New Mexico’s Pro-Conservation Candidates Sweep 2022 General Election

Wow, Tuesday was a landmark day for New Mexico! It was a win across the board for the framework of our democracy, and for pro-conservation candidates. Even with political tension at an all-time high, voters expressed their deeply held environmental values at the ballot box, and will now reap the benefits with a sweeping slate of pro-conservation candidates representing New Mexico communities. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the inspirational outcomes we saw across the state.

CVNM’s coordinated political action committee, CVNM Action Fund, endorsed 32 pro-conservation candidates in competitive New Mexico races in the 2022 general election, and 27 of our 32 candidates won, representing 84% of all our endorsed candidates. With these victories, the Legislature will retain a 44-26 majority favoring pro-conservation candidates, although two races – Candie Sweetser (HD-32) and Charlotte Little (HD-68; endorsed by CVNM) – are in recount. This outcome is a tribute to the quality of pro-conservation candidates running for office, the hard work of CVNM’s campaigns and advocacy staff, and YOUR support.

CVNM’s national affiliate, League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, endorsed and campaigned for all three of New Mexico’s pro-conservation Congressional candidates: U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (CD-01) and Teresa Leger Fernandez (CD-03), and Gabe Vasquez (CD-02), who narrowly won his election in a strong oil and gas district. New Mexico now has a 100% pro-conservation delegation for only the third time in the last 40+ years.

At the state level, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales were solidly elected to a second term, cementing the state’s commitment to deep action to protect public lands, water and wildlife, and address the climate crisis. I shared this statement in our press release today:

“Under Michelle Lujan Grisham’s administration we saw an extraordinary set of climate change and public lands executive orders, rulemakings, and legislation. This election makes it clear that New Mexicans are ready to build on that strong foundation and do the hard work for a zero-emission economy by 2050. New Mexicans have shown, in poll after poll and election after election, that they value and choose candidates who will protect our air, land, water, wildlife and communities. We applaud Governor Lujan Grisham for continuing to lead the way on climate and public lands policy, and look forward to working with her over the next four years to build on the foundation of policy progress she has established.”

New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard was also elected to a second term, further underscoring that New Mexicans want to see New Mexico’s public lands used for economic diversification and energy transition through state land management practices. Over the past four years, Commissioner Garcia Richard has tripled the amount of renewable energy produced on state lands and pushed for greater access to public lands.

In a state and national election climate that was clouded by unfounded claims from election deniers, Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver also won easily. Toulouse Oliver has become a national leader on voting access, election transparency, and efficiency issues, and strongly supported legislation in the 2022 session to open up access to the vote.

We saw strong turnout in this midterm election, but it’s clear that we still have voting access issues in New Mexico and across the country. States witnessed a dangerous uptick in voter disinformation aimed at suppressing the vote on election day, and dissuading people from voting early. CVNM and others in the conservation voters movement will be working to address these issues ahead of the 2024 election, under the Democracy for All banner.

With four more years under a Lujan Grisham administration and pro-environmental legislation, New Mexico is now in a position to accelerate implementation of the Governor’s executive orders on climate change and protection of 30% of the state’s lands and waters by 2030.

This is an illuminating time for New Mexico! Stay tuned as we absorb these wonderful outcomes and strategize what comes next for bold climate and conservation action in the upcoming legislative session and coming years.

Thank you for helping make this new political landscape a reality and for being a Conservation Voter!

Demis Foster
CVNM Executive Director

————-

CVNM’s full list of endorsed candidates in the 2022 general election
CVNM endorsed and supported candidates in contested races in the 2022 general election. Some candidates not listed here were endorsed in competitive primary elections, but then went on to uncontested races in the general. Percentages in parentheses represent lifetime scores for current legislators in CVNM’s Conservation Scorecard.

STATEWIDE OFFICE
Governor: Michelle Lujan Grisham – WON
Secretary of State: Maggie Toulouse Oliver – WON
Attorney General: Raúl Torrez – WON
Commissioner of Public Lands: Stephanie Garcia Richard – WON

STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HD 2 – Matthew Dodson – Loss
HD 6 – Rep. Eliseo Lee Alcon (85%) – WON
HD 10 – Rep. G. Andrés Romero (97%) – WON
HD 11 – Rep. Javier Martínez (99%) – WON
HD 14 – Rep. Miguel P. Garcia (96%) – WON
HD 15 – Rep. Dayan Hochman-Vigil (94%) – WON
HD 17 – Cynthia D. Borrego – WON
HD 18 – Rep. Gail Chasey (96%) – WON
HD 19 – Janelle Anyanonu – WON
HD 20 – Rep. Meredith A. Dixon (94%) – WON
HD 22 – Augustine Montoya – Loss
HD 24 – Rep. Elizabeth “Liz” Thomson (99%) – WON
HD 26 – Eleanor Chavez – WON
HD 27 – Rep. Marian Matthews (100%) – WON
HD 28 – Rep. Pamelya Herndon (91%) – WON
HD 29 – Rep. Joy Garratt (97%) – WON
HD 30 – Rep. Natalie Figueroa (100%) – WON
HD 31 – Athena Christodoulou – Loss
HD 33 – Micaela Lara Cadena (92%) – WON
HD 35 – Rep. Angelica Rubio (100%) – WON
HD 36 – Rep. Nathan P. Small (99%) – WON
HD 37 – Rep. Joanne J. Ferrary (100%) – WON
HD 38 – Tara Jaramillo – WON
HD 39 – Rodolpho “Rudy” S. Martinez – Loss
HD 44 – Kathy Cates – WON
HD 46 – Rep. Andrea Romero (100%) – WON
HD 52 – Rep. Doreen Y. Gallegos (86%) – WON
HD 68 – Charlotte Little – Leading, but likely going to recount