We urge advocates like you to reach out to your legislators, calling on them to support fair redistricting in New Mexico. Specifically, we hope you’ll prioritize outreach to members of the NM Senate Rules Committee to vote yes on Senate Joint Resolution 9. Here are some sample scripts for calling your elected officials about redistricting. 
 
Sample Text to Senate Rules Members 
Sen/Rep: Please support fair redistricting and vote yes on SB9.   
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Sample Phone Call to Senate Lawmaker Offices 
This is [YOUR NAME] and (if you are a constituent of the lawmaker) I'm a voter in [Rep/Sen's] district. I'm calling to urge [Rep NAME] to vote “Do Pass” on SJR9. We believe that voters should pick their lawmakers, not the other way around, and an Independent Redistricting Commission is a key tool achieving that goal. Thank you.  

Should you email?  
NOTE: Lawmakers' emails are flooded during this session. Calls and texts are more effective. However, if you choose to email, here is a sample:  
 
Dear Senator/Representative [NAME]: 
Please support amendments to SJR9- Independent Redistricting Commission. It will advance a fair and more inclusive approach to drawing fair voting districts in New Mexico. 
 
About seven in ten New Mexicans want independent redistricting. SJR 9 moves our state in a positive direction by creating a citizen commission to recommend voting maps. It also improves the criteria to prevent partisan gerrymandering.  
 
New Mexico CAN do better! 
 
Your Name Here 
Your email and phone number (optional) 
 
PS: If you are a constituent in the lawmaker's district, say so in the first paragraph! 

A new redistricting bill, Senate Joint Resolution 9, was introduced this month by redistricting reform advocate Senator Natalie Figueroa. The constitutional amendment is similar to the reforms proposed in previous sessions. Huge thanks to Senator Figueroa for her longstanding leadership and support for this cause! 

Fair Districts New Mexico (FDNM) and Common Cause New Mexico each conducted surveys in 2024, asking candidates for the New Mexico State Senate and House about their support for the creation of an Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC). 
FDNM's Survey, published in August, demonstrated broad interest in the cause. Of the candidates who answered the poll, 84.1% showed some level of support (18 strongly support, 10 support, and 9 somewhat support.) None opposed. However, it must be assumed these figures represent a degree of self-selection given that 44 of 170 candidates responded to the survey.  
The July 2024 survey by Common Cause NM also demonstrated candidates’ support for an IRC. According to the organization’s analysis of their survey, out of 27 candidates who responded, 87.10% (61.5% support; 25.8% somewhat) showed support for an amendment to the state constitution to allow for the establishment of an IRC. 

List of Candidate Positions  
While many policymakers have not made their position known about independent redistricting, the following responses were reported by the 44 candidates who replied to the FDNM survey. Although 44 candidates responded to the survey, we’ve reduced the list to specifically include the names of those lawmakers who were elected. If your legislators are not listed below, please urge them to put voters first and support the creation of an IRC!  

Strong Support 
1. Representative Cynthia Borrego (D)  
2. Representative Kathleen Cates (D)  
3. Representative Meredith Dixon (D)  
4. Senator Natalie Figueroa (D)  
5. Senator Carrie Hamblen (D)  
6. Senator Michael Padilla (D) 
7. Representative Angelica Rubio (D)

Support 
1. Representative John Block (R)  
2. Representative Mark Duncan (R)  
3. Senator Nicholas Paul (R)  
4. Representative Liz Thomson (D)  
5. Senator Nicole Tobiassen (R)  

Somewhat Support 
1. Senator Heather Berghmans (D)  
2. Representative Joanne Ferrary (D)  
3. Representative Joy Garratt (D)  
​4. Representative Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D)  
5. Representative Marian Matthews (D)
   
Neutral 
1. Senator Liz Stefanics (D)  

Not Sure 
1. Representative Marianna Anaya (D)  
2. Senator Katy Duhigg (D)  

Note 
Two candidates did not respond but have showed strong support for the cause. Leo Jaramillo (D) and Antoinette Sedillo Lopez both supported the IRC bill HJR 10 in 2024.  

Al Vanderklipp, a fellow with Fair Districts NM member Election Reformers Network and Research Associate at Princeton University, has published a study about how our neighbors to the north in Colorado successfully created independent redistricting in their state. 

The study, entitled Mutual Political Disarmament: How Two Reform Groups Overcame Differences to Create Fairer Districts in Colorado, 2015–2021, tracks the hard work of reformers from the conception of an independent commission on the back of a restaurant napkin to the commissions' formation and performance in the most recent redistricting cycle.

This report offers insights on the structure, function, and strategy of independent redistricting commissions and the campaigns to get them on the ballot. 

Today, Common Cause issued a report on how the 2021 redistricting cycle has impacted Native American communities. “Stronger Together: Native Americans’ Fight for Fair Redistricting,” can be read at this link. 

The report focuses on New Mexico, Arizona, and other states with large Native American populations, and the advocacy of Native leaders across the country. 

A statement on the study from Common Cause New Mexico can be read here.  

Longstanding redistricting reform champion Rep. Natalie Figueroa introduced a new companion version of the proposed constitutional amendment, House Joint Resolution 10. This bill is currently identical to Senate Joint Resolution 7, with Senator Leo Jaramillo serving as lead sponsor. 

Additional information on hearings for these bills will be posted on this website.

SJR7 will have its first hearing in the NM Senate Rules committee. Advocates are urged to call or email all committee members, asking them to vote yes (“Do Pass”) for establishing an independent redistricting commission. (If you happen to be a resident of the member’s district, please say so.)
 
Senator Katy M. Duhigg, D-Chair
Senator Leo Jaramillo, D-Vice Chair
Senator Greg Nibert, R-Ranking Member
Senator Gregory A. Baca, R
Senator Linda M. López, D
Senator Brenda G. McKenna, D
Senator Mark Moores, R
Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino, D
Senator Cliff R. Pirtle, R
Senator Elizabeth "Liz" Stefanics, D
Senator, Mimi Stewart, D

The following is an excerpt from the members' column for the Albuquerque Journal, OPINION: NM needs an independent redistricting commission with teeth.

"This session, we are working to establish a truly independent redistricting commission to increase public trust. We took a step in this direction with our first Citizens Redistricting Committee in 2021, but its work was not binding. Currently, the Legislature can accept or redraw the boundaries created by the committee. Allowing legislators to choose their own voters in this way is a blatant conflict of interest. Our Joint Resolution would make an independent redistricting process permanent and binding, ensuring that voters choose their legislators, not the other way around.

Our Joint Resolution would put the creation of this commission on the 2024 ballot for voter approval. This commission would have nine members, three from each of the two parties with the largest number of registered voters and three from unaffiliated or minor parties. Every 10 years, the secretary of state would mail out applications to 4% of a random selection of qualified electors proportional to party affiliation. The SOS could also accept applications from others interested. From those applications, 120 would be randomly selected to reflect the demographic and geographic diversity of N.M."

Read the full article HERE. 

The Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission voted unanimously to support SJR7, the Senate Resolution to create an independent redistricting commission. Leonard Gorman, their Executive Director, has been a key contributor to this effort for over three years and drafted the approved resolution.

The Commission surmised "...that the establishment of an Independent Redistricting Commission in the State of New Mexico best preserves, protects and advances Navajo Nation interests with governmental entities that serve the Navajo people."

The Commission, established by the Navajo Nation Council, collects data regarding discriminatory acts against citizens of the Navajo Nation.

After collecting input from stakeholders and model bill research by Election Reformers Network, the Fair Districts New Mexico coalition drafted new legislation to establish an Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) in our state. Pre-filed in the NM Senate by Senators Leo Jaramillo and Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, the bill remains championed by long-time redistricting advocate Rep. Natalie Figueroa.
 
Senate Joint Resolution 7, if passed by the NM Legislature, will go before voters on the 2024 general election ballot. As a constitutional amendment, it will not require signature by the governor.
 
Regular updates regarding the bill’s progress during the legislative session will be posted on this website.