,

Paid political advertisement by the Committee to Elect Marianna Anaya, Shannon Gilbert, Treasurer.

By Marianna Anaya, Democrat, Candidate for House District 18

After twenty-seven years of Representative Gail Chasey’s leadership, on June 4, the voters of House District 18 will have the opportunity to decide who will represent them next in the NM State House of Representatives. In a crowded field of candidates with similar values, I ask voters to rely on trust and experience to make their decision at the polls.

After Representative Gail Chasey announced her retirement, I was honored to receive her endorsement. Representative Chasey has seen, first-hand, my ability to help pass the toughest legislation in the Roundhouse. She supports my work as a community organizer and legislative advocate in repealing the 1969 abortion ban, passing the Voting Rights Act, expanding the Human Rights Act and leading the coalition for Paid Family and Medical Leave. The most meaningful aspect of Representative Chasey’s endorsement is that she recognizes how my lived experience will help our district and our state.

I was born and raised in Albuquerque’s North Valley by my mother, grandmother and eight aunts. Our family has experienced poverty for generations and I have the honor and responsibility of being the first in my family to attend college. I have spent my life helping my family navigate systems- whether that’s helping those struggling with substance use, homelessness, CYFD, the mass incarceration system, or the violent death of their own children. Because of these experiences, I’ve always worked harder, faster, and with more creativity in problem solving than others. The skills I’ve acquired in navigating systems for my family, being a queer woman of color, and leaning on first-hand experience allows me to bring compassionate and practical solutions to the table as a legislator.

Representative Chasey recognizes my strengths in getting legislation over the finish line and bringing lived experience to the table. So do a host of others – that’s why I’ve earned the trust of organizations like Planned Parenthood Votes NM, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, Conservation Voters NM, Equality NM, Voices for Children Action Fund, NM Native Vote, Working Families Party, OLÉ, Dreams in Action NM and many of our labor unions including the National Education Association NM, the NM Building and Construction Trades Association, Teamsters, AFSCME, LiUNA, Carpenters, CWA and IBEW. Additionally, I’ve earned the support of 24 Democrats in the New Mexico House and Senate, countless medical and legal professionals, and passionately committed community leaders.

During the primary, I humbly ask Democrats in HD18 for their vote- to add your name to the list of those who trust me to “hit the ground running” as HD18’s next state representative. I feel a deep responsibility as the home-grown candidate in this race. I understand first-hand the complexities of our community, bring the energy we need to inspire a new generation of voters, fight for the values we care about most as Democrats and bring the experience necessary to not just dream about the policies we want to see passed, but to introduce those policies and see them through.

Read more about Marianna Anaya