Rio Rancho voters face a tight state House race in District 57

Voters in Rio Rancho will decide the outcome of one of the few competitive state House races in New Mexico this year. House District 57 features a rematch between incumbent Republican Catherine Cullen and Democrat Chriselle Martinez. Cullen won the seat two years ago by a margin of 150 votes out of more than 16,000 cast. This year, the race remains tight according to both candidates.

Martinez, a small business owner who moved from Albuquerque to Rio Rancho about ten years ago, has raised more money than her opponent. She has reported $285,000 in contributions while Cullen has reported $161,000. Martinez said that she expects a close result. She said the community wants change at the federal level and locally, citing concerns about gas prices, the cost of basic goods, and healthcare access.

Cullen, a real estate broker, said she has heard similar concerns from voters. She argued that state lawmakers should lower taxes, including the state gas tax. She pointed to recent revenue projections that show the state will have $924 million in new money in the coming budget year. Cullen said she is following through on pledges to protect recent changes to medical malpractice laws and push for more transparency in state government. She stated in a statement that she will keep knocking on doors and earning every vote until the polls close.

District 57 is one of only 31 House seats featuring a contested race this year. All 70 seats are up for election, but many are unopposed. The New Mexico House currently has a Democratic majority of 43 to 25, with two vacancies. One vacancy stems from the resignation of Republican Andrea Reeb of Clovis in mid-October. A federal court ruled she violated state law by serving as both a legislator and a special prosecutor. The other vacancy is from Democrat Joanne Ferrary of Las Cruces, who did not seek reelection and stepped down before her term ended.

Republicans have secured at least one pickup in the House. Republican Heather Ellison of Kirtland is the only candidate on the ballot for the seat formerly held by Democrat Joseph Hernandez of Shiprock. Hernandez dropped his reelection bid in August after reports of a public nudity incident at a Chicago hotel. Democrats tried to replace him but missed a statutory deadline, a decision upheld by the New Mexico Supreme Court.

House Speaker Javier Martínez, a Democrat from Albuquerque, said this election cycle is critical for maintaining a Democratic majority. He said voters will recognize the damage inflicted by the Trump administration and send back a strong majority. He noted the legislative agenda focuses on affordability, healthcare access, and education. Democrats remain optimistic about picking up seats, though they do not expect the same wave as in 2018.

Large sums of money have flowed into the few competitive districts. The Speaker Fund, a Democratic caucus committee, has raised more than $1.5 million this cycle. Most of that money went to bolstering Democratic campaigns. The fund received heavy donations from Chevron and Oracle, the latter being a driver behind the Project Jupiter data center campus in southern New Mexico. The House Republican Campaign Committee has raised roughly $775,000, with large donations from James W. Walton and Strata Production Co.

Candidate spending has also been high in some races. Lisa Curtis, a Democrat in House District 31, has reported spending more than $587,000 since launching her campaign in the summer. That amount exceeds the spending of some congressional candidates. Election Day is scheduled for November 3, and voters in the 31 contested districts will head to the polls to determine the final composition of the state House.

Martinez said in an interview that she is confident in her chances despite the close margin expected. She highlighted the district's focus on practical economic issues. Cullen emphasized her record and future plans for tax relief. Both candidates have spent the fall campaigning in Rio Rancho neighborhoods. The result will determine who holds the seat for the next term in the New Mexico House of Representatives.