Today's Swearing in
Last week, I was honored to be appointed to serve as the Representative of House District 45 for the remainder of the year. While we still need to win in November to serve a full term, this opportunity lets me get started fighting for our working families even sooner.
However, as you know we've seen a severe spike in COVID-19 cases here in New Mexico. Across the world, we're getting ready for an increase in cases this winter. Not only does this threaten already-vulnerable communities but it impairs our long term economic recovery.
So before I continue: wear a mask. With more than 200,000 Americans lost, there are no excuses not to.
We did think about delaying today's swearing in but for the foreseeable future, we'll need to take care. To that end, here are some of the precautions we're practicing today.
- Today we're hosting our event outside.
- We'll only have 5 people total today with many of our neighbors, friends, and family watching online.
- We're putting markers on the ground to show 6 feet of distance.
- We'll have hand sanitizer at the ready.
- And of course everyone - including my three year old daughter - will be in masks for the whole time
I could end here and say this is nothing like I ever expected but that wouldn't be right. I ran to serve my community, in good times and bad. These are what I hope are some of our darkest days and I am committed to serving and standing for all of my neighbors no matter what the challenge may be. We can get through this together. And I know our better future is ahead of us.
I'm proud and honored to serve you.
Love,
Linda
Conservation Voters NM, American Federation of Teachers - NM, and Animal Protection Voters NM
Our momentum is growing!
Linda found out she got THREE BIG endorsements this week:
We’re proud to add these to Linda’s endorsements from Planned Parenthood Votes New Mexico, Sierra Club: Rio Grande Chapter, and the New Mexico Youth Climate Strike!
Especially now, when we’re unable to connect with each other in person, having the support of our teachers, reproductive rights activists, environmentalists, and animal allies means a lot to Linda.
But let me be clear: this is a tight race. Our opponents aren’t slowing down. We can’t just sit back and wait. Our values are on the line.
This Earth Day, we're standing with New Mexicans
In honor of Earth Day this week, I'm proud to sign the No Fossil Fuel Pledge!
In New Mexico, we've seen the devastating effects of building our economy on one industry. Our state's ability to take care of rural and vulnerable communities is at the discretion of the very volatile oil markets. In addition, families have to decide between a good education for our children and a sustainable future.
This is a false choice that we have forced on our families.
It's time to diversify our economy. It's time to help our public schools thrive. It's time to build a sustainable economy.
It's time we stand together for our future.
Thanks for your support.
-Linda
More exciting news! Rio Grande Chapter of Sierra Club
We're really excited to announce: the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club has endorsed our campaign for House District 45! Linda is the only candidate running in House District 45 to be endorsed by the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club!
We take this endorsement very seriously. Over the past four years, we have seen Trump's attacks on the environment and wildlife across the nation. We need forward-thinking leader ready to defend New Mexico's beautiful outdoors.
That's why Linda doesn't take oil and gas money.
That's why taking on climate change is central to her campaign.
And why she is working hard to represent New Mexico State House District 45.
We've got a long road ahead but we know that, together, we can protect the future of New Mexico's beautiful land, Santa Fe's mountain air and our precious water.
Planned Parenthood Votes New Mexico Endorses!
We're excited to announce that Linda Serrato is the only candidate running for NM State House District 45 to be endorsed by Planned Parenthood Votes New Mexico!
We are honored to stand with the communities Planned Parenthood supports and protects.
And now our work is more important than ever. Women’s access to health care and reproductive rights are being threatened every day across the country - even amidst a pandemic. No matter how the GOP tries to politicize this issue, we must do everything we can to protect women and families in New Mexico.
Linda on Richard Eeds
If you missed Linda on Richard Eeds this week, you can listen to her interview right here. Richard and Linda discussed working family policies, the oil and gas industry's influence on the Roundhouse, and how we can get through the Coronavirus pandemic together.
It's official: Linda's on the ballot!
The past week has been a whirlwind: we kicked off the weekend knocking doors every day and ended it keeping distant in our homes.
But after turning in the most signatures of any candidate in this race, we just received the official letter from the county clerk confirming we'd qualified for the ballot!
We're honored to have Linda on the ballot and we're ready for the challenges ahead. We know we're in a tough time right now: this is confusing and difficult for so many of our kids and family members. Let's all continue to get through this period together Linda can continue to put working families first in this campaign and soon in the Roundhouse.
Staying home for a bit
Today Our Neighbors for Linda has made the difficult decision to end all door knocking and public events. We have limited information about the Coronavirus but we do know that it is spread person to person. In Santa Fe, we are a community filled with multi-generational families and it is up to us to keep our family members safe. So while I'll be disappointed to hang up my door knocking shoes, I believe this is an important move to protect our families and seniors.
Door knocking was the foundation of this campaign. Speaking one on one with House District 45 residents has shaped this campaign for the better. Now we'll find new ways to connect with friends, family and supporters.
We can get through this together. Let's take care of each other and do our part to stay home.
We filed!
Over the past few months, Team Linda has been busy, knocking hundreds doors and connecting with voters at the doors. All of our hard work paid off! Yesterday we turned in 300 signatures to get on the ballot, the most of any candidate for House District 45!
We're proud of all of our hard work but more importantly, we're honored that so many New Mexicans put their trust in this campaign. We heard so many stories at the doors and at our events. Now it's time to make sure that we fight for all of our working families. We all deserve fair economic policies like paid sick leave, paid family leave, fair scheduling and an end to the social security tax. Even more, our children deserve a secure future with a thriving outdoors and clean air and water.
And this campaign will proudly fight for these ideals and more that will ensure working families have a voice in the Roundhouse.
Albuquerque Journal: Linda Serrato running for Santa Fe House seat
SANTA FE — Another candidate is entering the race for the Santa Fe House seat being vacated by state Rep. Jim Trujillo, who announced earlier this month he will not seek reelection for District 45 seat he has occupied since 2003.
Linda M. Serrato, a Democrat who has served as political director for Congressman Ben Ray Luján, told the Journal on Wednesday that her 2-year-old daughter is one reason she decided to make her first bid for political office.
“There are a lot of young families like mine investing their future in Santa Fe,” she said. “I may be a first generation New Mexican, but I want this to be where my daughter finds her future.”
A Chino, California, native who earned a degree in public policy at Stanford University, Serrato first came to New Mexico in 2008 as part of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, working the eastern part of the state. She returned years later while working for the Fairness Project, a charitable organization that advocates for economic and social welfare issues throughout the country.
About that time, she connected with Luján and began working at his congressional office and then on his current campaign for U.S. Senate.
Building a better future for her daughter’s generation is a big part of what her campaign will be about, she said.
“I’m excited about what the future holds and harnessing opportunities,” she said. “We shouldn’t have to be choosing between the environment and education. We should be able to do both.”
Serrato is the second candidate to announce intentions to run for the District 45 seat. Fellow Democrat and former Santa Fe city councilor Carmichael Dominguez is also seeking the position.
Serrato said it was just coincidence that she is announcing her candidacy in House District 45 just a day after Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, Luján’s only Democratic opponent, dropped out of the U.S. Senate race and endorsed Luján.
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