By Jessica Johnson, APV Chief Legislative Officer
Thursday, Jun. 9, 2016
We at Animal Protection Voters know that the vast majority of New Mexicans care about animals. The question is: does that translate to the ballot box? After last night’s New Mexico primary results, I’d say the answer is a resounding YES!
In the fourteen contested primary races where our political action committee, APV-PAC, issued endorsements, all but one race resulted in an Animal Protection Candidate winning the primary.
With so many important issues facing our state, we have a great opportunity—and, in fact, a duty—to bring animal protection issues into the election season dialogue and, as voters, to use these issues as a “litmus test” in evaluating candidates.
When elections can be won and lost by very small margins, every effort matters. So thank you! Thank you to all who forwarded our emails, shared our social media posts, and passed around our APV Voter Guide. Thank you to everyone who took an hour or more out of their time to knock on doors or make phone calls for an APV-PAC endorsed candidate. And thank you for your most important action: to get out and vote!
Here are the results in the contested primary races where we issued endorsements:
Senate District 4 – APV-Endorsed Winner: Sen. George Muñoz (D)
New Mexico’s horses have a friend in Senator Muñoz, who, in his current term, helped secure $250,000 in appropriated funds to the NM Livestock Board’s Equine Shelter Rescue Fund to support the feeding and humane care of equines in our state. Having won this three-way primary contest with 64% of the vote, and without a challenger in the general election, we’re glad he’ll be back in the State Senate to keep working for equine protection.
Senate District 9 – APV-Endorsed Winner: Sen. John Sapien (D)
With a notable 93% voting score in APV’s 2015 Scorecard, Senator Sapien is a reliable champion for animals in the legislature. He will have to face a Republican challenger in the general election in November, but we hope to continue to work with him on the animal protection issues important to his constituents and the entire state.
Senate District 17 – APV-Endorsed Winner: Sen. Mimi Stewart (D)
We knew it was important to ensure that Senator Stewart, who has a superb voting socre of 95% in our latest Scorecard, remained in the Senate. Senator Stewart has sponsored important wildlife-focused memorials, including measures to encourage bee conservation and to recognize the need for increased penalties for and education about trophy hunting and poaching. She won this primary contest with 59% of the vote and does not face a challenger in the general election, so we’ll happily see her in the Roundhouse again next year.
Senate District 22 – APV-Endorsed Winner: Sen. Benny Shendo (D)
Senator Shendo has consistently voted for animal protection legislation in the Senate, with an 88% 2015 voting score, and many remember the moving story he told about his family and the importance of coexisting with wildlife during testimony on the 2015 bill to ban coyote killing contests. Winning his primary race handily with 63%, he faces no general election opponent, so we’re excited to keep working with Senator Shendo in the future.
Senate District 36: – APV-Endorsed Winner: Jeff Steinborn (D)
Rep. Steinborn is among the very best supporters of animal protection in our state legislature, with a stunning 99% lifetime score during his tenure in the House, and as the House sponsor of our legislation to ban coyote killing contests. He gave up his seat to run for the Senate, to challenge incumbent Sen. Lee Cotter (R), but first Steinborn had to come out on top in a primary race. Animal advocates familiar with his great leadership on behalf of wildlife voted him as the winner of the primary with 66% of the vote, and Steinborn will now go on to face Sen. Cotter. Steinborn is an unequivocal animal protection lawmaker, through and through, we will be working hard to help him win that Senate seat!
Senate District 39 – APV-Endorsed Winner: Liz Stefanics (D)
With a strong pro-animal questionnaire response and a proven animal-friendly record on the Santa Fe County Commission, we knew Stefanics was a stellar choice for voters in her district. This was one of the primary races where we issued endorsements for two candidates, and we are thrilled that an APV candidate came out on top! Stefanics won the 4-way primary race with 39% of the vote, and now goes on to challenge appointed incumbent Sen. Ted Barela (R) in the general election.
House District 5 – APV-Endorsed Winner: Rep. D. Wonda Johnson (D)
Having earned a 100% score in the 2015 APV Scorecard in her first term, we knew Representative Johnson would continue to be a pro-animal vote in the House that we could count on. She faced a tough primary challenger, and we are delighted Rep. Johnson was victorious with 52% of the vote. With no general election challenger, we will see her again in the Roundhouse.
House District 21 – APV-Endorsed Winner: Debbie Sariñana (D)
In another race where pro-animal voters were spoiled for choice and we issued endorsements for two candidates, we are overjoyed that one of the animal protection choices came away with the win. Sariñana ran a very strong campaign, buoyed by perfect answers on our candidate questionnaire, and won the 3-way primary race with 43% of the vote. She has no opponent in the general election, and we are very excited to work with her on animal issues next year.
House District 25 – APV-Endorsed Winner: Rep. Christine Trujillo (D)
As a legislator with a perfect 100% score in the 2015 APV Scorecard, supporting Representative Christine Trujillo’s reelection was a no-brainer. She defeated her primary challenger with a phenomenal 76% of the vote, meaning she’ll be back in the legislature next year and continue to be a dependable pro-animal vote.
House District 35 – APV-Endorsed Winner: Angelica Rubio (D)
The Democratic candidates in the hard-fought 3-way contest vying for Jeff Steinborn’s open seat had big shoes to fill, but her terrific response to our questionnaire proved that Angelica Rubio was up to the task. Rubio came away from election night with 45% of the vote, and we look forward to supporting her in the general election where she faces an opponent.
House District 38 – APV-Endorsed Winner*: Mary Hotvedt (D)
As one of two Democrats and two Republicans seeking to take the place of retiring Rep. Dianne Miller Hamilton, Mary Hotvedt won our endorsement with a strong pro-animal questionnaire response. Last night’s election saw Hotvedt eke out a win against her primary opponent by only 31 votes (proof that every last vote counts, and your voice matters!). *There may or may not be a recount of ballots. If she remains victorious, she’ll go on to face Republican nominee Rebecca Dow in the general election—and we will announce any additional endorsements for this and other general election races sometime this summer.
House District 40 – APV-Endorsed Winner: Rep. Nick Salazar (D)
As another state lawmaker with a perfect 100% score in APV’s 2015 Scorecard, Representative Nick Salazar easily earned APV’s endorsement, and we are very pleased that he won his primary race with 57% of the vote. He has no opponent in the general election, and we look forward to continuing to have his support on important animal protection issues.
House District 48 – APV-Endorsed Winner: Linda Trujillo (D)
Although this primary race involved multiple APV-endorsed candidates, we couldn’t be happier that Linda Trujillo will be the one representing her district in the House next year after winning a 3-way contest with 39% of vote. Her knowledge of animal issues facing our state—her time at the Regulation and Licensing Department led her to become very familiar with the valuable service provided and the challenges faced by the important Animal Sheltering Board—will be vital. Trujillo’s wonderful, robust questionnaire answers reflected this knowledge and her shared concern for animals, and—as she has no general election opponent—we can’t wait to work with her in the next legislative session.
House District 69 – Winner: Harry Garcia (D) / APV-Endorsed Candidate: Lloyd Felipe (D)
This was a tight 4-way race to replace retired former Speaker of the House Rep. W. Ken Martinez, and Felipe’s strong questionnaire response made him a promising pro-animal vote in this district. We are grateful to Felipe for stepping up to serve our state and for being a voice for animals. And we very much look forward to working with Harry Garcia, who will be in the Roundhouse next year, and collaborating on the animal protection issues that we and his constituents care about.
What’s next?
So much more! Animal Protection Voters and our political action committee APV-PAC will be working hard over the next few months to support our animal-friendly legislators and candidates in the general election on November 8, 2016.
And in the meantime, we need your support! Here’s just a few helpful actions you can take:
Make sure you’re signed up for APV Email Alerts >>
Come to one of our “Howl and Be Heard” benefit concerts on June 18th and 19th >>
Make a gift to our Animal Protection Voters-Political Action Committee to empower pro-animal candidates >>
Double-check that you’re registered to vote in the general election in November >>
Thank you for being animal voters!
Jessica
