Senate District 9
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State Senator, District 9
Senate District 9 is an open seat this year as Senator Brenda McKenna is not running for re-election. Cindy Nava and Heather Balas are running for this seat. We recommend Cindy Nava for Senate District 9.
Cindy Nava is running in the Democratic Primary for Senate District 9. This is an open seat that will be vacated by incumbent Brenda McKenna at the end of this year. Nava recently left her appointment by the White House as Senior Policy Advisor to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in order to run for this seat. Prior to that Nava was Executive Director of Transform Education NM, managed/owned her own consulting firm, NAVA Strategies, and was the Political Director for Ben Ray Lujan’s U.S. Senate Campaign. Her volunteer and leadership experience includes serving on the board for Youth Development Inc. (YID), and she is also a founding Board Member of the American Mexican Association (AMA-USA).
Nava’s personal experience of being undocumented, becoming a Dreamer (DACA recipient), and receiving her U.S. citizenship drives her passion to run for Senate District 9. Her priorities include improving education from early childhood through secondary education by increasing pay for educators and creating facilities that support learning, increasing investments in affordable housing and first-time home buyer programs as well as low interest loans, and making healthcare more affordable by reducing premium rates through New Mexico’s health exchange as well as focusing on recruitment and retention of high quality health care providers to New Mexico.
We recommend Cindy Nava for Senate District 9 based on her policy work, lived experience, and priority areas.
Cindy Nava is running in the Democratic Primary for Senate District 9. This is an open seat that will be vacated by incumbent Brenda McKenna at the end of this year. Nava recently left her appointment by the White House as Senior Policy Advisor to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in order to run for this seat. Prior to that Nava was Executive Director of Transform Education NM, managed/owned her own consulting firm, NAVA Strategies, and was the Political Director for Ben Ray Lujan’s U.S. Senate Campaign. Her volunteer and leadership experience includes serving on the board for Youth Development Inc. (YID), and she is also a founding Board Member of the American Mexican Association (AMA-USA).
Nava’s personal experience of being undocumented, becoming a Dreamer (DACA recipient), and receiving her U.S. citizenship drives her passion to run for Senate District 9. Her priorities include improving education from early childhood through secondary education by increasing pay for educators and creating facilities that support learning, increasing investments in affordable housing and first-time home buyer programs as well as low interest loans, and making healthcare more affordable by reducing premium rates through New Mexico’s health exchange as well as focusing on recruitment and retention of high quality health care providers to New Mexico.
We recommend Cindy Nava for Senate District 9 based on her policy work, lived experience, and priority areas.
Cindy Nava is running in the Democratic Primary for Senate District 9. This is an open seat that will be vacated by incumbent Brenda McKenna at the end of this year. Nava recently left her appointment by the White House as Senior Policy Advisor to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in order to run for this seat. Prior to that Nava was Executive Director of Transform Education NM, managed/owned her own consulting firm, NAVA Strategies, and was the Political Director for Ben Ray Lujan’s U.S. Senate Campaign. Her volunteer and leadership experience includes serving on the board for Youth Development Inc. (YID), and she is also a founding Board Member of the American Mexican Association (AMA-USA).
Nava’s personal experience of being undocumented, becoming a Dreamer (DACA recipient), and receiving her U.S. citizenship drives her passion to run for Senate District 9. Her priorities include improving education from early childhood through secondary education by increasing pay for educators and creating facilities that support learning, increasing investments in affordable housing and first-time home buyer programs as well as low interest loans, and making healthcare more affordable by reducing premium rates through New Mexico’s health exchange as well as focusing on recruitment and retention of high quality health care providers to New Mexico.
We recommend Cindy Nava for Senate District 9 based on her policy work, lived experience, and priority areas.
Heather Balas is running against Cindy Nava in the Democratic Primary for Senate District 9. Balas is currently Vice President of Programs for Elections Reformers Network, a research group that works on bipartisan policy to ensure the institutions running elections are not partisan. Previously, she worked as a Senior Consultant for Issue One, a Policy Officer for Thornburg Foundation, and was President and Executive Director of New Mexico First. Balas’ leadership and volunteer experience includes serving on the Corrales Planning & Zoning Commission, New Mexico First board of directors, Santa Fe Data Platform advisory board, and the Albuquerque Civic Chorus board of directors.
Balas’ experience growing up working on her parents peanut farm in Portales and her bipartisan policy work for the past 30 years drives her interest in running for Senate District 9. She has worked on policy in New Mexico for two decades with a focus on bipartisan policy. Her stated priority areas are environmental protections through diversification that includes small businesses and larger economic base industries including renewables and protections for our democracy by increasing polling locations on Tribal Lands and increasing poll observation efforts. Additionally she states education, better jobs and pay, and access to comprehensive healthcare, though policies specific to these areas could not be found.
While we recommend Cindy Nava for Senate District 9, Heather Balas is also a viable candidate based on her strong policy work and focus on sustainable economic development, renewable energy, and the environment.
Heather Balas is running against Cindy Nava in the Democratic Primary for Senate District 9. Balas is currently Vice President of Programs for Elections Reformers Network, a research group that works on bipartisan policy to ensure the institutions running elections are not partisan. Previously, she worked as a Senior Consultant for Issue One, a Policy Officer for Thornburg Foundation, and was President and Executive Director of New Mexico First. Balas’ leadership and volunteer experience includes serving on the Corrales Planning & Zoning Commission, New Mexico First board of directors, Santa Fe Data Platform advisory board, and the Albuquerque Civic Chorus board of directors.
Balas’ experience growing up working on her parents peanut farm in Portales and her bipartisan policy work for the past 30 years drives her interest in running for Senate District 9. She has worked on policy in New Mexico for two decades with a focus on bipartisan policy. Her stated priority areas are environmental protections through diversification that includes small businesses and larger economic base industries including renewables and protections for our democracy by increasing polling locations on Tribal Lands and increasing poll observation efforts. Additionally she states education, better jobs and pay, and access to comprehensive healthcare, though policies specific to these areas could not be found.
While we recommend Cindy Nava for Senate District 9, Heather Balas is also a viable candidate based on her strong policy work and focus on sustainable economic development, renewable energy, and the environment.
Endorsed By: Conservation Voters New Mexico
,
Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate
,
United Health Profressional of New Mexico, "Kathleen Cates, State Representative", "Joseph Cervantes, State Senator", "Natalie Figueroa, State Representative", "Jerry Ortiz y Pino, State Senator", "Bill Tallman, State Senator"
Heather Balas is running against Cindy Nava in the Democratic Primary for Senate District 9. Balas is currently Vice President of Programs for Elections Reformers Network, a research group that works on bipartisan policy to ensure the institutions running elections are not partisan. Previously, she worked as a Senior Consultant for Issue One, a Policy Officer for Thornburg Foundation, and was President and Executive Director of New Mexico First. Balas’ leadership and volunteer experience includes serving on the Corrales Planning & Zoning Commission, New Mexico First board of directors, Santa Fe Data Platform advisory board, and the Albuquerque Civic Chorus board of directors.
Balas’ experience growing up working on her parents peanut farm in Portales and her bipartisan policy work for the past 30 years drives her interest in running for Senate District 9. She has worked on policy in New Mexico for two decades with a focus on bipartisan policy. Her stated priority areas are environmental protections through diversification that includes small businesses and larger economic base industries including renewables and protections for our democracy by increasing polling locations on Tribal Lands and increasing poll observation efforts. Additionally she states education, better jobs and pay, and access to comprehensive healthcare, though policies specific to these areas could not be found.
While we recommend Cindy Nava for Senate District 9, Heather Balas is also a viable candidate based on her strong policy work and focus on sustainable economic development, renewable energy, and the environment.
Endorsed By: Conservation Voters New Mexico
,
Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate
,
United Health Profressional of New Mexico, "Kathleen Cates, State Representative", "Joseph Cervantes, State Senator", "Natalie Figueroa, State Representative", "Jerry Ortiz y Pino, State Senator", "Bill Tallman, State Senator"
County District Races
Depending on where you live, you may have the below county-districted races on your ballot.
Bernalillo County, District 2
Bernalillo County Commission District 2 is an open seat this year as Stephen Michael Quezada is not running for re-election. Frank Baca and William Walker are running to represent this seat. We recommend Frank Baca.
Frank Baca is running for Bernalillo County Commission District 2. Baca has grown up in the South Valley and is a retired attorney. He began his activism nearly 40 years ago working on implementation of water and sewer in the South Valley. Baca is a founding member of the Rio Grande Development Corporation / South Valley Economic Development Center.
Baca will focus on policies related to cultural preservation, education, crime, and economic development.
We highly recommend Frank Baca for Bernalillo County Commission District 2.
Frank Baca is running for Bernalillo County Commission District 2. Baca has grown up in the South Valley and is a retired attorney. He began his activism nearly 40 years ago working on implementation of water and sewer in the South Valley. Baca is a founding member of the Rio Grande Development Corporation / South Valley Economic Development Center.
Baca will focus on policies related to cultural preservation, education, crime, and economic development.
We highly recommend Frank Baca for Bernalillo County Commission District 2.
Endorsed By: OLÉ
,
"Eleanor Chavez, State Representative", "Miguel Garcia, State Representative", "Patricia Roybal Caballero, State Representative", "Javier Martínez, Speaker of the House, State Representative, District 11", "Linda Lopez, State Senator", "Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez, State Senator"
Frank Baca is running for Bernalillo County Commission District 2. Baca has grown up in the South Valley and is a retired attorney. He began his activism nearly 40 years ago working on implementation of water and sewer in the South Valley. Baca is a founding member of the Rio Grande Development Corporation / South Valley Economic Development Center.
Baca will focus on policies related to cultural preservation, education, crime, and economic development.
We highly recommend Frank Baca for Bernalillo County Commission District 2.
Endorsed By: OLÉ
,
"Eleanor Chavez, State Representative", "Miguel Garcia, State Representative", "Patricia Roybal Caballero, State Representative", "Javier Martínez, Speaker of the House, State Representative, District 11", "Linda Lopez, State Senator", "Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez, State Senator"
Other Candidates
William Walker
There is not enough public information for us to make a recommendation for or against William Walker for Bernalillo County Commission District 2.
William Walker
There is not enough public information for us to make a recommendation for or against William Walker for Bernalillo County Commission District 2.
Bernalillo County, District 3
Adriann Barboa is running for re-election in the Democratic Primary for Bernalillo County Commission District 3. Barboa is a community organizer and was elected to the Commission seat in November 2020.
During her time in office, Barboa has been instrumental in increasing affordable housing and housing supports for individuals exiting incarceration as well as people with behavioral and mental health needs. She has also worked to invest heavily in addiction support services for both individuals facing addiction and their families. Barboa is running for re-election because she deeply believes that it is the responsibility of the County to develop a comprehensive care plan to address the needs of the most vulnerable and underserved in her community. Her policy priorities focus primarily on building a system of prevention, intervention, treatment and housing.
We highly recommend Adriann Barboa for Bernalillo County Commission District 3 due to her proven commitment and success in leading and supporting policies critical for Bernalillo County residents.
Adriann Barboa is running for re-election in the Democratic Primary for Bernalillo County Commission District 3. Barboa is a community organizer and was elected to the Commission seat in November 2020.
During her time in office, Barboa has been instrumental in increasing affordable housing and housing supports for individuals exiting incarceration as well as people with behavioral and mental health needs. She has also worked to invest heavily in addiction support services for both individuals facing addiction and their families. Barboa is running for re-election because she deeply believes that it is the responsibility of the County to develop a comprehensive care plan to address the needs of the most vulnerable and underserved in her community. Her policy priorities focus primarily on building a system of prevention, intervention, treatment and housing.
We highly recommend Adriann Barboa for Bernalillo County Commission District 3 due to her proven commitment and success in leading and supporting policies critical for Bernalillo County residents.
Endorsed By: OLÉ
,
Dreams in Action
,
"Jerry Ortiz y Pino, State Senator", "Gail Chasey, Majority Leader, State Representative", "Mimi Stewart, State Senate President Pro Tempore ", "Janelle Anyanonu, State Representative"
Adriann Barboa is running for re-election in the Democratic Primary for Bernalillo County Commission District 3. Barboa is a community organizer and was elected to the Commission seat in November 2020.
During her time in office, Barboa has been instrumental in increasing affordable housing and housing supports for individuals exiting incarceration as well as people with behavioral and mental health needs. She has also worked to invest heavily in addiction support services for both individuals facing addiction and their families. Barboa is running for re-election because she deeply believes that it is the responsibility of the County to develop a comprehensive care plan to address the needs of the most vulnerable and underserved in her community. Her policy priorities focus primarily on building a system of prevention, intervention, treatment and housing.
We highly recommend Adriann Barboa for Bernalillo County Commission District 3 due to her proven commitment and success in leading and supporting policies critical for Bernalillo County residents.
Endorsed By: OLÉ
,
Dreams in Action
,
"Jerry Ortiz y Pino, State Senator", "Gail Chasey, Majority Leader, State Representative", "Mimi Stewart, State Senate President Pro Tempore ", "Janelle Anyanonu, State Representative"
Other Candidates
Robert Padilla
Robert Padilla is running against incumbent Adriann Barboa for Bernalillo County Commission District 3. While we recommend Adriann Barboa for this seat, Robert Padilla is also a viable candidate based on his stated priority areas.
Laura Chavez
No public information could be found on Laura Chavez
Robert Padilla
Robert Padilla is running against incumbent Adriann Barboa for Bernalillo County Commission District 3. While we recommend Adriann Barboa for this seat, Robert Padilla is also a viable candidate based on his stated priority areas.
Laura Chavez
No public information could be found on Laura Chavez
Senate District 9 is an open seat this year as Senator Brenda McKenna is not running for re-election. Cindy Nava and Heather Balas are running for this seat. We recommend Cindy Nava for Senate District 9.