Many Democrats Endorsed by Reproductive Rights Group Won Primaries

This story originally appeared in the New Mexico Political Report, a non-profit newsroom covering state government and politics. It is reprinted here, with permission, as a part of our commitment to bringing readers the best in local independent news.

By Susan Dunlap, NM Political Report

With nearly 53 percent of the precincts reporting as of 11 p.m. Tuesday, most of the legislative candidates endorsed by Planned Parenthood Votes New Mexico appear to have won. 

With former President Donald Trump making another bid for the White House, two new U.S. Supreme Court decisions pending that could curtail abortion rights even further and now fears that conservatives will try to ban in-vitro fertilization treatments and contraception, abortion rights are on the ballot again this year, including in New Mexico legislative races.

Planned Parenthood Votes New Mexico, the political arm of Planned Parenthood, endorsed 61 candidates running for legislative office in New Mexico, stating that all 61 support abortion care, reproductive health and gender-affirming care.

Not all of PPVNM endorsements were candidates who faced primary opponents. Of the 61, only 19 did. In the race for Senate District 24, PPVNM endorsed two Democrats running against each other, former state Rep. Linda Trujillo and her opponent Anna C. Hansen. Both were running against Veronica Krupnick. Trujillo appeared to be the likely winner with 62 percent of the vote.

One closely watched race was the one for Senate District 15 between incumbent state Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto and his primary opponent Heather Berghmans, both Democrats. Ivey-Soto faced allegations of sexual harassment brought by multiple women in 2022 and, later, allegations of financial misconduct last year. He was later cleared, but the state Senate stripped him of his powerful Senate committee leadership positions. Berghmans, who received an endorsement from PPVNM, won handily with 80 percent of the vote. Berghmans faces Republican Craig Degenhardt in November for what will now be an open seat. 

Another closely watched race for abortion rights advocates was the one between long-time activist Angel Charley, Diné, and former state Sen. Clemente Sanchez. Both Democrats, Charley and Sanchez were vying for Senate District 30. PPVNM endorsed Charley. Sanchez, one of the seven Democrats who sided with Republicans to vote against the 1969 abortion ban repeal effort in 2019, lost his bid to keep SD 30 in 2020 to a progressive Democrat. There are no Republican contenders for SD 30, so Charley, with 63 percent of the vote, is the effective winner of SD 30.

Another closely watched race was House District 69. Incumbent Rep. Harry Garcia was losing the primary against his opponent, Michelle Abeyeta, who PPVNM endorsed. Abeyeta likely beat Garcia and a third Democrat running in the race, Michael Stanley, with 57 percent of the vote.

Another closely watched race was House District 70 between incumbent Rep. Ambrose Castellano, who faced Anita Gonzales, both Democrats. PPVNM and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham endorsed Gonzales, who appeared to win with 55 percent of the vote.

Another closely watched race was the primary for House District 18, which was held by former Majority Floor Leader Gail Chasey for 27 years. Chasey, a Democrat, announced earlier this year she would not run again. Several Democrats bid for the seat. Both Chasey and PPVNM endorsed Marianna Anaya,* a Santa Fe lobbyist and activist. Anaya appeared to be winning with 49 percent of the vote in the four-way race. 

One Democratic incumbent who PPVNM endorsed who likely did not win was state Sen. Bill O’Neill in the race for Senate District 13. He has held the seat since 2013. But his primary opponent, Debbie O’Malley, had 52 percent of the vote to his 48 percent as of 11 p.m. Tuesday. O’Malley is a former Bernalillo County Commissioner.

PPVNM endorsed one candidate vying in the Democratic primary to unseat an incumbent but that effort failed. Christopher Hudson ran against long-time incumbent Rep. Patricia Lundstrom, of Gallup. Lundstrom, who chairs the House Finance Committee, won with 62 percent of the vote.

Other Democratic candidates, both incumbents and new, whom PPVNM endorsed, won fairly handily. Incumbent Rep. Susan Herrera held onto her seat, House District 41. She defeated her opponent, Margaret Campos, with 63 percent of the vote. She does not face a Republican opponent in November. Incumbent Rep. Angelica Rubio also held onto her seat, House District 35. She won over her opponent, Gabriel Duran Jr., with 61 percent of the vote. Rubio also does not face a Republican opponent in November.

Rep. Marion Matthews, also an incumbent, likely held onto her seat, House District 27, with 56 percent of the vote. Also endorsed by PPVNM, Matthews likely defeated Greg Seeley in the primary. She faces a Republican challenger in November.

State Sen. Antonio “Moe” Maestas, the incumbent of Senate District 26, ran his first race to hold onto the seat. The Bernalillo County Commission appointed Maestas, who was previously in the House, to SD 26 two years ago to finish out former Sen. Joseph Candelaria’s term after Candelaria resigned. Maestes, also endorsed by PPVNM and a Democrat, appeared to be winning handily over his Democratic opponent, Julie Radoslovich, in the primary election with 59 percent of the vote. Maestes does not face a Republican challenger in November. 

State Rep. Yanira Gurrola Valenzuela, also an incumbent endorsed by PPVNM, won over her opponent, Marsella Duarte with 64 percent of the vote in House District 16. A Democrat, Gurrola Valenzuela will face Republican Leland Bohannon in November.

State Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero, also a Democratic incumbent endorsed by PPVNM, appeared to win over her primary opponent, Teresa Garcia, with 58 percent of the vote to hold onto House District 13. Roybal Caballero does not face a Republican opponent in November.

State Rep. Eliseo Lee Alcon, another Democratic incumbent endorsed by PPVNM, retained his seat, House District 6, by defeating two primary opponents, Priscilla Benally and Daniel Torrez, with 46 percent of the vote. Alcon faces a Republican challenger, Paul Spencer, in November.

State Sen. Linda Lopez, endorsed by PPVNM and another Democratic incumbent, retained her seat, Senate District 11. She faced Democrat Richard Carrion in the primary, but she won with 82 percent of the vote. Lopez does not face a Republican challenger in November. 

State Sen. Shannon Pinto, Diné, also endorsed by PPVNM and a Democratic incumbent, held onto her seat, Senate District 3, with 63 percent of the vote over her primary challenger, Sherylene Yazzie. Pinto does not face a Republican challenge in November.

Gabrielle Begay, who ran for House District 39 and defeated her primary opponent, Gilbert Guadiana, both Democrats, with 80 percent of the vote. Begay will face Republican incumbent Rep. Luis Terrazas in November.

PPVNM also endorsed Cindy Nava in her primary race for Senate District 9 against Heather Balas. Nava appeared to be winning with 55 percent of the vote. Nava now will have to battle Audrey Trujillo, who ran a failed bid for Secretary of State as a Republican in 2022. 

**Marianna Anaya was previously deputy director of ProgressNow New Mexico, which helps NM Political Report find funding. ProgressNow New Mexico has no editorial control over NM Political Report’s content.