New Mexico's 1st Congressional District election (June 5, 2018 Democratic primary)

Elections in New Mexico, 2018

• General election: Nov. 6
• Voter registration deadline: Oct. 9
• Early voting: Oct. 20 - Nov. 3
• Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6

• Online registration: Yes
• Same-day registration: No
• Voter ID: No
• Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

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On the ballot: U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Governor • Attorney General • Secretary of State • State executive offices • State House • Supreme court • Appellate courts • Local judges • State ballot measures • Municipal • Democratic primaries • Republican primaries

2020 → ← 2016
New Mexico's 1st Congressional District
Democratic primary Republican primary General election
Election details
Filing deadline: March 13, 2018
Primary: June 5, 2018 General: November 6, 2018 Pre-election incumbent: Michelle Lujan Grisham (Democrat)
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in New Mexico
Race ratings
Cook Partisan Voter Index (2018): D+7 Cook Political Report: Solid Democratic Inside Elections: Solid Democratic Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Democratic
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
See also
New Mexico's 1st Congressional District U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd New Mexico elections, 2018 U.S. Congress elections, 2018 U.S. Senate elections, 2018 U.S. House elections, 2018 Alabama U.S. House racesAlaska U.S. House racesArizona U.S. House racesArkansas U.S. House racesCalifornia U.S. House racesColorado U.S. House racesConnecticut U.S. House racesDelaware U.S. House racesFlorida U.S. House racesGeorgia U.S. House racesHawaii U.S. House racesIdaho U.S. House racesIllinois U.S. House racesIndiana U.S. House racesIowa U.S. House racesKansas U.S. House racesKentucky U.S. House racesLouisiana U.S. House racesMaine U.S. House racesMaryland U.S. House racesMassachusetts U.S. House racesMichigan U.S. House racesMinnesota U.S. House racesMississippi U.S. House racesMissouri U.S. House racesMontana U.S. House racesNebraska U.S. House racesNevada U.S. House racesNew Hampshire U.S. House racesNew Jersey U.S. House racesNew Mexico U.S. House racesNew York U.S. House racesNorth Carolina U.S. House racesNorth Dakota U.S. House racesOhio U.S. House racesOklahoma U.S. House racesOregon U.S. House racesPennsylvania U.S. House racesRhode Island U.S. House racesSouth Carolina U.S. House racesSouth Dakota U.S. House racesTennessee U.S. House racesTexas U.S. House racesUtah U.S. House racesVermont U.S. House racesVirginia U.S. House racesWashington U.S. House racesWest Virginia U.S. House racesWisconsin U.S. House racesWyoming U.S. House racesSubmit

Former New Mexico Democratic Party Chairwoman Debra Haaland (D) defeated five other Democrats to win the nomination for the safe Democratic seat in New Mexico's 1st Congressional District, which became open when incumbent Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) announced she was running in New Mexico's 2018 gubernatorial election. Haaland faced former state Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones (R) in the general election.

The candidates relied on their professional experience and life stories to distinguish themselves from the pack. In her campaign, Haaland emphasized her Native American heritage, experience as a party leader, and interest in expanding the renewable energy industry in New Mexico. The Congressional Black Caucus endorsed her in January 2018, making her one of the few non-black candidates to be supported by the caucus.

Former law professor Antoinette Sedillo Lopez (D) highlighted her legal advocacy for women and immigrants and expertise in constitutional law. Progressive organizations such as People for Bernie Sanders, Justice Democrats, Blue America, and PODER PAC endorsed her, and the Latino Victory Fund backed her campaign with more than $430,000 in ad buys in May 2018.

Veteran satellite groups VoteVets and With Honor Fund spent more than $770,000 on former U.S. Attorney Damon Martinez (D), who ran on a record of military and public service in the U.S. Army Reserve and prosecutor's office.

New Mexico voter? Dates you need to know.
Primary election	June 5, 2018
Candidate filing deadline	March 13, 2018
Registration deadline	May 8, 2018
Absentee application deadline	June 1, 2018
General election	November 6, 2018
Voting information
Primary type	Closed
Early voting deadline	June 2, 2018
Polling locations: Go to this page to find early voting locations and your assigned precinct for election day.

For more on related elections, please see:

• New Mexico's 1st Congressional District election (June 5, 2018 Republican primary)
• New Mexico's 1st Congressional District election, 2018
• United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2018
• United States House Republican Party primaries, 2018
• Democratic Party primaries in New Mexico, 2018
• Republican Party primaries in New Mexico, 2018

Candidates and election results

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. House New Mexico District 1 on June 5, 2018.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House New Mexico District 1

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Debra Haaland	40.6	25,444
		Damon Martinez	25.8	16,182
		Antoinette Sedillo Lopez	20.6	12,919
		Paul Moya	5.9	3,691
		Patrick Davis	3.8	2,385
		Damian Lara	3.3	2,063

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 62,684
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• John Abrams (D)
• John Flores (D)
• Jesse Heitner (D)

Top candidates

Debra Haaland

Haaland's professional experience includes working as a tribal administrator and administering a local service provider for adults with developmental disabilities. She also led presidential and gubernatorial campaigns, serving as the Native American vote manager for Diane Denish (D)'s gubernatorial campaign in 2010 and the New Mexico Native American vote director for Organizing for America in 2012. During the 2016 presidential election, she served as the chair of the Democratic state party.

“I’ve spent my life advocating for the underrepresented, advancing progressive values, and working tirelessly to help elect Democrats up and down the ballot,” Haaland said when announcing her candidacy. “I want to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard, and it would be an honor to be that voice for our communities, our families, and for all of us.”

Haaland identified universal public healthcare through Medicare for All, access to abortion care, and counteracting climate change as some of her policy priorities.

Damon Martinez

Prior to running for office, Martinez worked as a U.S. attorney from 2014 to 2017. His professional experience also includes working as a special assistant district attorney, an assistant attorney general, and a legislative assistant to U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.). Martinez enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and became a judge advocate, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Martinez announced his candiacy, saying, "As a 10th generation New Mexican, I can’t sit back and just watch President Trump attack our New Mexico values. It was an honor to be selected by President Obama to serve as the U.S. Attorney in my home state, and despite President Trump asking for my resignation, I am not done serving."

On his campaign website, Martinez listed promoting clean energy, single-payer healthcare, and criminal justice reform as among his top policy priorities.

Antoinette Sedillo Lopez

Sedillo Lopez taught law at the University of New Mexico for 27 years, where she ran clinics on economic justice, Native American access to legal services, environmental law, and wrongful incarceration. She also served on the boards of the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Valley Improvement Association Board, the Southwest Women’s Law Center, and as the executive director of Enlace, an anti-domestic violence nonprofit conducting outreach to Latino immigrant communities.

She said of her candidacy, "I know what it’s like to be discounted, dismissed, and discriminated against. I’ve never tolerated that personally, nor in my community, and won’t tolerate it now. I will be a voice in Congress fighting back against discrimination and hate to break down barriers and to create opportunities for everyone to succeed."

Her campaign website listed supporting Medicare for All, women's access to reproductive healthcare services, and opposition to fracking as some of her policy priorities.

Candidates

See also: Statistics on U.S. Congress candidates, 2018

 Democratic primary candidates

• Patrick Davis
• Debra Haaland ✔
• Damian Lara
• Antoinette Sedillo Lopez
• Damon Martinez
• Paul Moya

Did not make the ballot:

• John Abrams
• John Flores
• Jesse Heitner

Campaign finance

Democrats

Satellite spending

• 7Gen Leaders spent $189,000 on television advertising for Haaland.

• The Latino Victory Fund spent $334,000 on an ad campaign for Sedillo Lopez, highlighting her professional history of representing women, immigrants, and families. "Antoinette Sedillo Lopez is our progressive fighter," the ad's narrator says. The organization spent another $100,000 on Sedillo Lopez the following week.

• With Honor Fund spent $585,000 on direct mail campaigns and advertising to support Martinez in May 2018.

• VoteVets spent $186,000 on television media production and buys for Martinez in May 2018.

Campaign advertisements

Patrick Davis

Support

"F*ck the NRA" - Davis campaign ad, released May 11, 2018

Deb Haaland

Support

"The Climb" - Haaland campaign ad, released April 23, 2018

Damian Lara

Support

"If He Had His Way" - Lara campaign ad, released May 16, 2018

Damon Martinez

Support

"Brave" - Martinez campaign ad, released May 16, 2018

"Message" - VoteVets ad, released May 1, 2018

Antoinette Sedillo Lopez

Support

"New Ideas" - Sedillo Lopez campaign ad, released May 16, 2018

"Fighter" - Latino Victory Project ad, released May 11, 2018

"Watch Me" - Sedillo Lopez campaign ad, released April 23, 2018

Debates and forums

May 18, 2018, debate

KOAT Debate, May 18, 2018

February 25, 2018, debate

Seven candidates participated in a debate in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on February 25, 2018, where they discussed the environment, super PACs, and measures to prevent gun violence.

KOB 4 News provided a summary of statements made by the candidates on gun violence and campaign finance.

Gun violence

• Davis: "The law that I passed last year was used four times by APD [Albuquerque Police Department] to investigate and arrest offenders who threatened Albuquerque schools with guns before they got on campus. It's the right message that progressives can lead this conversation."

• Haaland: "We need to close all the loopholes for background checks and [provide] more money for behavioral health."

• Heitner: "We need to study and find out the best ways, and I think we need to start funding it immediately to find out what the most effective things are."

• Lara: "I will fight for these issues. I will look them in the eye and I will tell them, 'Never again.'"

• Martinez recommended holding gun manufacturers accountable.

• Moya: "This is an issue we have to address and I don't know if any of you have been watching [Parkland student and activist] Emma Gonzalez and these high school students in Parkland, Florida, but I am so inspired by their actions. I am so inspired by the fact that they're not backing down."

• Sedillo Lopez: "The presence of a gun in a house with domestic violence increases the likelihood of a death, whether by murder or suicide, by 70 percent. We have too many guns."

Campaign finance

Every candidate pledged to not accept corporate PAC money and to return any donations they received, according to KOB 4 News.

Campaign themes and policy stances

Campaign themes

This section highlights topics that each candidate emphasized during the campaign. They are generally taken verbatim from the candidate, but may also be collected from newspaper profiles, candidate forums, media interviews, voter guides, candidate survey responses, and candidate YouTube videos.

Debra Haaland

“	CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT The fossil fuel industry is making billions by putting our communities in harm’s way, and forcing us to pay to clean up their mess. Meanwhile, extreme weather fueled by climate change is creating massive droughts across the Southwest, historic flooding across the Southeast, and is forcing people out of their homes from Louisiana to Alaska. We need to act fast to counteract climate change and keep fossil fuels in the ground. I pledge to vote against all new fossil fuel infrastructure, and to fight instead for 100% clean energy -- including tens of thousands of solar energy jobs for New Mexicans. We deserve representatives in Congress who will stand up to the fossil fuel industry, and I will. Indigenous rights and the fight for climate justice cannot be separated, and I will fight for tribal nations across the country who are battling the fossil fuel industry in their backyards. I believe in people over profits. I will fight for all families for access to clean water, air, and housing that allows us an equal opportunity to raise our families with dignity. We need strong environmental protections to ensure this across industries. ECONOMY AND TAXES Income inequality is out of control in America. The rich are getting richer, and working folks are only getting poorer. If we want a strong and just Democracy, we have to think big. America isn’t broke, but we have been pillaged by billionaires and big corporations who get rich off our infrastructure and expect working people to foot the bill. No more. I believe in a fair society, where hardworking New Mexicans all have an equal shot to reach their full potential, and where corporations, millionaires, and billionaires all pay their fair share in taxes. We need a financial transaction tax to ensure this happens, along with a complete repeal and replacement of the GOP tax scam, and the reinstatement of a more robust estate tax. We need to return taxes for the wealthy and corporations to post-World-War-II levels and also ensure that we tax wealth generation, not just wage-labor income. I’ll also fight with everything I have for a national public infrastructure bill that creates millions of jobs and rebuilds America’s crumbling roads, parks, bridges, energy, schools, and technology infrastructure. This bill should include massive investment in updating America’s energy grid to prepare us for 100% renewable energy, and millions of good union jobs that include living wages, full benefits, and fair scheduling. Infrastructure improvements should be especially targeted towards poor, black, and brown communities who have been historically neglected by our government. WORKING FAMILIES Once we fix the imbalance in our tax system, we will have a huge surplus to rebuild our national safety net. Economic success requires equal access to resources that allow working families to live with dignity and free from violence and poverty. In Congress I will fight for : Free child care and pre-k: America is changing fast, and far too many working parents simply can’t afford safe childcare for their kids. As childcare costs soar across the country to upwards of $20,000 a child per year, taking action is key to gender equality, the success of our children, and for working families. I propose a national public child care and pre-k program on the same scale as current calls for free college. Early investments in child success will pay enormous dividends, and create millions of good jobs for early childhood educators. A federal $15 minimum wage so everyone who works full time can put food on the table and pay rent. To expand social security, by ending the cap on taxable income, so that more older Americans can retire with dignity. Current Social Security for many seniors is simply too low to meet basic needs like food, housing, and healthcare. Right now, only income up to $128,400 per year is taxable on social security, meaning our country’s highest earners aren’t paying their fair share. Fair scheduling legislation at a national level, so that low-wage workers in retail and food-service jobs can have families and pay the bills. Oregon has passed a model bill for the nation, now we need to nationalize it so that low wage workers can plan ahead for childcare, rent, and school. A national paid family leave program -- with six months of leave for all -- so that we can be there for our families in the times that matter most. No one should die alone because their families can’t afford to be there, and babies born into poverty need their parents just as much as babies born into extreme wealth. As a single mom, I believe this policy is especially important to single parents and working families without wealth across America. A federal job guarantee. Across America, there are children and elderly people that need caretaking, failing infrastructure that needs rebuilding, schools that need more teachers and support staff, and parks that need to be cleaned and revamped. People need good jobs with living wages, and America has work that just isn’t getting done. A federal job guarantee needs to be explored, and could open the door to other bold ideas like a national childcare program to address our child care affordability crisis, universal pre-k to address the education gap, and public art to make our cities more vibrant and livable. As automation increases and climate change shifts our landscape, we need to think about how to keep America working. Federal funding to end hunger. We need greater investment in SNAP, WIC, and school meal programs so that America ends its embarassing record with hunger. Too many New Mexicans go hungry every day -- I know because I lived it as a single mom trying to put myself through school. Food is a human right that should be guaranteed to every American. A national resilience fund: climate change is here, and extreme weather is leaving many poor, black, and brown communities to pick up the tab for America’s addiction to fossil fuels. I propose a national resilience fund to create more climate-resilient infrastructure in America’s most vulnerable communities, and to support communities in rebuilding who are already being forced from their homes. This fund should be paid for through a national tax on big polluters. Affordable housing. We need to take bold action to address homelessness and our affordable housing crisis across New Mexico and America. Good housing grants us access to good schools, grocery stores, social services, and more. Every American has a right to a roof over their head, and I will work to explore bold ideas to make this a reality. More investments in renewable energy to create more good paying jobs; Dignity and independence for people with disabilities. I support the Disability Integration Act as fundamental civil rights legislation that will protect disabled and elderly Americans from unnecessary institutionalization. I believe in a strong Americans with Disabilities Act and will vote against any attempts to weaken this essential legislation. I am against any legislation that would tie benefits of any kind to an ability to work, and for abolishing the sub-minimum wage for disabled Americans. MEDICARE FOR ALL It’s time to challenge corporate dominance over our health, and a corporate healthcare system that is inefficient, rocky, and wildly expensive. No American should face bankruptcy, death, or poverty because of a lack of healthcare. We need national public health insurance -- Medicare for All -- a model that has been proven across the world to lower costs, increase efficiency, and ensure the most people have access to care. Health care is a human right. EDUCATION Public education is the key to social mobility and economic security, and all our kids need access to good public schools. It’s time for us to make big, smart investments in public schools and find real solutions that pull our kids and all New Mexicans out of poverty. Public schools are essential to ensuring American children can meet their full potential regardless of their income, Zip code, or skin color. We need big investments in public education now. In congress, I will fight for: Debt-free college. Every student should be able to attend college without financial barriers, and burdens after graduation. Universal pre-k. Every child deserves the same shot at reaching their potential. Research shows that universal long-term benefits for children. Social services that ensure our kids have the support they need to focus on learning. From reliable food to stable housing and mental health support to communities free from violence, I will fight to ensure our kids have the support they need to learn. More federal funding for public k-12 schools. I am against school vouchers, and any federal laws that would take funding away from our public schools. GENDER EQUALITY I support a woman's right to choose when and how to have a child, full access to contraception and believe that everyone should have access to affordable healthcare -- which means we need to expand access to abortion care. Far too many rural women, poor women, and women of color simply do not have access to the healthcare they need to stay healthy. I believe that we need to protect access to care, not just choice about that care. Pay equality is essential to gender equality. I will support all efforts to close the national pay gap, with a special focus on closing the gap for black, latina, indigenous, and disabled women as well as genderqueer and transgender people -- all of whom deserve equal pay for equal work. Transgender Americans have the same rights as all Americans -- and I will fight to ensure my transgender neighbors have access to the same dignity, jobs, social services, and housing as we all do. This includes fighting the inhumane “bathroom bills” proposed by the GOP that restricts transgender kids and adults from accessing public spaces. MONEY IN POLITICS I am the only candidate who hasn't written myself a big check, because I think Democrats should lead by example when it comes to taking big money out of politics. Instead, I'm running my campaign the old-fashioned way by building a grassroots team of supporters just like you. Our campaign finance system is broken — it only helps those at the top. This has to stop. I knows the struggles of New Mexico families because I've lived them, and you have my word: I will not accept contributions from corporate PACs, and I will fight to overturn Citizens United and bring democracy back to the people. VETERANS Both of my parents were Veterans, and my dad is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Our country must live up to the promises made to our Veterans in exchange for their service and their lives. All veterans deserve good health care, including mental health services, and support to transition into civilian jobs. LABOR I believe in good jobs: jobs that allow workers to pay the rent, put food on the table, care for families, and live with dignity. Labor rights and unions have long formed the backbone of American society and need to be protected at all costs to ensure workers can compete in a world of increasingly extreme income inequality and corporate power. I will advocate for fair trade policies that do justice to our Labor Unions, and against any assault on labor rights. IMMIGRATION This country was built by immigrants. As a Native American woman, my family has experienced the violence of government-enforced family separation. I will always fight to keep families together. ICE is an out of control institution that is terrorizing American families. I want to stop deportations, protect DREAMers, and I will fight for comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship for all 11 million undocumented immigrants in America. I will fight tirelessly against Trump’s racist and astronomically expensive wall. Immigration policy must recognize this country's dependency on (and exploitation of) immigrant labor, and treat with dignity and humanity those who work and build their families here. DIPLOMACY-FIRST FOREIGN POLICY The GOP’s violence-first foreign policy makes us less safe. Violence creates violence, and I believe the use of force should always be a last resort in America’s foreign policy. The Iran Deal has proven that diplomacy works, and I will work hard to ensure that America embraces diplomacy over violence at all turns. ACCOUNTABILITY I will hold Donald Trump and his billionaire friends accountable -- whether it’s standing up to his racist bullying, fighting for his billionaire friends to pay their fair share, or calling for impeachment. I will fight against the demagoguery represented by the current administration, and do everything in my power to create greater transparency in our government. I am not afraid to stand up to the NRA, the arms industry, big pharma, or the fossil fuel industry on behalf of everyday people who are too often being thrown under the bus for ever greater profits. RACIAL JUSTICE & CIVIL RIGHTS In the Trump era, when too many people are facing increasingly hateful violence -- specifically in the black, brown, Native American, and the LGBTQ communities -- I will fight for justice, dignity, and safety for marginalized communities. We must ensure that our policies reflect the inclusion and kindness we want to see in America. That means demilitarizing our nation’s police forces, legalizing marijuana for adults over 21, ensuring that we support the Department of Justice in investigating and prosecuting hate crimes and police violence that local jurisdictions ignore, and fighting discrimination at the national level wherever possible. CIVIL LIBERTIES AND TECH I support the right to privacy and net neutrality, and I will work to continue the expansion of broadband access across New Mexico. In a world where internet access is essential to success in school, in the job market, and at work -- public internet infrastructure is a big, smart idea that deserves further discussion. GUN REFORM We must take on the NRA! Congress needs to stop wasting lives and take action on gun violence -- now. We must keep guns out of the hands of people who should never have a gun. We need 100% background checks and to close loopholes -- especially with gun shows. We need to rid our communities of military-grade weapons; neither hunting nor policing require automatic weapons. We need major funding for behavioral health programs that are accessible to everyone. We need to strip the power of the NRA with commitments from elected officials to NOT ACCEPT campaign contributions. We need to foster a society in which violence is never the answer. No one should live in fear of attending a concert, dancing at a nightclub, or going to school.	”
—Deb for Congress

Damon Martinez

“	Protecting our Environment and Investing in a Clean Energy Future “In Congress, I will aggressively push for accountability for polluters and the specific big corporations who callously put profits over people.” Scientists and climate experts agree: human activity is primarily responsible for climate change, and the results are catastrophic – devastating storms, longer droughts, and more frequent flooding. But Republicans in Washington continue to roll back the very policies designed to reverse these harmful effects, and we need to take equally aggressive action to combat their reckless treatment of our planet. Climate change causes particular trauma to low income and minority communities, who are too often the targets of bad policy or exploitation by huge companies looking solely for a profit. So while apathy and ignorance have played a role in our current situation, so have exploitation and abuse. In Congress, I will aggressively push for accountability for polluters and the specific big corporations who callously put profits over people. As a legislative staffer for both former Congressman Tom Udall and Senator Jeff Bingaman, I worked to advance a number of policy proposals designed to protect our environment. I’ll continue that fight to strengthen and enforce legislation to promote green energy jobs, protect our natural resources and engage in the world in a sustainable way. Such work requires fully funding the Environmental Protection Agency here at home and re-engaging with the Paris Accords, instead of abandoning our position as a global climate leader. In New Mexico, abundant sunshine and strong winds make our state perfect for a thriving renewable energy sector. In fact, in 2016, more than 2,900 New Mexicans worked in the solar industry. That’s why in Congress, I’ll fight for more tax credits for renewable energy companies, so they can expand the solar business, take advantage of our greatest natural assets, and provide employment opportunities and growth for our community. As a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, I’m also uniquely aware of the threat climate change poses to our national and global security. Climate change affects the movement of people, the availability of resources, and the stability of governments all over the world. Increased storms and rising temperatures lead to instability, which leads to more conflict and chaotic migration around the globe. When people’s livelihoods are at stake, they become desperate, and extremists exploit that desperation to radicalize the most vulnerable. That’s why so many in the national security sector have joined their voices to the chorus of communities loudly demanding bold action on climate. We need aggressive action on climate justice to reverse the impacts of human behavior and environmental degradation, and to ensure healthy, sustainable living for future generations. The time for reactive policy is over - the time for sustainable living and a safer, healthier planet, is now. Health Care “...no one who is sick should face bankruptcy or death because insurance companies are putting the bottom line over people’s lives.” Healthcare is a human right, which is why I will support Medicare for All and single-payer health care. We all have loved ones who have struggled with a health crisis, and I believe that no one who is sick should face bankruptcy or death because insurance companies are putting the bottom line over people’s lives. The Trump Administration and the Republican Party leadership in Congress have done everything in their power to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and destabilize health care, working to rip away coverage from millions of Americans while insurance companies bank profits. Despite their efforts however, the ACA remains largely intact because of the enormous support it has from across the country. While it’s true that there are fixes we need to make to the law, it’s undeniable that it has been a lifesaver for New Mexican families. Because of the ACA and Medicaid expansion, 266,000 New Mexicans have health care coverage.Thanks to the ACA, seniors no longer face the Medicare donut hole, preventive care is more fully funded, and insurance companies can no longer discriminate against women. I will always stand up for affordable, accessible health care for all New Mexicans and Americans. There are specific communities who deserve targeted health care services that acknowledges and meets their specific needs. These include: Women, who deserve funding and access to comprehensive reproductive health services; Veterans, who deserve an advocate for the high quality, responsible health care their service has earned; and Rural communities, who are too often sidelined and forgotten in the conversation about expansion of access to services. Finally, in Congress, I will promote the expansion of Medicaid and the implementation of CHIP, two programs which ensure our most vulnerable populations have access to care. Both programs are now threatened by the Trump administration and its draconian, anti-family and anti-health care policies, but I will never back down from my commitment to accessible, affordable health care. Crime and Criminal Justice Reform “...we have to encourage strong and collaborative relationships between officers and the communities they are paid to protect.” Everyone deserves to live in a safe community, free from fear of crime and violence. Here in New Mexico, our criminal justice system isn’t getting the job done; in 2016 we had the highest property crime rate in the country and ranked second in violent crime. I’ve spent the majority of my professional career helping law enforcement agencies implement smart reforms here in New Mexico, and that experience has given me a unique perspective on how we need to tackle crime on Day One. The truth is we have a lot of work to do. We need to give our police departments the resources and training they need to keep our streets safe, and we have to encourage strong and collaborative relationships between officers and the communities they are paid to protect. It’s time we rethink how we approach sentencing non-violent crime and minor offenses and invest in rehabilitation, so that people who have served their time have the resources they need to succeed once they’re out of prison. Finally, we must address the ongoing drug crisis that is devastating communities and families in New Mexico and across the country, and make sure the pharmaceutical companies responsible are held accountable. When crime and drug violence are so intricately linked, we cannot afford to tackle these challenges independently. Police officers and their communities No New Mexican should ever feel unsafe in their home or in our community, but in recent years, we’ve seen a spike in crime rates. That’s why in Congress, I’ll fight for our cops and make sure departments receive the funding they need to protect us while respecting the rights of every New Mexican. Positive relationships between officers and the communities they are charged with protecting is crucial to fighting crime. That’s why together, we can make sure that every New Mexican grows up in a safe, prosperous community. Mandatory minimums As a former U.S. Attorney, I know how important it is to prosecute violent criminals who threaten New Mexicans and our community. But when we unfairly sentence non-violent and low-level offenders because of unreasonable mandatory minimums, we overcrowd our prisons, waste tax dollars, and cause permanent harm to individuals and communities far out of proportion to their crimes. Outreach and Education One of the most effective ways to stop crime is to prevent the conditions that lead to criminal activity from developing in the first place. That’s why in Congress, I will support funding for outreach and prevention programs that target at risk communities. Such programs can ensure that all New Mexicans have access to the resources, information, and support that will help them become active and productive members of society. Immigration “...so long as the Trump Administration and Republican leadership demonize those who look different from them, I will fight to expand opportunities and to ensure that America remains a safe haven for those who seek refugee, shelter, or simply a chance at the American dream.” The fabric of America is interwoven by those who have been here and those who have come here, forging a unique identity and contributing to the character, strength, and diversity of our country. Attacks on immigrants cannot stand, and so long as the Trump Administration and Republican leadership demonize those who look different from them, I will fight to expand opportunities and to ensure that America remains a safe haven for those who seek refugee, shelter, or simply a chance at the American dream. We need to build bridges, not walls, and welcome those who are fleeing violence or persecution. I fully support the Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (DACA) and will stand shoulder to shoulder with DREAMers who want the freedom to succeed in America. These DREAMers are our neighbors and our friends. The Trump Administration’s actions threaten the futures of these young men and women, the stability of their families, and the future of our country. I will oppose any bill that holds DREAMers hostage for a border wall or draconian changes to immigration policy. Republicans are determined to squander taxpayer dollars, fueling fear and pandering to extremists who seek to turn us against one another, but our country is stronger than that. I won’t allow Republican leadership or Donald Trump to tear small children from their parents, unlawfully detain legal residents, or violate anyone’s civil rights because of the color of their skin. Education “As a graduate of New Mexico schools, I will make investing in education and supporting teachers and educators a priority.” I’m proud to have been educated in New Mexico, receiving my B.A., M.B.A. and J.D. at UNM. The brutal truth is that our schools are undervalued and underfunded, and it’s hurting our children and our economy. Teachers are working hard to educate their students, but they’re being forced to do it with one hand tied behind their backs because they don’t have the funding and the support they need to do their jobs well. Albuquerque’s high school graduation rate is tragically low, and our students are woefully unprepared for the world due to a lack of investment in their education and training. As a graduate of New Mexico schools, I will make investing in education and supporting teachers and educators a priority. We need to invest in education from an early age, fully funding universal pre-K and home visitation programs and ensuring that resources are available for students who want to pursue higher education, so that they don’t end up burdened by a mountain of debt. I will fight to protect and expand Head Start and Early Head Start and to provide federal funding for high-quality pre-K. We need to build partnerships in our community between businesses, government laboratories, higher education, and public schools to promote STEAM education from pre-K through graduate school, including incorporating STEAM into after-school programing. Higher education has taken a beating at the state and national levels, yet it is the bedrock of our economic success and advancement. I will work closely with New Mexican colleges and universities and ensure they are best positioned to compete for national grants, and advocate for federal funding for higher education, particularly for our Hispanic serving institutions. 'Creating Jobs and Growing our Economy “I'll fight to ensure businesses have what they need to keep innovating and expanding.” Jobs are the heart of not just our economy, but of our community, and our elected officials need to take seriously the responsibility to put in place public policy that allows jobs to grow and our economy to expand. We need a comprehensive approach that involves a myriad of interrelated issues, including better funded education, access to credit for small businesses, net neutrality, expanded Social Security benefits, equal pay, a living wage, workplace protections, and increased opportunities for entrepreneurs. In 2006, Forbes Magazine rated Albuquerque as the number one place to start a business or career in the country. Since then, we've declined in too many areas, not investing enough in our businesses and in our future. New Mexico is hemorrhaging small business of between 5 and 50 employees, when instead we should be focusing on saving those jobs and keeping businesses here, where they can grow and invest and expand. We have technology being developed at Sandia National Labs that is among the best in the world, including renewable energy technology, battery technology, and isotope technology, but these innovations aren't making it into the private sector as they should. In Congress, I'll fight to ensure businesses have what they need to keep innovating and expanding. Kirtland Air Force Base is one of the economic anchors of our economy, providing over 53,000 jobs and $4 billion in economic impact in the greater Albuquerque area. The base is coming up before the BRAC commission again soon for consideration, and in Congress, I'll use my congressional experience, military background, and national security expertise to ensure the base stays open and continues to serve our economy and community. If we recommit to enacting policies that support our workers, our businesses, and our overall economy, we can be number one in the country again. Veterans “I consider it part of my duty as a veteran to stand up for my fellow service members who’ve sacrificed so much for our country.” In 2002, I signed up to serve my country and became a member of the U.S. Armed Forces. For the past 15 years, I’ve served as a proud member of the U.S. Army Reserve and the New Mexico National Guard, and over the years, I’ve been both mobilized and deployed overseas. I consider it part of my duty as a veteran to stand up for my fellow service members who’ve sacrificed so much for our country. We need to improve access to health care for our wounded warriors, including those who suffer from PTSD or other mental illnesses, and we need to address the crisis that is veterans homelessness. Military families also need our support, as we know it is not only service members, but also spouses and children who sacrifice when a loved one puts on a uniform. Global Security “As a United States Army reservist, I understand that diplomacy, engagement, and development must remain the centerpiece of our foreign policy and national security strategies.” As a United States Army reservist, I understand that diplomacy, engagement, and development must remain the centerpiece of our foreign policy and national security strategies. During my service in the New Mexico National Guard, I was deployed to Sinai, Egypt, to serve as part of a peacekeeping force. Such activities must remain a pillar of our broader global security initiatives if we are going to continue our leadership position in the world. In Congress, I will push to ensure the U.S. State Department - as well as all of our diplomatic tools and personnel - are fully funded and given the tools and resources they need to conduct effective and efficient operations. I will also make cybersecurity a priority. Expanding measures to deter and constrain Russian cyber aggression must be part of a comprehensive system to secure future elections at home and abroad. I will advocate for a thorough assessment of our vulnerabilities, including a state by state analysis of voting system security. I will also insist on investment in our technological security infrastructure, in our electoral systems and beyond. Seniors “We need to expand Social Security benefits to keep up with ever rising costs, so that Social Security can offer those who need it most the support and assistance they deserve.” Taking care of our seniors is part of America’s moral code, and efforts to privatize Social Security or turn Medicare into a voucher program are a betrayal to our families and loved ones. Social Security is one of the most successful government programs that has ever existed, allowing seniors to retire in dignity, offering a lifeline to widows and dependents left behind by tragic occurrences, and preventing millions of people from sinking into poverty. We need to expand Social Security benefits to keep up with ever rising costs, so that Social Security can offer those who need it most the support and assistance they deserve. As well, thousands of New Mexicans receive health care benefits under Medicare, which they paid into most of their lives. I will fight to protect Medicare and ensure seniors receive the healthcare and benefits they’re entitled to under this program. Women’s Rights “Women deserve the freedom, access, and resources to make whatever decisions are best for them and their families, without the interference of politicians or religious zealots.” Women’s rights are one of the defining issues of our time, and they’ve been sidelined, ignored, or traded away too often. Women both need and deserve full autonomy over their bodies and lives, which is why it’s imperative that men join their voices and support efforts to expand and fund comprehensive reproductive health care and women’s equality. Women deserve the freedom, access, and resources to make whatever decisions are best for them and their families, without the interference of politicians or religious zealots. In Congress, I’ll fight alongside women to support and champion equal pay, expand child care subsidies, increase access to justice for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, raise the minimum wage (which impacts women the most), pass paid family leave, and ensure access to affordable abortion and birth control. We must also end damaging parental consent laws and federal funding for crisis pregnancy centers. As U.S. Attorney, I made combating sexual assault on college campuses and in tribal communities a top priority, and I’ll continue to hold perpetrators accountable and ensure support and resources are available to survivors. Ending Gun Violence “Gun violence is an epidemic in America, and we need to treat it as the public health threat that it is.” Gun violence is an epidemic in America, and we need to treat it as the public health threat that it is. We need aggressive laws that will close loopholes, prevent domestic violence offenders from accessing weapons, expand background checks, and in short, do more to save lives. All of these things can be done while still protecting law-abiding citizens’ Second Amendment rights, and anyone who says differently is wrong. We can no longer allow the corporate gun lobby to hold our lives in the palm of their hands, and in Congress, I’ll champion common sense reforms that ensure weapons are kept out of the hands of criminals and those suffering from mental illnesses that make possession of a firearm dangerous. Children “As a father, I know that ensuring our children are able to grow up in safe and healthy environments is critical to ensuring their success in the future.” Children's safety, health, and well-being are not women’s issues - they are society’s issues. As a father, I know that ensuring our children are able to grow up in safe and healthy environments is critical to ensuring their success in the future. New Mexican children rank last or next to last in almost all measures of child-well being. They face incredibly high rates of poverty, food insecurity, trauma, and lack of access to early childhood education. Additionally, child abuse and neglect rates have been steadily climbing in New Mexico and nationwide, fueled in large part by our substance abuse crisis. In Congress, I'll make children the center of policy initiatives, not an afterthought, and support legislation that puts their needs first, including: The Lunch Shaming Bill that New Mexico Appleseed has championed Fight for funding for Head Start, universal Pre-K Innovative pilot programs focused on ensuring high quality pre-school and public education; Access to health care through fully funded CHIP and Medicaid programs; Pilot programs that expand substance abuse treatment and family support for addicted parents and early intervention services for infants born exposed to substances. Children are society’s responsibility, and it’s up to legislators and elected officials to ensure they are creating policies that support the work of parents, teachers, and communities in nurturing our children to the best of our abilities. Supporting the LGBTQ Community I will always stand by the trans community against discrimination and ensure that their civil rights are protected...” The LGBTQ community has faced isolation, discrimination, and violence for too long. In Congress, I will support legislation that establishes protections against discrimination for LGBTQ people in employment, housing, credit, education and adoption. I strongly opposed President Trump’s efforts to ban trans men and women from serving in the military. I will always stand by the trans community against discrimination and ensure that their civil rights are protected and that sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression are protected classes under federal law. Tackling the Opioid Epidemic As U.S. Attorney, I prosecuted criminals and drug cartels, but our response to the opioid epidemic will be ineffective unless we also channel resources and support to those who need treatment and care.” The opioid crisis that is gripping the nation has devastated New Mexican families and communities. Working in the Justice Department, I saw this destruction firsthand, and I used all the resources available to our office to prosecute drug and organized crime cases. When President Obama appointed me as the U.S. Attorney for New Mexico, I made tackling the opioid crisis from a multi-disciplinary standpoint a priority. I invited the Chancellor of the Health Sciences to partner with me and local community activists and elected officials to begin the Heroin Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative. Working together, we were able to expand education efforts at local schools, expand treatment options and access to harm-reduction tools like naloxone, and focus prosecutions on dealers and violent offenders rather than addicts. We also developed best practices for prescribing opioids and educating healthcare professionals. Because of our efforts, while the rest of the nation has experienced rising rates of overdose, ours has remained steady, and, in relation to other states, declined each of the past three years. In Congress, I would champion the HOPE Initiative and others like it as national models. I will also publically insist that the Administration follow through on its declaration of the opioid crisis as a national emergency and direct funds into communities like ours to provide desperately needed treatment. As U.S. Attorney, I prosecuted criminals and drug cartels, but our response to the opioid epidemic will be ineffective unless we also channel resources and support to those who need treatment and care.	”
—Damon Martinez for Congress

Antoinette Sedillo Lopez

“	Healthcare “Family always comes first. It should be a moral outrage that in the richest country on Earth, 28 million Americans live without health insurance. Americans pay more for health care than any other industrialized country, but we still have worst outcomes across the board. Together, we can change that. That’s why I support Medicare For All. There is something terribly wrong a system that we look at insurance company buildings and see gleaming and shiny edifices of luxury, and then we look at many of our hospitals and we see them crumbling. It’s just plain wrong.” Medicare for All is the best path towards comprehensive and universal coverage for all Americans and honors our campaign’s vision that healthcare is a universal right. The benefits of this model: Ensures that all individuals, regardless of income or status, will have access to health care. Reduces the burden on employers and small business owners. Lowers administrative costs. Provides comprehensive access to critical services like preventative care, affordable prescription drugs, disability and mental health services. Medicare for All ensures a system that is more accountable and responsive to all of New Mexico’s communities, including our underserved rural communities. Women's Issues Antoinette has been a longtime advocate for women. From her time teaching on Women and the Law, to working to eliminate domestic violence in New Mexico as the head of Enlace Comunitario, she has been devoted to championing women’s and children’s rights throughout her career. Antoinette believes strongly that women need to be in control of their bodies and their own healthcare decisions. These personal and private decisions are not the government’s business. She will fight to protect a woman’s right to health care services, including access to critical preventative care services like mammograms and ovarian cancer screenings, access to clean and safe abortion care, and access to contraceptives. In addition to ensuring birth control coverage and access to safe abortion services, Antoinette will fight pregnancy discrimination that too often is forgotten as an essential part of reproductive freedom. As the former head of an anti-domestic violence agency, ending violence and in particular violence against women is a deeply personal challenge that Antoinette will continue to fight for in Congress. As a trained lawyer and law professor, she will continue to draw on her experiences to expand federal funding for improved testing, better tracking of rape kits, and robust services for survivors. She’ll also work to eliminate the statute of limitations on sexual assault cases, and will use Congress’ oversight role to hold the Department of Justice accountable on these issues. Antoinette believes we need to build on the Violence Against Women Act’s (VAWA) successes and devote additional federal resources so that local law enforcement can adequately tackle the challenge of keeping survivors and families safe. Antoinette will also fight for paid family leave, closing the gender wage gap, child care affordability for working families, and co-sponsoring the FAMILY ACT, which would create a national insurance program offering families up to 12 weeks of leave. Climate Change “Climate change is an urgent threat that we need to address now. It is a fight to protect our homes, our lives, and our livelihoods from the greed and recklessness of a handful of fossil fuel CEOs. Climate change is a threat to our environment and public health, particularly in the fragile high desert environment of our state. If we come together and take on the fossil fuel billionaires destroying our communities, we can create 21st century clean energy jobs and protect our land, water, air, and people.” New Mexico’s heritage keeps our communities strong. I oppose the construction of any new fossil fuel infrastructure, I oppose pipelines and fracking, and I will fight alongside the movements in our country demanding a clean energy revolution.” New Energy Economy: Antoinette has taken the New Energy Economy pledge to transition us away from fossil fuels and towards a 100% renewable energy economy by 2035. She supports Tulsi Gabbard’s Off Fossil Fuels Act (OFF), which will help us achieve just that. She has also taken the ‘No Fossil Fuel Money’ pledge. Watch her video here: http://tiny.cc/NM_OffAct Public Lands: We need a Congresswoman who will stand up to the Trump administration’s assault on environmental protections and our public lands. “As a lover of the outdoors and the vast natural beauty offered all over New Mexico, I understand how important conservation is to our state and our economy. I will carry this passion to Washington D.C. and fight to protect New Mexico’s prized landscapes and monuments in Congress.” Antoinette understands that representing New Mexican values in Washington means protecting our enchanting New Mexico landscapes. Water: Antoinette believes that access to clean water is a universal right. She is committed to bringing federal resources to New Mexico to continue to revitalize our water infrastructure. From stopping the threat that fracking poses to our water supplies to rebuilding our wastewater treatment plants and water lines, Antoinette will fight to bring federal resources to help rebuild the water infrastructure of New Mexico. Air: Protecting our clean air is an urgent priority that we can no longer afford to defer fixing. With several alarming studies confirming the growing threats of methane ‘hot spots,’ or methane clouds, the problem is both real and urgent. With a methane cloud now measuring over 2,500 square miles, New Mexico’s atmosphere now has the largest area of elevated methane concentration ever measured in the U.S. Antoinette believes that access to clean air is a basic human right, but we are failing to deliver on that promise. Antoinette will fight to implement national standards that reduce oil and gas methane emissions and will champion investing federal resources in the 21st century, renewable energy sources. If we invest in a clean energy future, we can revitalize our local economy while also combating threats to our public health. We have a moral obligation to preserve our treasured public lands for posterity, and a calling to protect our environment for the sake of our collective public health. Immigration Our federal immigration laws need to be consistent with our constitutional values and treat all individuals with dignity and respect. We must all fight for humane immigration reform that provides legalization and a path to citizenship to the 11 million undocumented immigrants that are currently contributing to our economy and the social fabric of our country. Our federal immigration policies should strive to bring the undocumented community out of the shadows, reunite families, and provide protections to exploited immigrant workers. “I support policies like the DREAM Act that will give our young people an opportunity to live and work without fear of deportation, and will also pay dividends to our state’s economy. As Associate Dean of the UNM School of Law, I expanded our clinic’s work in providing legal aid to immigrants and other under-served New Mexicans. More recently I led a non-profit that focused on holistically serving survivors of domestic violence in immigrant communities around Central New Mexico. I know first hand of the terror our current president’s immigration policies are causing in our communities and in Congress, I will work towards rewriting policies that are fair and honor the values of our constitution.” Voting Rights Voting is the foundation of our democracy. After the 2016 election, protecting voting rights has become even more critical. As a law professor, Antoinette has taught courses on election law and believes deeply in an individual’s right to access the vote and the power to create change that the vote carries with it. The constitutional principle of one person, one vote is an important guide for fairness. Each person’s vote should count. At a time when President Trump has established, through executive order, a so-called “Voting Integrity Commission” to intimidate states into purging their voter registration rolls, Antoinette believes that we need to be vigilant in protecting our right to vote. Attempts to cut back on early voting, to require discriminatory voter identification, and placing barriers to registration are all voter suppression techniques that need to be fought vigorously. The Supreme Court’s 2013 decision to undermine aspects of the Voting Rights Act has resulted in states creating barriers to voting. That is why, as a Congresswoman, Antoinette will work to restore voter protection by championing the Voting Rights Amendment Act, which has bipartisan support and would restore protections in states with a recent history of discrimination. Antoinette will use her legal experience to ensure that all citizens have equal access to the ballot box and that our elections are free of fraud and corruption. Campaign Finance The Citizen’s United Case was a devastating blow to keeping big money out of elections. While the First Amendment values identified by the Court are precious and important, the fact that money has come to give an outsize voice in our government is a threat to our democratic values. Since the Court decided that case as a matter of Constitutional Law, it would require a Constitutional Amendment to overturn it. We can reform the system by championing campaign finance reform, including public financing, campaign contribution limits and increased transparency in identifying contributors. Giving those with money an outsize voice undermines the principle of one person – one vote. We must keep the issue of money in politics at the forefront of our Democratic discourse, reform the laws to end the corrosive effects of Citizens United and end unlimited and undisclosed money in our democracy. Given the outsize influence of money in politics, Antoinette has pledged to not take any Corporate PAC money, NRA money, or any money from the fossil fuel industries that pollute our air and water. Education Our nation’s future depends on our teachers and the support we can give them and our children. We cannot afford to bring back the outdated and discredited standardized testing regiments begun by the No Child Left Behind Act. Too often these reforms jeopardize teachers’ ability to cultivate creative learning environments and inhibit students’ potential. Students need to have a variety of paths to pursue success based on their educational talents, needs, and aspirations. Which is why Antoinette supports critical funding for programs like early childhood education, universal pre-kindergarten, federal resources for expanded school lunch programs, funding for technical and apprenticeship programs, and lastly bring federal resources into our states to make tuition free public colleges and universities a reality. “Teaching and educating has been my life work. I understand that for America’s education system to succeed, teachers need to be supported. In Congress, I will advocate for increased teacher pay and benefits. I will also fight for more federal funding for early childhood education and work to bring key stakeholders together to build an education system that prepares our children for the 21st century economy.” Debt Free College & Training Higher Education opportunities have to be made universally accessible. We must champion debt relief for college and higher learning and move towards a debt-free college model with our state and community colleges. With student loan debt now exceeding over a $1 Trillion and New Mexico students having the highest student loan default rates in the country, we’ve reached a crisis point. “I will fight for additional federal funding that expands state investments in our public higher education system, and help make our public colleges and universities tuition-free. The federal government should also not profit from students financing their higher education. I will fight to pass the ‘College for All Act,’ which would cut interest rates to 2.3% from their current 4.3%. I also believe that students that have previously borrowed at higher rates deserve an opportunity to refinance at the lower rate. Without significant reforms to our education system, New Mexico’s economy will never be as strong as it can be, and I know that education and technical training programs will play a critical role in revitalizing our economy and pave the way for positive economic development.” Economy We need bold, comprehensive economic solutions that: Expand economic opportunities to all New Mexicans, Reduce income inequality, Support small business growth, Support workers right to organize and collectively bargain, Diversify our economic drivers, Expand good paying jobs. While we have made some progress since the Great Recession of 2008, too many New Mexicans continue to be unemployed or underemployed. We have an economy that has left struggling middle-class families behind. Antoinette will co-sponsor and fight to pass the 21st Century New Deal for Jobs Act, which would bring thousands of good paying jobs to New Mexico and make significant infrastructure investments that we need to revitalize our economy. “As your Congresswoman, I will fight for robust infrastructure investments that repair our faltering roads and bridges and brings back jobs to New Mexico. That is why I support the Progressive Caucus’ plan for a 21st Century New Deal for Jobs Act.” I will fight to bring federal resources to expand our growing clean energy and high tech economy here in New Mexico. These investments will put thousands of New Mexicans back to work in good-paying jobs. With our world-class universities, national labs, unique arts and culture, and military installations combined with federal investments, New Mexico can lead in the 21st-century economy. I will ensure that our rural communities and small towns get their fair share of community development and infrastructure investments.” Protecting New Mexico Workers I will fight for a higher minimum wage so that we can build a stronger economy that works for all of New Mexico’s communities. She’ll fight to combat income inequality and will champion legislation to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour. Antoinette believes that all working New Mexicans deserve a living wage and that we should work to end the economic disparities that women and communities of color experience. With over 1 in 5 New Mexicans living below the poverty line and the growth of the working poor in our state, we need to invest in our workers so that no one who works a 40 hour work week lives in poverty or has a to work and contribute.” Supporting New Mexico Small Businesses Our small business community is the backbone of our economy, and we need a small business champion who will ensure that our local economy receives the investments our state needs to thrive. That means: Ensuring that publicly supported infrastructure projects are fair to our local businesses and their workers and that our regulatory environment is fair to consumers and small businesses. Fighting to simplify small business regulations and working to ensure that New Mexico’s economy gets its fair share in federal investments and small business grants and loans to help our local economy thrive. Supporting and expanding successful programs like the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program, which enables businesses to grow. Too often our small businesses don’t get a seat at the table so that their concerns are addressed so that they can thrive. “As the former executive director of a non-profit, I know the challenges of balancing a budget and ensuring that 30 employees and their families receive decent pay and benefits. I believe that a Medicare-for-All health care system can relieve the administrative burden of employer-provided health care and that a Medicare for All system can not only be a benefit to all New Mexicans but also our small businesses. The lower overhead will, in turn, provide small businesses with the flexibility needed to attract, keep, and train a stable work force. Investing in our economy requires us to invest in training our workforce for the jobs of the future, which is why I will work to expand investments in higher education and apprenticeships.” Gun Control Common sense gun control has been for too long cast aside as a side issue, only considered in the aftermath of a tragedy. Having worked in the domestic violence space, Antoinette has seen how the ubiquity of guns affects our community’s safety. Often, abusers will use gun violence or the threat of gun violence as a means of control. This is why Antoinette believes that we need to close the ‘gun show loophole,’ further restrict domestic abusers from purchasing a gun, reinstate the federal assault weapons ban, pass legislation requiring a universal background check for all gun purchases, and stop any conceal carry reciprocity which would lead to a race to the bottom and lower safety standards. As a longtime law professor, Antoinette also believes that we need to repeal the liability laws that protect gun manufacturers in this country from any liability for crimes and acts committed with their products. No other industry has these types of wide-ranging protections, and neither should the gun lobby. The United States owns almost half of the guns in the world with only 5% of the world’s population, we need federal supports for municipal buyback programs that can get guns off of our streets. That’s why Antoinette supports the Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act of 2017, which would appropriate a $360 Million gun buyback initiative through the DOJ. LGBTQIA+ Rights Antoinette is a fierce advocate for LGBTQI rights. She realizes that LGBTQI folks all over America are still being discriminated against when it comes to housing, employment and other facets of life. In a country that prides itself on acceptance, equality and inclusion, we cannot tolerate discrimination against LGBTQI Americans. As a law professor, Antoinette fully supports the EQUALITY act, which would amend the Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes. Furthermore, LGBTQI children are more likely to face bullying in school and are more at risk for self-harm and suicide. That is why Antoinette supports anti-bullying initiatives that protects and empowers young LGBTQI minors from discrimination and bullying during their adolescent years. Trade Agreements “In Congress, I will stand up for New Mexican workers and champion fair trade deals that protect both our jobs, working conditions and the environment. I will also fight against Republicans’ attacks on workers, and challenge the constitutionality of the National Right-to-Work Act, which would penalize workers and lower wages.” We must fight to protect New Mexico’s workers’ rights and their jobs by challenging unfair trade deals and practices. While trade is important to our economy, too often, multinational trade deals have not done enough to protect workers. Historically, we have seen too many trade deals lower the labor and environmental standards that we deserve. Having taught courses on trade agreements at the law school, Antoinette understands that fighting for fair trade deals is fundamentally about fighting for American jobs, workers’ standards of living and building a sustainable economy that benefits us all. Antoinette believes that trading with other nations cannot come at the expense of our workers, environmental standards, or consumer standards. In Congress, Antoinette will oppose any and all trade deals that don’t put the interests of workers first and those that don’t prioritize combating climate change.	”
—Antoinette for Congress

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

New Mexico's 1st Congressional District, Democratic primary
Poll	Haaland	Martinez	Sedillo-Lopez	Undecided	Other	Margin of Error	Sample Size
Lake Research Partners May 13-14, 2018	23%	20%	25%	27%	5%	+/-5.0	390
Note: A "0%" finding means the question was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org

Endorsements

The table below summarizes the endorsements Ballotpedia identified for Democratic candidates in the primary for New Mexico's 1st Congressional District.

Democratic candidate endorsements
Endorsement	Haaland	Lopez	Martinez
Federal officials
Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.)	✔
Former Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska)	✔
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.)	✔
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.)	✔
Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.)	✔
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.)	✔
Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-Hawai)	✔
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.)	✔
Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.)	✔
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.)	✔
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.)	✔
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.)	✔
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.)	✔
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.)	✔
Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.)	✔
Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.)	✔
Former Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.)	✔
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.)		✔
Congressional Black Caucus	✔
Former U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.)			✔
Organizations
American Postal Workers Union Local 380	✔
350Action.org	✔
Equality New Mexico	✔
National Education Association of New Mexico	✔
Nationa Organization for Women PAC	✔
Organizers in the Land of Enchantment	✔
Planned Parenthood Action Fund	✔
Rachel's Action Network	✔
To'hajiilee Chapter of the Navajo Nation	✔
Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations	✔
American Federation of Teachers New Mexico	✔
With Honor			✔
National Organization for Women PAC	✔
People for Bernie Sanders		✔
VoteVets			✔
Parties
Working Families Party of New Mexico		✔

Timeline

• May 18, 2018:
  • The Latino Victory Fund spent a total of $420,000 on ads to support Sedillo Lopez.
  • The Democratic candidates participated in the only televised debate of the race, discussing law enforcement, immigration, and President Donald Trump.

• May 1, 2018: VoteVets released an ad supporting Martinez with a $40,000 ad buy. "It's time to send Trump a message. Our progressive values can't be fired. That's why we're sending a progressive veteran, Damon Martinez, to Congress to fight Donald Trump," the ad's narrator says.

• April 26, 2018: The American Federation of Teachers New Mexico endorsed Haaland.

• April 23, 2018: Haaland released her first campaign ad highlighting aspects of her personal story, including her law degree and sobriety. "Struggle made me fierce. My work is to fight for all of us," she says in the ad.

• March 10, 2018: Haaland topped the vote at the state convention for the Democratic Party of New Mexico with 35 percent. Sedillo Lopez received 25 percent support. Because Davis, Lara, Martinez, and Moya received less than 20 percent each, they must collect additional petition signatures to appear on the ballot.

• February 25, 2018: Seven candidates participated in a debate in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they discussed gun control, the environment, and campaign finance.

• February 21, 2018: The National Organization for Women PAC endorsed Haaland. Sharon Hart of NOW Next Mexico said in a statement, "The New Mexico State chapter of the National Organization for Women is excited to learn of the endorsement of Deb Haaland by the NOW PAC. This is an endorsement that is earned by few so it is of particular note Deb Haaland has been endorsed by the NOW PAC. Deb has long been an advocate for justice and equality; we heartedly look forward to her serving her constituents once elected.”

Race ratings

Race ratings: New Mexico's 1st Congressional District election, 2018
Race tracker	Race ratings
	October 30, 2018	October 23, 2018	October 16, 2018	October 9, 2018
The Cook Political Report	Solid Democratic	Solid Democratic	Solid Democratic	Solid Democratic
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales	Solid Democratic	Solid Democratic	Solid Democratic	Solid Democratic
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball	Safe Democratic	Safe Democratic	Safe Democratic	Safe Democratic
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every two weeks throughout the election season.

District analysis

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores

The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was D+7, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 7 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made New Mexico's 1st Congressional District the 143rd most Democratic nationally.

FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 1.01. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.01 points toward that party.

District history

2016

See also: New Mexico's 1st Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Democratic. Incumbent Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) defeated Richard Priem in the general election on November 8, 2016. Neither candidate faced a primary opponent in June.

U.S. House, New Mexico District 1 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Michelle Lujan Grisham Incumbent	65.1%	181,088
	Republican	Richard Priem	34.9%	96,879
Total Votes				277,967
Source: New Mexico Secretary of State

2014

See also: New Mexico's 1st Congressional District elections, 2014

The 1st Congressional District of New Mexico held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) defeated Mike Frese (R) in the general election.

U.S. House, New Mexico District 1 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Michelle Lujan Grisham Incumbent	58.6%	105,474
	Republican	Mike Frese	41.4%	74,558
Total Votes				180,032
Source: New Mexico Secretary of State

See also

• United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico, 2018
• United States House elections in New Mexico (June 5, 2018 Democratic primaries)
• New Mexico's 1st Congressional District election (June 5, 2018 Republican primary)
• United States House of Representatives elections, 2018

Footnotes

[show]

New Mexico's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Martin Heinrich (D)

Ben Luján (D)

Representatives

District 1

Melanie Ann Stansbury (D)

District 2

Gabriel Vasquez (D)

District 3

Teresa Leger Fernandez (D)

Democratic Party (5)

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