Planned Parenthood Votes New Mexico Endorsements

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.

Linda M. Lopez is running for re-election for Senate District 11. She has served in the legislature since 1997. Lopez owns a consulting business, Lopez Consulting, and works as a recruiter for Presbyterian Healthcare Services. Her volunteer and leadership experience includes serving as Chair of the Bernalillo County Democratic Party, President and Board Member of La Colmena, Inc., and on the board of directors for First Choice Community Health Foundation, Albuquerque Rape Crisis Center, and the TVI Foundation.

Lopez is motivated to run for re-election to Senate District 11 by her long history of commitment to progressive values, including protecting natural resources, ensuring educational equity, safeguarding healthcare and reproductive rights, and advocating for comprehensive immigration reform. Her priorities include protecting our water/air/land, continuing the work of equity in our public education system, providing health services to persons in our communities with disabilities, protecting reproductive rights for all, ensuring access for all to vote, continuing to work on issues impacting missing and murdered indigenous persons, and continuing to improve/restructure/properly fund CYFD to ensure the safety of New Mexico’s children.

In 2024, Lopez co-sponsored a bill to establish a waiting period for firearm purchases (HB129). In 2023, she sponsored the critical bill establishing protections for abortion and gender affirming care (SB13) and cosponsored that would establish negligently leaving a firearm accessible to a minor as a crime (HB9). In 2022, she sponsored three progressive policy bills, and co-sponsored two, including increasing the state minimum wage to $15 per hour (SB7 and in 2021, Lopez co-sponsored the repeal of an old state abortion ban (SB10).

Lopez has consistently voted for legislation that promotes workers' rights, including Paid Medical Family Leave, and has introduced bills aimed at controlling rent increases to tackle the high cost of living. Furthermore, Lopez has been a steadfast advocate for reproductive health, co-sponsoring significant legislation to ensure access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare services across New Mexico. She has also voted to protect our natural environment, advance public education, support individuals with disabilities, and protect voting rights

We highly recommend Linda M. Lopez for NM State Senator District 11 because of her unwavering dedication to the values of compassion, dignity, equity, justice, and respect across a broad spectrum of critical issues.

Bill O’Neil is running for re-election in Democratic Primary for Senate District 13, and has served in the seat for 11 years. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Indian, Rural & Cultural Affairs Committee and is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He previously served as the Representative for House District 15 from 2008-2012. O’Neil is currently the Development Director for a Peer Education Project and is a co-founder of Dismas House New Mexico, a residential facility for male and female parolees.

O’Neil is motivated to run for re-election to Senate District 13 by his desire to create a safer, more prosperous community for all New Mexicans and to prioritize fairness and equity in governance. His priorities include an inclusive economy that fully incorporates immigrant community members, protecting worker rights and ensuring fair wages, expanding affordable housing and rental assistance programs, modernizing the legislature by creating paid positions, increasing elections access via open primaries, protecting and ensuring abortion access and basic healthcare for rural New Mexicans, and investing in clean energy.

He has cosponsored legislation His voting record also includes support for the Paid Family Leave Act, Voting Rights Act and Native American Voting Rights Act (HB4, 2023), Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Act (SB13 and HB7, 2023), and Clean Transportation Fuel Standards (HB 41, 2024). O’Neil also supports legislation that would increase pay for early childhood educators and childcare providers, establish a one-mile setback for new oil and gas development, and increase salaries for educators as well as zero dollar copays for healthcare.

We recommend Bill O’Neill for Senate District 13 based on his track record of support for integration of immigrant families, investing in affordable housing, protecting worker rights and ensuring fair wages, and ensuring and expanding access to basic healthcare.

Heather Berghmans is running against incumbent Daniel Ivey-Soto in the Democratic Primary for Senate District 15. Most recently, Berghmans 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’s 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, she 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. 

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.

Angel Charley is running in the Democratic Primary for Senate District 30, which is currently an open seat. 

Charley is currently the Executive Director of IllumiNative, and previously worked as Executive Director for Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women. Her volunteer experience includes serving on the boards of the Laguna Federation of Democratic Women, Alliance of Tribal Coalitions to End Violence, Albuquerque Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) Collaborative, City of Albuquerque’s Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Commission, and as Board Chair for Native American Professional Parent Resources, Inc. She is also a graduate of Laguna High School and the University of Hawaii. 

Charley’s track record in improving the lives of rural and Native/Indigenous New Mexicans is well known, including working to pass the Indian Families Protection Act in 2022, supporting COVID-19 pandemic response measures for tribal communities, and her efforts on New Mexico’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives Task Force. She has also testified in front of Congress as an expert on MMIW and is a member of the White House Trilateral Working Group. 

Her priorities include expanding access to community health centers, updating the Renewable Portfolio Standards to include New Mexico’s Tribal communities, increasing infrastructure investment in rural and tribal communities, and direct assistance to help those facing housing crises through measures like rent control or down payment assistance for homebuyers. She also supports the modernization efforts around reforming New Mexico’s legislature so that working people and full-time parents can not only run for office but also interact with lawmakers more effectively. 

We highly recommend Angel Charley for Senate District 30 based on her experience in community organizing, nonprofit management, public health and healthcare access, and advocating for Indigenous 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.

Eliseo Lee Alcon is running for re-election to House District 6. He has served in the legislature since 2009, and is currently Chair of the House Labor, Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee and member of the House Judiciary Committee.

Retired from the US Army as a disabled veteran, Alcon served as a combat medic during the Vietnam War and was awarded the Bronze Star in 2019 alongside his Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze stars and The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with palm.

Alcon is motivated to run for re-election for HD6 because of his passion for reinforcing working families, unions and fair wages, and a sustainable economy. His priorities and legislative record include a focus on education, healthcare, economic development, and advocating for veterans.

Alcon has strong track record of meeting the needs of New Mexicans, including sponsoring legislation during the 2024 session to establish a service members suicide prevention program (HB298) and requiring public colleges and universities to include material on affirmative consent in orientation (HB151), as well as voting for prohibiting firearms at state polling location (SB5), establishing a waiting period for firearm purchases (HB129), and establishing state clean energy standards (HB41). In 2023, he voted to establish state protections for abortion and gender affirming care (SB13), requiring health insurance companies to provide reimbursement for mental health coverage (SB273), the Voting Rights Act and Native American Voting Rights Act (HB4), establishing state protections for gender affirming care (HB7), and establishing negligently leaving a firearm accessible to a minor as a crime (HB9).

We highly recommend Eliseo Lee Alcon for re-election to House District 6 based on his track record of supporting New Mexico’s working families and protecting healthcare rights and access.

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.

Patricia Roybal Caballero is running for re-election for House District 13, and has served in the seat since 2013. She is currently Vice Chair for the House Labor, Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee and a member of the House Education Committee.

Roybal Caballero’s professional experience includes 30+ years as a public administrator, community and economic developer, and advocate for low-income communities as well as on economic, political, environmental, and racial justice issues. Her previous experience also includes working as a union organizer and a shop steward. Roybal Caballero also served as the national treasurer and parliamentarian for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the largest Latino civil rights and advocacy group in the nation.

Her motivation to serve and run for re-election derives from her father, with native cultural lineage of the Piro Manso Tiwa Indian Tribe, Pueblo of San Juan de Guadalupe, and her mother of Spanish and Mexican lineage, who instilled in her the core values of a quality education and service to one’s community.

Roybal Caballero’s policy priorities include addressing climate change by supporting green and renewable energy, tax reform to take the burden off low and middle income families, ensuring access to healthcare by opposing Medicaid cuts, and improving infrastructure developments such as roads and parks in her district.

Her vote record includes sponsoring, co-sponsoring, and supporting progressive policies across areas like fair wages and workplace safety, renewable energy, economic development, access to healthcare, and affordable housing. Among those legislative accomplishments: Geothermal Resources Project Funds (HB91, SB59), Geothermal Electricity Tax Credits (HB92, SB58) Paid Family Medical Leave Act (HB6, SB3), Local Solar Access Fund (HB108), Tribal Education Trust Fund (HB134), and Firearm Sale Waiting Period (HB129).

We highly recommend Patricia Roybal Caballero for House District 13 based on her work to ensure educational and economic opportunities for New Mexicans as well as her continued dedication to a just climate transition.

Yanira Gurrola Valenzuela is running for re-election for House District 16. She has served in the seat since 2023, and is Vice Chair of the House Enrolling and Engrossing Committee and member of the House Education Committee and House Labor, Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee.

She currently works as a Project Coordinator for Dual Language Education NM, with past experience that includes teaching as a Bilingual Math teacher, Computer and Spanish teacher, and ESL tutor. Volunteer experience includes serving as a Federation Representative for Albuquerque Teachers Federation, ESL tutor for adults and children, and a Youth Minister.

Gurrola Valenzuela’s passion to run derives from her rich and diverse background as an immigrant, educator, woman, and engineer, and her desire to create a foundation of equity, fairness, and sustainability for all New Mexicans. Her priorities include strengthening education by fully funding early childhood, K-12, and extracurricular programs, and ensuring the recruitment and retention of excellent teachers. Gurrola Valenzuela supports public safety measures through equipping law enforcement with essential tools to prevent gun violence and crime. Additionally, she is committed to reducing homelessness through investments in evidence-based mental health and substance abuse programs, and by increasing affordable housing options. She also supports the expansion of New Mexico’s renewable energy, technology, film, and healthcare sectors to create good-paying, lifelong career opportunities.

Gurrola Valenzuela’s voting record in past legislative sessions aligns with a focus on equitable education, fair wages and safe working conditions, clean energy, and social justice, including support for clean energy standards (HB41), protecting abortion and gender affirming healthcare (SB13), and co-sponsoring legislation requiring public colleges and universities to include information on affirmative consent during orientation (HB151) as well as requiring menstrual products in public schools (HB134).

We highly recommend Yanira Gurrola for House District 16 based on her consistent support for education, investing in social services and healthcare access, and focus on reinforcing young people and meaningful economic development.

Angelica Rubio is running for re-election for House District 35. Rubio has served in the seat since 2017. She is currently the Vice Chair of the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee and a member of the House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Committee.

Rubio works as State Director for Vote, Run, Lead, a national organization dedicated to helping women for office. Previously, she worked as Executive Director at NM CAFé, Lead Organizer for NM CAFé, and as a consultant for local nonprofits. Her volunteer experience includes serving on the boards of Mountain View Market Co-op, Downtown Las Cruces Partnership, and City of Las Cruces Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Rubio is a graduate of New Mexico State University and received her Master’s at California State University, Los Angeles.

She is motivated to run for re-election to House District 35 by her passion for championing working class families, immigrants, equitable access to New Mexico’s landscapes and outdoor recreation, and her lived experience as the daughter of immigrants who built a life in rural New Mexico. Rubio is also known as an avid cyclist and outspoken advocate for transportation justice.

Rubio’s priorities include climate justice centered on Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color, transitioning away from oil and gas by centering frontline communities and communities of color, affordable housing and addressing the needs of tenants, modernizing the legislature by paying legislative salaries and making it more equitable and diverse, elevating mobility justice issues, and building an equitable outdoor recreation industry.

Rubio has sponsored bills to ensure bicyclist safety, creating a system to get resources to victims of human trafficking, recognizing Hispanic New Mexicans role in conservation in the state, and creating a multicultural education taskforce. Additionally, she’s been a cosponsor of several important bills including instituting broadband infrastructure statewide and the permanent fund for New Mexico’s schoolchildren.

We highly recommend Angelica Rubio for re-election to House District 35 based on her voting record and focus on championing policies that improve the lives of working families and a diverse range of New Mexicans.

Gabby Begay is running against Gilbert Guadiana in the Democratic Primary for House District 39, which is currently held by Republican incumbent ​​Luis Terrazas. Begay is an experienced public school teacher who is passionate about improving the state’s educational system. She is an Emerge graduate and currently serves on the NM Commission on the Status of Women as well as serving as President of the Cobre Consolidated School District Board of Education. Begay was chosen by her cohort peers as the 2024 NM Teach Plus Fellow of the Year, and is a past member of the union AFSCME and current member of the National Education Association.

Begay’s motivation to run for House District 39 comes from her experience as an educator and her desire to ​​empower, inspire, and educate the future generations. Her top priorities include advocating for better resources, modernizing classrooms, and supporting both students and teachers. Other focus areas include improving access to healthcare in rural NM by supporting the 20/80 contribution formula and incentivizing health practitioners located in underserved areas. She also cares deeply about working to create a criminal justice system that is rehabilitative, addressing climate change by supporting a one mile setback for new development of oil, and fighting to protect access to abortion.

We highly recommend Gabby Begay for House District 39 based on her work and volunteer experience with education and access to healthcare.

Susan Herrera is running for re-election in the Democratic Primary for House District 41. Herrera has served in the seat since 2019. She is currently the Chair of the Rural Development, Land Grants and Cultural Affairs Committee (previously serving as Vice Chair), and before that was Vice Chair of the Agriculture & Water Resources Committee as well as a commitment member of the Taxation & Revenue and Appropriations and Finance Committees.

Herrera was the founding executive director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation (LANLF) and led the organization for seventeen years. Prior to that, she also worked as director of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, as a legislative staffer in Washington D.C. and in roles at the University of New Mexico and non-profit organizations like Siete del Norte and Child-Rite. She also founded the Northern New Mexico Community College Foundation and served as President of the New Mexico Association of Grantmakers.

Herrera is passionate about the topics of land and water use, rural economic development, and education, and her experience leading Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation and Northern New Mexico Community College Foundation, in particular, are a key driver for her in serving House District 41. As a legislator, Herrera’s key priority areas include clean energy, healthcare, and education. In the last two legislative sessions, she voted for investments in early childhood programs, increased teacher pay, and funding technical and trade school programs in Northern New Mexico. Herrera also advanced legislation to protect financially vulnerable people from predatory lending, sponsoring HB128 which was signed into law this year and caps the annual percentage rate (APR) for loans under $10,000 at 36% (previously it was up to 175%).

Her voting record also includes support for the Paid Family Leave Act, Voting Rights Act and Native American Voting Rights Act (HB4, 2023), and Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Act (SB13 and HB7, 2023). She supports legislation that would protect workers rights, abolish rent control and expand investments in affordable housing, and increase reproductive health services in rural communities, along with expanded voting rights and access.

We highly recommend Susan Herrera for House District 41 based on her voting record, values, and support for working and middle class New Mexicans.

Michelle “Paulene” Abeyta is running against incumbent Harry Garcia in the Democratic Primary for House District 69. 

Abeyta is an attorney and member of the Navajo Nation from To’hajiilee, New Mexico. She holds a Juris Doctor degree with a certificate in Indigenous Peoples Law & Policy from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, and is also a graduate of the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College. She serves on the To’hajiilee Community School Board of Education and the National Native American Bar Association Board. She previously served on the Woman, Infants & Children (WIC) Board for the Acoma-Canoncito-Laguna Service Unit, the Canoncito Band of Navajos Health Center, Inc. Board, and the National Native American Law Students Association. 

Abeyta’s desire to be a voice for the people, lived experience organizing for workers rights, and frustration with current representation are what motivate her to run for House District 69. Her priorities are education, healthcare, and economic opportunity, including access to reproductive health in rural areas via school based health centers and school nurses, increased investment in child care providers and early childhood educators, and shifting to jobs in clean and renewable energy through workforce development and training. She supports modernizing the state legislature so there is more fair compensation and staffing for legislators in order for a range of people to be able to participate. 

Abeyta also supports Paid Family Medical Leave legislation, increasing the state’s minimum wage to ensure a living wage, and more investment in funding for mental health and substance use disorder healthcare programs. With respect to affordable housing, Abeyta is in support of more affordable housing options including micro-housing communities in areas with minimal or no infrastructure. She also supports abolishing the rent control ban and increased protections for renters. Additionally, Abeyta is in support of LGBTQ+ rights and supports environmental protections, including reducing the state’s dependence on oil and gas, and closely consulting with tribal governments to ensure that natural resources and lands are respected and valued. 

We highly recommend Michelle ‘Paulene’ Abeyta based on her focus on education, policy/good governance, and healthcare, as well as support for LGBTQ+ rights and protections.

Anita Gonzales is running against incumbent Ambrose Castellano in the Democratic Primary for House District 70. 

Gonzales currently works as Deputy Director for New Mexico Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (NM MESA). Previously, she worked for NM Mesa as a Program Coordinator as well as the City of Las Vegas. Her volunteer experience includes serving as President for the San Miguel County Federation of Democratic Women, Vice Chair of the Sierra Club’s Rio Grande Chapter Executive Committee, President of Acequia de los Madres Vigiles, President of the Las Vegas Rotary Club, and on the boards of the NM Acequia Association and San Miguel County Family & Community Health Council. Gonzales was named a public Service Honoree by the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce and received the National Leadership in Expanding Diversity in Technology Award from the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE). 

Gonzales is motivated to run for House District 70 because of her experience advocating for women and children, her passion for water and the role of acequias in Northern NM, and her desire to increase representation in science, tech, engineering and math fields. 

Her priorities include education, access to healthcare, investing in rural and small town infrastructure, and protecting public lands and natural resources. Among the specific initiatives she is proposing are increasing teacher salaries, adding STEM curriculum and pathways, investing in early childhood programs, expanding funding for healthcare and social services including mental health and addiction treatment programs as well as increased telehealth options, expanding the state’s rural healthcare tax credit, affordable housing through rental assistance vouchers and tax credits, promoting local agriculture and food production, restoring land and forests and ensuring traditional and agricultural uses of water, and establishing and funding a grant program to expand rural broadband. 

Additionally, Gonzales supports fair wages and safe working conditions, each person’s right to full control over their own reproductive healthcare decisions, full rights and protections for LGBTQ+ community members, and a just and humane immigration policy centered on community support, asylum processing, and humanitarian needs.

We highly recommend Anita Gonzales for House District 70 based on her track record across education, conservation, and the environment, along with her experience in community outreach and engagement.