100 years of women voting
Today we took a break from the house and headed to the plaza for the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage for a contactless vehicle parade.
100 years ago, women said “votes for women” for the right to vote. Today we get to say “vote for women!” as we are candidates for offices up and down the ballot.
I’m an Emerge New Mexico alumni and former board member and I’m so proud to be part of this wonderful organization that encourages women to run for office and stand up in their communities!
Let’s vote and get more women elected!
Today we lost a legend
The Honorable John Lewis impacted my life beyond my full understanding but I’ll always strive for his optimism and endless efforts to ensure our nation fulfills its promises.
Too many young Americans are cynical or disenchanted and we must respond like the Honorable John Lewis: ceaselessly fighting through activism, elections and policy.
As President Barack Obama said “John Lewis will be a Founding Father of that fuller, fairer, better America.”
I encourage you to read President Obama’s full speech or watch it if you can. You deserve to feel hope for the future of our nation.
Let us honor that legacy and keep fighting for our ideals for a more perfect Union
This Memorial Day
This Memorial Day is a little different than most. Today, as we recognize our service women and men, we also recognize our frontliners - the countless firefighters, nurses, doctors, and others - who have sacrificed everything to protect us.
Each day, our emergency workers put themselves at risk of coming in contact with COVID-19 without proper protection. We've lost too many of these selfless workers.
Those bold enough to serve leave a lasting legacy. Linda’s grandfather served in World War II and earned his citizenship, ensuring her entire family would be Americans. More than 70 years later, her family remembers how he shaped our futures.
Today, we'll be thinking of all the families - military and frontline - and honoring their loved ones' legacies.
Vote Safely
This weekend, The Albuquerque Journal endorsed our campaign, citing our campaign's "energy" and "fresh voice"! We're honored to have the support of BOTH The Albuquerque Journal and The Santa Fe Reporter along with 11 Democratic and progressive organizations like Sierra Club: Rio Grande Chapter, Conservation Voters New Mexico, Animal Protection Voters, Planned Parenthood Votes and many others!
With Election Day is right around the corner, we want to make sure you can vote safely. Starting this Saturday, if you live in HD 45 and are voting in person or dropping off your mail-in ballot at a voting location, we'll be happy to provide a Vote Safely Kit at your door. We'll drop off a mask and other items at your home in the early morning. Click here to sign up!
Stay Safe and Stay Engaged!
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.
---
Santa Fe New Mexican: Rep. Luján aide to run for state House seat held by retiring Trujillo
Linda Serrato, political director for U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján’s U.S. Senate campaign, announced she will run for the state legislative seat held by longtime Rep. Jim Trujillo, a Santa Fe Democrat who has said he’s not seeking another term.
Serrato, 34, previously worked as a communications director for Luján as well as a legislative assistant. She was also a community organizer in New Mexico for former President Barack Obama’s campaign.
Serrato, a Democrat, said she decided to run for the House District 45 seat because she wants to ensure Santa Fe and the state are places that can provide a good education for her daughter.
“We believe New Mexico is a lovely place, and I just want to make sure it’s a place she can come back to,” Serrato said. “A lot of legislators are folks who have retired. I’ve got skin in the game. My kid is going to go to school here.”
She also said as a state lawmaker, she would work on lessening the state’s dependency on oil and gas and find “more sustainable ways” of funding education.
Serrato’s last day with Luján’s campaign will be Thursday.
Serrato will join Carmichael Dominguez in the race. Dominguez is a former Santa Fe city councilor and school board member who said earlier this month he’s running for the legislative seat. City Councilor JoAnne Vigil Coppler has also said she is considering running for the seat.
Trujillo, 80, announced earlier this month that he would not run for reelection, and that health concerns played a role in his decision.
House District 45 is a working-class district that is part of an area known for low voter turnout and where candidates frequently run unopposed. Trujillo had not had an election opponent since the 2004 primary.
---