The next round of campaign finance reports for the upcoming election — with hundreds of legislative candidates in New Mexico — are due Oct. 15. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. (Photo by Phil Ashley / Getty Images)
People running to represent their communities in the New Mexico Legislature reported raising nearly $5.8 million over the last several months as they look toward the November general election.
All 42 Senate seats are on the ballot this November, though quite a few races are already done and dusted: Just 16 of the seats are contested in November. The rest have only one candidate.
Gabriel Ramos, a Republican, raised more than $112,000 since late May, according to the latest fundraising figures filed by Senate candidates on Sept. 9. That’s the most any Senate candidate pulled in during that period.
Ramos’ policy positions include a focus on violent crime, which he said he intends to address with bipartisan legislation that “holds violent criminals accountable, supports keeping law enforcement officers in jobs, and compassionate mental health and drug prevention programs that cut recidivism rates,” according to his website.
He’s facing off against Democrat Chris Ponce for the district representing parts of Grant, Socorro and Catron counties. He joined the race when incumbent Sen. Correah Hemphill dropped out in June. Ponce reported raising about $36,000 since he’s jumped into the race.
Ponce’s policy goals include expanding access to health care in rural areas; improving roads; and supporting veterans, farmers and educators, according to his website.
Candidates can retain money from previous election cycles, and that money can roll over to their next race in four years.
Four senators, all of them incumbents, have more than $250,000 in cash on hand heading into the general election: Sens. Crystal Diamond Brantley (R-Elephant Butte), George Muñoz (D-Gallup), Joseph Cervantes (D-Las Cruces) and Martin Hickey (D-Albuquerque). All but Hickey are unopposed.
In the state House of Representatives, 65 races are contested, while 85 candidates are running unopposed.
Incumbent Democrat Ambrose Castellano raised more than $63,000 since late May, a bigger haul than any other House candidate in that period.
Incumbent Democrat Meredith Dixon raised the next highest amount in that same time period, totaling nearly $61,000.
Dixon’s pitch to voters for her reelection is focused on her work as vice chair of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, where she plays a role in building the state government’s budget.
Dixon has two challengers. Republican candidate Tracy Major has raised more than $15,000 since late May. Libertarian candidate John McDivitt did not raise any money in that same time period.
Major’s website indicates if elected, she would oppose any tax increases, protect “parental rights,” and “end the violent crime epidemic, putting away dangerous criminals once and for all.”
McDivitt, for his part, told the Santa Fe New Mexican that his priority — which he shared with his fellow Libertarian candidate for another seat and wife Catherine Ann McDivitt — is to do more to recruit and retain health care professionals in the state and fight crime.
The next financial reports are due Oct. 15. The election is Nov. 5.
Scope the charts below for a sense where things stand with the New Mexico Senate and House races.
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