Healthcare is a human right, and with millions in federal dollars taken away by the Trump administration, we must completely overhaul the way we fund healthcare in our state. We must focus on primary care to ease the burden on hospitals and specialists, invest in workplace safety changes and support for healthcare workers, invest in global budgets to give rural hospitals a predictable funding stream and— we must tap the permanent fund for universal healthcare for all New Mexicans.

For too long, everyday people of New Mexico have been praised for their labor and dedication to community with little in return. From house cleaners, gig economy and fast food workers to tradespeople, educators, and medical professionals- everyone deserves not only fair wages, Paid Family and Medical Leave and the right to join their union, but also workplace safety and whistleblower protections when things go wrong.

Private equity and big corporations are eating up an outsized portion of our resources and have amassed an unsettling amount of wealth. It’s only right that they pay their fair share, clean up their own messes and contribute more to our community than they extract. We must regulate these corporations before they take ownership of our homes, our healthcare, our data, land and utilities.

New Mexico has the only unpaid legislature in the nation, and it hurts oversight and accountability in our state. Here, legislators who “volunteer” their time while juggling children, parents and their “real” job. As a result, lobbyists are often relied upon and have an outsized influence in the laws that pass. In order to have full oversight over agencies like CYFD and help new programs like the Early Childhood Department grow, we must invest in and pass legislation that enables us to have a full time, professional legislature.

Homelessness in Albuquerque is not only driven by the behavioral health crisis, but is also because of excessively high rent, a lack of affordable dwellings, an epidemic of domestic and sexual violence and an economy that has priced-out low and middle income people from buying their own home. As a state, it’s our responsibility to rebuild the behavioral health system, eliminate red-tape to build affordable housing, ensure we’re funding violence prevention and give a boost to individuals and families wanting to purchase homes.

As the federal government rolls back environmental protections, it's on state leaders to defend our air, water, and public lands. Meanwhile, NM’s dependence on oil and gas leaves our budget vulnerable to every boom and bust. Together we must fight for stronger state-level environmental protections while diversifying our economy — investing in renewable energy and ensuring the communities that have powered this state have a seat at the table as we build green jobs for the future.

We don't need more bells and whistles in education — we need to get the fundamentals right. That starts with making sure students are healthy, safe, and supported at home so they can actually show up ready to learn. It means culturally relevant teaching that helps every child see themselves in what they're learning and build a strong sense of who they are. And it means listening to our educators — reducing the administrative burdens, getting them real support in the classroom, and trusting them to do what they do best: teach.

Nob Hill is the vibe of Albuquerque — and that's because of the small businesses, local creators, and entrepreneurs who make it what it is. I'm committed to protecting our mom-and-pop shops, supporting the creativity and innovation of new startups, and keeping Nob Hill the vibrant, quirky community it is. We can support small businesses without exploiting workers by investing in low-interest microloans, commercial rent stabilization to prevent displacement, and tax incentives tied to fair wages and worker protections.

For too many NM families, poverty isn't a temporary setback — it's an inheritance. Generations of disinvestment, extractive economies, and policies that weren't built with our communities in mind have left deep scars. Addressing this requires more than a single program or quick fix — but we can start with policies like investing in workforce development tied to living-wage industries, creating community land trusts to build generational wealth through homeownership, universal basic income pilot programs, and strengthening wraparound services that address housing, food security, and healthcare together.