Voters reject corporate Democrats; candidates overcome industry and PAC spending by speaking to needs of working families 

ALBUQUERQUE: New Mexico Working Families Party is proving that fighting for working families is a winning strategy that can overcome outsized spending as its endorsed candidates won statewide Democratic primaries as well as races for the state House of Representatives.   

Deb Haaland dominated her race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, while Amanda Lopez Askin won her bid for the Secretary of State Democratic nomination and Juan De Jesus Sanchez III, a WFP champion, won his race for Commissioner of Public Lands in the Democratic primary Together, these Working Families Party-aligned leaders are committed to make New Mexico a fairer state where they represent our interests, not those of corporations and the rich.

 In the state legislative races, Abby Foster unseated incumbent State Representative Marian Matthews in Albuquerque. Yolanda Jaramillo and Lori Martinez beat candidates for open seats, despite a tidal wave of spending by New Chapter NM and Project Jupiter as well as payday lenders, data centers, lobbyists, and oil companies. All incumbent WFP champions won their races. 

“These results show that New Mexicans won’t be fooled into a false choice that says the only way to support our families is through huge handouts to billionaires,” said Austin Weahkee, State Director of New Mexico WFP. “New Mexicans know the real thing when they see it – our working class candidates authentically spoke to voters about the issues we all care about – affordability, healthcare, public education, and economic opportunity for our families.”

The New Mexico Working Families Party PAC’s powered these victories with our independent expenditure campaign spending around $100,000 for phone, mail, radio ads, and texts communicating about our candidates with voters. With trusted messengers and deep knowledge of local issues and concerns, WFP’s IE campaign investments made a tangible impact with voters. This work included:

• More than 100,000 phone calls for Amanda Lopez Askin across the state of New Mexico 
• Radio ads in Navajo and English to support WFP champion Rep. Michelle “Paulene” Abeyta in District 69
• Over 100,000 calls for supported State House candidates, mail in three districts, a statewide slate piece that hit over 30,000 mailboxes, and 30,000 text messages

The NM Working Families Party bloc in the House of Representatives is poised to grow with the following Democratic primary victories: 

• Abby Foster defeated incumbent Marian Matthews, who was a deciding vote to kill legislation to establish a paid family and medical leave program in 2024. Foster won despite the incumbent being the beneficiary of considerable insurance company spending as well as support from dark money PACs. A Foster win in the general election presents an opportunity, not just for family leave, but housing policy, affordability, and worker protections. 

• Yolanda Jaramillo won the open House District 41 seat beating Debbie Rodella, who lost her seat to Susan Herrera in 2017. Voters refused to take a step back to a candidate whose candidacy was backed by payday lenders, lobbyists, and oil companies. 

• Lori Martinez won the open House District 37 as a Working Families Democrat. A community activist, her win is a unique opportunity for working families not just to have their voices heard in Santa Fe, but to be empowered to take leadership in the community themselves.

• The Party also supported winning Working Families Party-aligned House incumbents Joseph Hernandez (District 4), Patricia Roybal Caballero (District 13), Miguel Garcia (District 14), Yanira Gurrola (District 16), Elizabeth Diane Torrez-Velasquez (District 30), Micaela Lara Cadena (District 33), Rep. Michelle “Paulene” Abeyta (District 69),
• and Anita Gonzales (District 70).

Looking toward the November general elections, we will focus on drawing the contrasts between our endorsed candidates and the MAGA-aligned Republicans who are working against our best interests. NMWFP will also be throwing down on the constitutional amendment on the ballot to finally pay legislators for their time and give working people a fair chance at running for office. 

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