Progressive Voters Guide Powered by ProgressNow New Mexico
Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate

Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Endorsements

Gun Sense Voter is a campaign of Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund, with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, the volunteer grassroots network of Everytown for Gun Safety. Together they form a non-partisan grassroots movement of people organizing to elect candidates at every level of government who support common-sense gun safety laws.

The Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction lets voters know which candidates will stand up for gun safety if elected into office. Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers across the country have been distributing questionnaires to candidates to ensure that those with the Gun Sense Candidate distinction will advocate for safer communities. These candidates have proven that they will support stronger gun laws.

Statewide

Governor

Deb Haaland photo
Democrat

Deb Haaland

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Deb Haaland is a 35th-generation New Mexican and enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo, and made history as the first Native American Cabinet Secretary serving as U.S. Secretary of the Interior from 2021 to 2025. She was also one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress. Haaland grew up in a military family, faced homelessness and financial insecurity as a single mother, and relied on SNAP food benefits and Planned Parenthood for healthcare while building a career in public service.

Haaland has deep roots in New Mexico community organizing, having chaired the New Mexico Democratic Party (2015-2017), served as tribal administrator at San Felipe Pueblo, and serving as the first woman on the board of the Laguna Development Corporation.

During Haaland’s tenure in Congress (2019-2021), she established herself as a steadfast progressive champion, voting yes on every major priority for working families and marginalized communities. She supported the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act to strengthen labor unions, the American Rescue Plan to expand healthcare access and economic relief, and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to address systemic racism in law enforcement. Haaland consistently fought for civil rights by voting for the Equality Act protecting LGBTQ+ communities, the For the People Act to protect voting rights, and bipartisan background check legislation for gun safety. She co-sponsored transformative legislation including the Green New Deal to address climate justice, Medicare for All to guarantee healthcare as a human right, and the MORE Act to decriminalize marijuana and address racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

As the first Native American Cabinet Secretary leading the Department of the Interior (2021-2025), Haaland continued her progressive legacy by launching the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative to address historical trauma, creating protections for 55 million acres of tribal lands, and prioritizing environmental justice for frontline communities. Her record demonstrates unwavering commitment to economic justice, racial equity, Indigenous sovereignty, and climate action—making her a proven leader who delivers for working families and our planet.

Haaland’s plans for Governor of New Mexico include expanding healthcare access through a public option, creating clean energy jobs, raising the minimum wage to $15, investing in public education and debt-free college, protecting women's reproductive rights, and addressing the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women.

We highly recommend Deb Haaland in the Democratic Primary for governor, based on her deep roots in New Mexico, her work in Congress and as Secretary of Interior, and her detailed plans to improve healthcare, create living wage jobs, and increase educational access.

Deb Haaland is a 35th-generation New Mexican and enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo, and made history as the first Native American Cabinet Secretary serving as U.S. Secretary of the Interior from 2021 to 2025. She was also one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress. Haaland grew up in a military family, faced homelessness and financial insecurity as a single mother, and relied on SNAP food benefits and Planned Parenthood for healthcare while building a career in public service.

Haaland has deep roots in New Mexico community organizing, having chaired the New Mexico Democratic Party (2015-2017), served as tribal administrator at San Felipe Pueblo, and serving as the first woman on the board of the Laguna Development Corporation.

During Haaland’s tenure in Congress (2019-2021), she established herself as a steadfast progressive champion, voting yes on every major priority for working families and marginalized communities. She supported the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act to strengthen labor unions, the American Rescue Plan to expand healthcare access and economic relief, and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to address systemic racism in law enforcement. Haaland consistently fought for civil rights by voting for the Equality Act protecting LGBTQ+ communities, the For the People Act to protect voting rights, and bipartisan background check legislation for gun safety. She co-sponsored transformative legislation including the Green New Deal to address climate justice, Medicare for All to guarantee healthcare as a human right, and the MORE Act to decriminalize marijuana and address racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

As the first Native American Cabinet Secretary leading the Department of the Interior (2021-2025), Haaland continued her progressive legacy by launching the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative to address historical trauma, creating protections for 55 million acres of tribal lands, and prioritizing environmental justice for frontline communities. Her record demonstrates unwavering commitment to economic justice, racial equity, Indigenous sovereignty, and climate action—making her a proven leader who delivers for working families and our planet.

Haaland’s plans for Governor of New Mexico include expanding healthcare access through a public option, creating clean energy jobs, raising the minimum wage to $15, investing in public education and debt-free college, protecting women's reproductive rights, and addressing the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women.

We highly recommend Deb Haaland in the Democratic Primary for governor, based on her deep roots in New Mexico, her work in Congress and as Secretary of Interior, and her detailed plans to improve healthcare, create living wage jobs, and increase educational access.

Endorsed By: Sierra Club, OLÉ, Planned Parenthood Votes New Mexico, Conservation Voters New Mexico, NM Native Vote, Semilla Action, Equality New Mexico, New Mexico Voices for Children Action Fund, NEA New Mexico, Center for Civic Action, Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) NM, Animal Protection Voters, Stacey Abrams, Elect Democratic Women, Emily's List, Moms Fed Up, Native Organizers Alliance Action Fund, Common Defense , Committee of Interns and Residents SEIU Healthcare , Advance Native Political Leadership, Jane Fonda Climate PAC, New Mexico Wild Action Fund, Democrats Work For America , CWA Local 7076, 350 Santa Fe, End Citizens United, One Fair Wage, "American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 18", "Jeff Steinborn, State Senator", "Ben Ray Lujan, U.S. Senator", Teresa Leger Fernández, "Melanie Stansbury, U.S. Representative ", "Gabe Vasquez, U.S. Representative", "Linda Lopez, State Senator", "Michelle ""Paulene"" Abeyta, State Representative", "Yanira Gurrola, State Representative", "Javier Martínez, Speaker of the House, State Representative, District 11", "Charlotte Little, State Representative", "Tara Lujan, State Representative", "Brenda McKenna, Former State Senator", "Cindy Nava, State Senator", "Jonathan Nez, Former Navajo Nation President", "Kristina Ortez, State Representative", "Michael Padilla, State Senator", "Shannon Pinto, State Senator", Picuris Pueblo

Lieutenant Governor

Harold Pope Jr. photo
Democrat

Harold Pope Jr.

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Harold Pope Jr. is running in the Democratic Primary for Lieutenant Governor.

Pope Jr. is a retired U.S. Air Force Officer with a distinguished 20-year career and made history in 2020 as the first African American elected to the New Mexico Senate, where he has served District 23 in Bernalillo County since 2021. Born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado, he earned a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of New Mexico and commissioned through ROTC, later managing critical satellite systems and nuclear deterrence programs before retiring from Kirtland Air Force Base in 2018. He holds multiple advanced degrees including an MA in Operational Leadership, MS in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and Executive MBA.

Pope Jr. currently serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Education Committee and Chair of the Military & Veterans' Affairs Committee. As a prolific legislator, he has championed veterans' rights, education funding, renewable energy development, police reform, civil rights, affordable housing, and environmental protections.

His focus areas include spurring higher wages, quality jobs, better schools, and improved access to affordable healthcare; protecting our environment, democracy, and fundamental rights; uplifting every community from rural to urban and Indigenous communities; and standing up to extremism to defend New Mexico values. Pope Jr. consistently carries the voices of working families, veterans, teachers, nurses, small business owners, and every New Mexican who deserves a fair shot and a future filled with dignity, opportunity, and hope into every room.

We recommend Harold Pope Jr. in the Democratic Primary for Lieutenant Governor based on his voting record and clear focus on reinforcing working families and our state’s economy.

Harold Pope Jr. is running in the Democratic Primary for Lieutenant Governor.

Pope Jr. is a retired U.S. Air Force Officer with a distinguished 20-year career and made history in 2020 as the first African American elected to the New Mexico Senate, where he has served District 23 in Bernalillo County since 2021. Born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado, he earned a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of New Mexico and commissioned through ROTC, later managing critical satellite systems and nuclear deterrence programs before retiring from Kirtland Air Force Base in 2018. He holds multiple advanced degrees including an MA in Operational Leadership, MS in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and Executive MBA.

Pope Jr. currently serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Education Committee and Chair of the Military & Veterans' Affairs Committee. As a prolific legislator, he has championed veterans' rights, education funding, renewable energy development, police reform, civil rights, affordable housing, and environmental protections.

His focus areas include spurring higher wages, quality jobs, better schools, and improved access to affordable healthcare; protecting our environment, democracy, and fundamental rights; uplifting every community from rural to urban and Indigenous communities; and standing up to extremism to defend New Mexico values. Pope Jr. consistently carries the voices of working families, veterans, teachers, nurses, small business owners, and every New Mexican who deserves a fair shot and a future filled with dignity, opportunity, and hope into every room.

We recommend Harold Pope Jr. in the Democratic Primary for Lieutenant Governor based on his voting record and clear focus on reinforcing working families and our state’s economy.

Maggie Toulouse Oliver photo
Democrat

Maggie Toulouse Oliver

Website Facebook Endorsements Instagram

Maggie Toulouse Oliver is running in the Democratic Primary for Lieutenant Governor.

Toulouse Oliver is currently the state’s longest-serving Secretary of State, first elected in 2016. She previously served as Bernalillo County Clerk from 2007-2016, where she gained detailed, on-the-ground expertise in election administration and was recognized for her efforts to expand voting access for all voters. A lifelong New Mexican who has called the state home since age three, she earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Political Science from the University of New Mexico while working her way through school.

Toulouse Oliver's career has focused on public service, including work with Native American tribes, fighting for reproductive justice as the NM State Director for the League of Conservation Voters, and organizing in communities across the state. As Secretary of State, she has made New Mexico a national model for election security and accessibility, implementing same-day voter registration, automated voter registration, and record levels of voter participation while protecting voting rights and refusing to turn over voter information to partisan federal commissions.

She supports protecting democracy and voting rights, expanding access to healthcare and education, strengthening campaign finance transparency, and building a fair economy that works for all New Mexicans.

We recommend Maggie Toulouse Oliver in the Democratic Primary for Lieutenant Governor, based on her nationally recognized work as a leader in elections administration, her track record of working across party lines, and her focus on improving healthcare, education, and a more fair economy.

Maggie Toulouse Oliver is running in the Democratic Primary for Lieutenant Governor.

Toulouse Oliver is currently the state’s longest-serving Secretary of State, first elected in 2016. She previously served as Bernalillo County Clerk from 2007-2016, where she gained detailed, on-the-ground expertise in election administration and was recognized for her efforts to expand voting access for all voters. A lifelong New Mexican who has called the state home since age three, she earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Political Science from the University of New Mexico while working her way through school.

Toulouse Oliver's career has focused on public service, including work with Native American tribes, fighting for reproductive justice as the NM State Director for the League of Conservation Voters, and organizing in communities across the state. As Secretary of State, she has made New Mexico a national model for election security and accessibility, implementing same-day voter registration, automated voter registration, and record levels of voter participation while protecting voting rights and refusing to turn over voter information to partisan federal commissions.

She supports protecting democracy and voting rights, expanding access to healthcare and education, strengthening campaign finance transparency, and building a fair economy that works for all New Mexicans.

We recommend Maggie Toulouse Oliver in the Democratic Primary for Lieutenant Governor, based on her nationally recognized work as a leader in elections administration, her track record of working across party lines, and her focus on improving healthcare, education, and a more fair economy.