Education Project (NAVAEP) and NM Native Vote, focused on clean energy, solar adoption, and the energy transition act. Previously, he served as field organizer for Anthony Allison’s campaign for the New Mexico House of Representatives, the Committee President of Gadii’ahi-To’koi Chapter Community Land Use Planning Committee, and has also worked in a support staff role for the Navajo Nation Office of Youth Development, Shiprock Agency.

Hernandez’ experience as a community organizer, full-time advocate, and voice for working families at the legislature since 2020 are what motivate him to run for House District 4. His priorities include jobs and economic opportunity tied to solar development, increased access to healthcare including mental health and substance abuse disorder care, and addressing the affordable housing shortage by bringing a modular home manufacturing facility to Shiprock. He also supports paid family medical leave, reproductive rights, and the removal of the state’s rent control ban as well as increased protections via a Renter’s Bill of Rights.

We highly recommend Joseph Hernandez for House District 4 based on his community organizing background, focus on sustainable economic growth, and experience representing the concerns of working families at the state legislature.

Christopher Brian Hudson is running against incumbent Patricia Lundstrom in the Democratic Primary for House District 9.

Hudson works as Coordinator for the McKinley Community Health Alliance, and previously worked in public health and community outreach with Strong Families New Mexico. His volunteer experience includes community organizing for Somos Gallup and We Own It, serving as a board member for NM Alliance of Health Councils, as a lead for the NM Together for Healthcare campaign, and a founding board member of the NW NM Indigenous Women’s Resource Council. Hudson is a UNM graduate, Gates Millennium Scholarship recipient, and was also named 2019 Rural Health Star by the Center for Health Innovation.

Hudson is motivated to run for HD9 because of his passion for community organizing, public health, and serving rural areas of the state. His priorities include increased healthcare and behavioral health access, protections for workers and their families, protections and equitable access for LGBTQ2s+ community members, increased investment in and options for affordable housing, and modernizing the legislature to ensure all New Mexicans are able to serve.

Additionally, Hudson supports active and inclusive consultation with tribal governments and nations, increased investment in renewable energy, protecting clean air and water, and a just transition away from oil and gas industries.

We recommend Christopher Hudson based on his track record of advocating for healthcare access and education, and for his experience in public outreach and community organizing for House District 9.