Teresa Leger Fernández
Martin Zamora
City or area of primary residence: Santa Fe
Teresa Leger Fernández
Age: 67
Party affiliation: Democratic
Educational background: Bachelor’s degree from Yale University, doctorate of law from Stanford Law
Occupation: U.S. House representative
Political experience: I am serving in my third term in the U.S. House, running for my fourth.
Relevant life experience: Seventeenth-generation New Mexican; 30 years as an attorney fighting for voting rights, tribal sovereignty, community development and acequia water protections.
Have you ever been charged or convicted of a crime, including drunken driving? No
Have you ever filed for bankruptcy or been involved in a bankruptcy proceeding, either personally or in business? No
Have you ever been the subject of liens for unpaid taxes? No
If your party wins the majority in the next Congress, what do you think your caucus’ priorities should be?
We must lower the cost of living for working families. New Mexicans are struggling to afford groceries, housing, healthcare and fuel. We need to rewrite the rules of our economy so it benefits everyone, not just billionaires and big corporations. We must reverse the concentration of wealth and power in the very few. We must protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, expand affordable healthcare, create good-paying union jobs and make homeownership attainable. With a majority, we must also restore Congress’ oversight powers, take on the corruption rampant in the Trump administration and end the Iran War.
What should the federal government do to help bring down gas prices and address affordability concerns?
Trump’s Iran war and tariffs have increased the cost of everything, particularly food, fuel and fertilizer, hitting our ranchers and farmers especially hard. So, ending the war is a top priority. We can make the dream of homeownership possible with legislation like my Home of Your Own Act, which provides eligible first-time buyers $30,000, and by making funding available to build new homes. We must not let AI and data centers force increased costs on consumers. We should expand renewable energy to bring down utility costs and save the beautiful place we call home. Our Medicaid, Medicare and insurance health care system need investment and reform to bring down costs.
Do you support continued U.S. aid to and support for Israel or do you think it should be ended or conditioned in some way?
The United States cannot keep writing blank checks for offensive military assistance to Netanyahu’s government while Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank suffer. I voted to prohibit federal funding for Israel’s offensive weapons and activities. Israel has the right to exist in security and peace. But Palestinians and Israelis alike deserve to raise their children free from terror and violence. Peace cannot be built with more bombs. We must uphold human rights and pursue diplomacy that brings security and dignity to both peoples. I support a two-state solution.
Do you support or oppose President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts, and do you support a pathway to legal status for people living in the country illegally?
I oppose the cruelty of Trump’s immigration enforcement, including ICE raids, family separation, mistreatment in detention and the killing of citizens. I’ve fought his inhumane policy in Congress and with legislation. I’ve cosponsored legislation that creates an immigration system with a roadmap to citizenship for Dreamers, farmworkers and others who work hard and follow the rules. Immigrants are essential to New Mexico’s healthcare, agriculture and care economy. I also support border security efforts, including advanced technology to deter cartel activity and stop illegal drugs. We can secure our borders while treating people with dignity and humanity.
Did Trump make the right decision in going to war with Iran and now that we’re there, what is the best course of action?
No. I opposed Trump’s illegal war in Iran. His withdrawal from the 2015 Iran Nuclear Agreement undermined diplomacy and made a peaceful resolution harder. We must end the war and work with allies to reinstate a verifiable agreement to prevent Iran from developing material for a nuclear weapon. Our national labs’ expertise can help with nuclear nonproliferation. We must also reopen vital trade routes and ease the fuel costs hurting New Mexican families, farmers and ranchers. Diplomacy is the best path to protecting our national security and bringing down costs at home. Trump’s war has made us less safe. Under new leadership, Congress must stand up to Trump.
City or area of primary residence: Clovis
Martin Zamora
Age: 66
Party affiliation: Republican
Educational background: High school
Occupation: New Mexico state representative
Political experience: New Mexico state representative
Relevant life experience: Farmer, rancher, business owner
Have you ever been charged or convicted of a crime, including drunken driving? No
Have you ever filed for bankruptcy or been involved in a bankruptcy proceeding, either personally or in business? No
Have you ever been the subject of liens for unpaid taxes? No
If your party wins the majority in the next Congress, what do you think your caucus’ priorities should be?
The first priority must be the cost of living. Families here are paying more for gas, groceries and utilities than they can afford. That means expanding American energy production, securing the border and stopping fentanyl, and restoring discipline to federal spending. For New Mexico, I’d push for a farm bill that works for family producers, defense of our water rights and real oversight of the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire recovery so fire victims are finally made whole. And Congress should ban its own members from trading individual stocks. Restoring trust in the institution must be part of any majority’s agenda.
What should the federal government do to help bring down gas prices and address affordability concerns?
Prices today are driven by instability overseas, but the long-term answer is producing more American energy. New Mexico is one of the nation’s top oil producers, and Washington should treat that as a strength: approve permits and lease sales on a predictable schedule, build pipeline and refinery capacity, and cut regulations that add cost without real benefit. The more we produce here, the less a Middle East crisis decides what a family in Clovis pays at the pump. Congress must also rein in deficit spending that fuels inflation and lower input costs for farmers and ranchers, which flow straight into grocery prices.
Do you support continued U.S. aid to and support for Israel or do you think it should be ended or conditioned in some way?
Israel is an important ally, and I support continuing the security commitments that serve our mutual interests. But support for an ally isn’t a blank check, and America’s interests must come first. Congress should conduct real oversight of how aid is spent, insist it’s used consistent with U.S. law and press for protecting civilians and expanding humanitarian access. Our long-term goal should be a stable region where American troops aren’t drawn into endless conflict. I’d also ask how every dollar sent abroad compares with the needs of families here at home, who deserve the same scrutiny.
Do you support or oppose President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts, and do you support a pathway to legal status for people living in the country illegally?
I support securing the border and enforcing our laws, with priority on removing those who have committed crimes. New Mexico is on the front line; cartels traffic drugs and people through our communities. Enforcement should be professional, lawful and focused on the most serious threats. I do not support amnesty. It rewards illegal entry and is unfair to those who came the right way. But our legal system is broken. As a farmer and rancher, I’ve seen how hard it is for producers to find a legal, reliable workforce. We need a modernized guest worker program that meets agriculture’s needs while respecting the rule of law.
Did Trump make the right decision in going to war with Iran and now that we’re there, what is the best course of action?
Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and was moving toward a nuclear weapon. Stopping that threat was the right objective. Now our course should rest on three principles. First, clear goals: permanently end Iran’s nuclear program, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and protect our forces, with no open-ended occupation. Second, Congress must do its job and own its oversight role. Third, pursue a negotiated end from strength as soon as terms keep Iran from threatening us or our allies again. New Mexico families feel this war at the pump every day. Win decisively, bring our troops home, restore stability.
The 3rd Congressional District race, featuring Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández and challenger Martin Zamora, is considered safely Democratic.
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