Conservation Voters New Mexico Endorsements

Anita Gonzales is running for re-election in the Democratic Primary for House District 70. Currently, she serves on the House Education and Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs Committees.

Gonzales 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 reelection to 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 improve access to education and healthcare as well as strengthening 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. During the 2025 and 2026 legislative sessions, she supported key progressive bills, including Universal Child Care (SB 241), The Immigrant Safety Act (HB 9), Establishing a Medicaid Trust Fund (SB 88), Increasing Oil & Gas Royalty Rates on State Lands (SB 23), Increasing Minimum Salaries for Teachers (HB 156), and Establishing a Trust Fund for Behavioral Health Initiatives (SB 1).

We highly recommend Anita Gonzales for House District 70 based on her professional experience across education, conservation, and the environment, and her strong track record as a legislator.

Dr. Elizabeth Diane Torres-Velásquez is running for re-election in the Democratic Primary for House District 30.

She has served in the seat since 2025 and is currently a member of the House Education, House Labor, Veterans’ and Military Affairs, and House Enrolling & Engrossing (A) Committees.

Dr. Torres-Velásquez is a respected educator with a Ph.D. in education and a long-time member of the Democratic Party. Her professional journey includes working as an Associate Professor at the University of New Mexico for 30 years, where she has been involved in university governance, serving on the Academic Freedom and Tenure committee and Faculty Senate.

Renowned for her expertise in the areas of bilingual and multicultural education, learning disabilities, and Latino/Hispanic education access, Dr. Torres-Velásquez has earned numerous accolades for her work, including her leadership with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the Latino Education Task Force, significantly impacting educational policy and civil rights in New Mexico. She also served as Hispanic Education Liaison for the state in 2010 and authored the inaugural report on the Status of Hispanic Education, fulfilling requirements mandated by the Hispanic Education Act.

Dr. Torres-Velásquez is motivated to run for House District 30 by her vision for expanding access to health care, investing in education, and making life more affordable for all New Mexicans.

During the 2025 and 2026 legislative sessions, she supported key legislation, including Universal Child Care (SB 241), The Immigrant Safety Act (HB 9, which she also co-sponsored), Establishing a Medicaid Trust Fund (SB 88), Expanding the Prescription Drug Donation Program (SB 122), Increasing Oil & Gas Royalty Rates on State Lands (SB 23), Establishing The Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Act (SB 21), Establishing Programs to Support Broadband, Water, Energy, and Wastewater Infrastructure (SB 357), Establishing Earned Income Tax Credits for Families (HB 14), and Establishing a $20M Local Solar Fund for Tribal, Rural and Low-Income Schools, Municipalities and Counties (HB 128).

We highly recommend Dr. Elizabeth Diane Torres-Velásquez based on her dedication to education, consistent work to ensure equitable access, and record of voting for legislation that reinforces New Mexico’s hardworking families.

Joseph Franklin Hernandez is running for re-election in the Democratic Primary for House District 4. Hernandez has served in the seat since 2025 and is on the House Appropriations & Finance, Transportation, Public Works & Capital Improvements, and House Enrolling & Engrossing - B Committees.

Hernandez has worked as a community organizer and Diné Energy Organizer for NAVA Education Project 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, as 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.

He has been a vocal advocate for radiation exposure compensation for uranium miners and Trinity Site downwinders, drawing from his family's personal experience with mining-related illness. His stated priorities include healthcare access, tribal sovereignty, balanced energy transitions, and rural economic development.

During the 2025-26 legislative sessions, Hernandez co-sponsored and passed The Healthcare Affordability Fund (HB 4), Local Solar Access Fund (HB 128), Enhance Student Loan Repayment Program for Health Care Workers (HB66), and voted for The Immigrant Safety Act (HB 9).

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

Lori Martinez is running in the Democratic Primary for House District 37. The incumbent, Joanne Ferrary, chose not to run again.

Martinez grew up near Farmington before moving to Las Cruces in 1998 to attend New Mexico State University, where she earned both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Social Work. Following graduation, she worked at NMSU for 9 years before joining Ngage New Mexico, overseeing the Social Work Services program and Aggie Cupboard food pantry under Counseling and Campus Health. In March 2017, she joined Ngage New Mexico as Assistant Director and went on to become Executive Director in November 2017, a position she has held for 9 years. In 20+ years as a social worker in Southern New Mexico, she has focused on early intervention providing family therapy and social work services, early childhood education, mental health counseling, case management, program development, hunger/food insecurity services, and inpatient psychiatric services.

As a first-time candidate, Martinez has expressed interest in serving on the House Education Committee. Her career as a social worker has largely existed at the intersection of education and mental health, and she believes this is where she can be significantly effective. She describes herself as someone who knows how systems work and has spent her career pushing for changes to make them more user-friendly and accessible for clients and families.

Her policy priorities include affordability and the economy, in particular investing in small businesses and people, not just large corporations, as well as increasing access to healthcare providers and specialists and exploring a single-payer/universal health care system. She is also an advocate for paid family medical leave and has identified it as critical to ensure family health, workforce stability, and as a workforce recruitment tool. Martinez also supports legislator pay and accountability, so that New Mexico no longer limits service in the state legislature to only people who are wealthy or retired.

We recommend Lori Martinez for House District 37 based on her policy priorities and significant background in family stability, education, and healthcare.

Micaela Lara Cadena is running for re-election in the Democratic Primary for House District 33.

She has served in the seat since 2019 and is currently Vice Chair of the House Taxation & Revenue Committee and member of the House Agriculture, Acequias and Water Resources Committee.

A lifelong resident of Southern New Mexico, Lara Cadena describes herself as a Catholic Latina who maintains strong ties to her faith community while advocating for progressive policies. She previously worked in public service, health policy, and criminal legal reform, including at Bold Futures and as Bureau Chief of Recidivism Reduction for the New Mexico Corrections Department.

Lara Cadena’s motivation to run for House District 33 is tied closely to water security and she positions herself as a defender of acequia traditions and community interests against corporate development that threatens local resources and causes pollution. Her priorities also include increasing transparency and ethics for state lawmakers.

In recent legislative sessions, Lara Cadena has supported key legislation, including Universal Child Care (SB 241), The Immigrant Safety Act (HB 9), Establishing a Medicaid Trust Fund (SB 88), criminal legal reform (HB 297), Increasing Oil & Gas Royalty Rates on State Lands (SB 23), Establishing Programs to Support Broadband, Water, Energy, and Wastewater Infrastructure (SB 357), The Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Act (SB 21), and Increasing Minimum Salaries for Teachers (HB 156). She also co-sponsored the repeal of New Mexico's 1969 abortion ban (SB 10), and supports paying state lawmakers to enable working families (not just the wealthy or retired) to serve in the Legislature (HJR 5).

We recommend Micaela Lara Cadena for House District 33 based on her experience and strong track record as a legislator.

Michelle “Paulene” Abeyta is running for re-election in the Democratic Primary for House District 69. Currently, she serves on the Energy, Environment & Natural Resources and Judiciary Committees.

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 is motivated to run for House District 69 because of her vision for New Mexico where all residents have access to quality education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, and cultural heritage and values are respected and incorporated.

During the 2025 and 2026 legislative sessions, Abeyta supported key progressive bills, including Universal Child Care (SB 241), The Immigrant Safety Act (HB 9), Establishing a Medicaid Trust Fund (SB 88), Increasing Oil & Gas Royalty Rates on State Lands (SB 23), Additional Monitoring and Support for HS Students (SB 480), Establishing Programs to Support Broadband, Water, Energy, and Wastewater Infrastructure (SB 357), Establishing Earned Income Tax Credits for Families (HB 14), Increasing Minimum Salaries for Teachers (HB 156), Establishing a Health Care Strategic Recruitment Program to Improve the State Healthcare Worker Shortage (HB 15), and Establishing a $20M Local Solar Fund for Tribal, Rural and Low-Income Schools, Municipalities and Counties (HB 128).

We highly recommend Michelle ‘Paulene’ Abeyta for House District 69 based on her focus on increasing access to education and healthcare, sustainable economic development, and her track record of voting for NM’s working families.

Miguel García is running for re-election in the Democratic Primary for House District 14. Garcia has held the position since 1997 and currently serves as a member of the House Labor, Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee and member of the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee.

Garcia’s occupation is listed as a retired K-5 teacher. As a legislator, Garcia has regularly voted for environmental protections, common sense gun safety laws, reproductive health and abortion access, increased access to affordable housing, and investing in child well-being and early childhood education programs.

In recent sessions, Garcia supported The Immigrant Safety Act (HB 9), Establishing a Medicaid Trust Fund and a State Supported Medicaid Fund (SB 88), Increasing Oil & Gas Royalty Rates on State Lands (SB 23), Establishing State Affordable Housing Projects (SB 216), Paid Family Medical Leave (SB 3), Prohibiting Fireams at State Drop Boxes and Polling Places (SB 5), Prohibiting Intimidation of Elections Officials (SB 144), Requiring Disclaimers on "Materially Deceptive Media" aka AI-generated content (HB 182), Establishing a Service Members Suicide Prevention Program (HB 298), Requiring Public Colleges and Universities Include Material on Affirmative Consent in Orientation (HB 151), Establishing State Clean Energy Standards (HB 41), and expanded access to elections/voting via the Voting Rights Act (HB 4).

We recommend Miguel Garcia for House District 14 based on his consistent voting history and commitment to policies that support New Mexicans.

Nancy Wright is challenging incumbent Joseph Sanchez in the Democratic Primary for House District 40.

Wright is a pediatrician who has practiced in New Mexico since 2002 and currently lives in Northern San Miguel County, living within sight of the Hermit's Peak-Calf Canyon fire burn scar from her home/husband's veterinary practice in Sapello. A former president of the New Mexico Medical Society, she holds a master's degree in public health with additional training in health care policy.

Wright is a first-time candidate motivated to run by the need to improve health care access in rural communities still recovering from the Hermit's Peak-Calf Canyon wildfires, noting that her district is a maternity care desert with no nearby hospital labor and delivery services since Alta Vista Regional Hospital lost those services years ago.

She prioritizes expanding health care access as a fundamental right, enforcing the Yazzie/Martinez education equity case to ensure schools provide adequate services for children, and protecting clean air and clean water for New Mexico families.

If elected, Wright would be the only practicing physician serving in the New Mexico House of Representatives and plans to focus on health care policy issues including medical malpractice reform, Medicaid access, and regulations around artificial intelligence in health care. She has also indicated support for paying lawmakers to allow more qualified people from diverse economic backgrounds to serve in the Legislature.

We recommend Nancy Wright for House District 40 based on her professional experience and priorities.

Patricia Roybal Caballero is running for re-election for House District 13, and has served in the seat since 2013. She is currently Chair of 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. Additionally, Roybal Caballero 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 the 2025 and 2026 legislative accomplishments Roybal Caballero supported: Universal Child Care (SB 241), The Immigrant Safety Act (HB 9), Establishing a Medicaid Trust Fund and a State Supported Medicaid Fund (SB 88), Increasing Oil & Gas Royalty Rates on State Lands (SB 23), and Increasing Minimum Salaries for Teachers (HB 156).

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.

During the 2025 and 2026 legislative sessions, Gurrola Valenzuela supported key progressive bills, including Universal Child Care (SB 241), The Immigrant Safety Act (HB 9, which she also co-sponsored), Establishing a Medicaid Trust Fund (SB 88), Expanding the Prescription Drug Donation Program (SB 122), and Prohibits Discrimination Against 340B Entities (HB 78). She also voted for economic justice legislation including Earned Income Tax Credits for Families (HB 14), environmental protections including The Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Act (SB 21), Increasing Oil & Gas Royalty Rates on State Lands (SB 23), and Establishing Programs to Support Broadband, Water, Energy, and Wastewater Infrastructure (SB 357), and Establishing a $20M Local Solar Fund for Tribal, Rural and Low-Income Schools, Municipalities and Counties (HB 128).

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.

Yolanda “Pancha” Jaramillo is running in the Democratic Primary to fill the open seat being vacated by Representative Susan Herrera.

Jaramillo is a Dixon resident, retired educator, and longtime advocate for mental and behavioral health who has served as secretary/treasurer of La Acequia de La Plaza de Dixon since 2009.
She sits on the board of directors of the New Mexico Acequia Association and is an appointed member of the New Mexico Acequia Commission, where she advocates for the protection of land and water resources that are central to Northern New Mexico's cultural heritage.

Jaramillo is a first-time candidate who is motivated to run by the need to expand opportunity for children and families, especially in rural communities and small towns across Northern New Mexico where the need is often greatest.

Her priorities include advancing affordable housing, good-paying jobs, and lowering everyday cost, including by increasing state investment in rural workforce housing so working families can build savings and assets to become homeowners. She also seeks to increase access to education, healthcare, and mental/behavioral health by supporting teacher recruitment and housing and strengthening pipelines for students to go to college or trade school, and protecting Medicaid, lowering costs, expanding providers, and strengthening mental health and suicide prevention services.

Additionally, she aims to continue work to protect acequias, watersheds, and drinking water while investing in rural water infrastructure, including Rep. Susan Herrera’s work supporting Mutual Domestic Water Associations as well as supporting the Rio Chama aquifer-mapping project to protect long-term water resources.

We highly recommend Yolanda “Pancha” Jaramillo for House District 41 based on her deep community roots, experience as an educator and advocate, and plans to protect and expand healthcare, education, and water resources in Northern NM.