The Food Depot 2026 Candidate Questionnaire
PrimaryCandidates
In support of voter education and as a 501(c)(3), food banks can create, distribute, and publish a candidate questionnaire. The Food Depot cannot support or oppose candidates for office or coordinate activities with political campaigns.
This campaign season, The Food Depot created a food-security questionnaire and sent questions to candidates running for NM governor, Lt. governor, and candidates in contested House district races in our service area. We’re grateful to candidates who took time to participate.
All responses have been unedited and we are sharing them so you can read directly from the candidates on positions related to a healthy, hunger-free New Mexico
Question 1: The work of New Mexico’s food banks is currently supported partially by GRO funds through the action of the legislature. Given all the demands on state resources, how, if you choose to do so, will you commit to supporting state funding for New Mexico’s food banks in the 2027 state legislative budget?
CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR
Sam Bregman: No child, senior, or working parent should go hungry in New Mexico I will fight to protect and strengthen state support for food banks in the 2027 budget because food security is basic security I’ll prioritize stable funding through GRO and other recurring revenue sources, not one-time fixes I’ll also demand accountability: faster distribution, better rural reach, and stronger partnerships with farmers and community groups When families are struggling with grocery costs, government should step up not step back
Deb Haaland: As a single mom, I relied on food stamps and WIC, and I know what it means when someone is there to help your family eat. Food banks are essential infrastructure and an investment that pays back It’s hard for hungry kids to learn and hungry adults to work As federal cuts squeeze SNAP, state dollars need to grow with the need As Governor, I will work with the legislature to protect and push to increase GRO funding for our food banks in the 2027 budget, and consult directly with The Food Depot and partners to set those priorities
Gregg Hull: New Mexico's food banks deliver results efficiently and deserve stable support. As governor, I will work to protect GRO funding for food banks within a disciplined budget process that prioritizes high-impact, accountable programs Rather than simply increasing spending, I'll push for outcome-based funding models that reward food banks for measurable results I'll also work to reduce the regulatory burden on private donors and businesses that partner with food banks, maximizing the impact of every public dollar by leveraging it against private investment and community generosity
Ken Miyagishima: The GRO Funds started in 2024 and often compete with community centers, youth programs, and other NGOs. I believe funding for food insecurity aligns with the state’s anti-donation clause, allowing us to support it legally. As governor, I would use my discretion to allocate my portion of funds to New Mexico’s food banks and establish this as an annual funding program
Duke Rodriguez: Use the Governor’s line-item veto power to reduce spending on redundant, ineffective programs This will free budget space for projects with a high return-oninvestment, like food banks
Doug Turner: No response submitted.
CANDIDATES FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Aubrey Dunn: No response submitted.
David Gallegos: No response submitted
Manuel “Manny” Lardizabal: As Lieutenant Governor, I commit to prioritizing state funding for New Mexico's food banks in the 2027 budget, advocating for dedicated line items beyond GRO funds. Guided by Christ's call to feed the hungry (Matthew 25:35), I'll work with legislators to ensure sustainable support amid competing needs, fostering partnerships with churches and nonprofits for maximum impact.
J.C. Lopez: No response submitted
Sen. Harold Pope, Jr.: I’ve seen firsthand the vital role food banks like The Food Depot play in keeping families fed. Food insecurity it’s something I experienced growing up, and too many New Mexicans still face it today. In the 2027 budget, I will prioritize dedicated, recurring funding so food banks aren’t forced to rely on one-time GRO funds. They need stability to meet rising demand. I will also work to increase appropriations that reflect real need and partner with our federal delegation to expand SNAP and support our farmers. This is about dignity and ensuring no family in New Mexico goes hungry.
Maggie Toulouse Oliver: I believe it is essential to consult with organizations on the groundlike the Food Depot - to learn their priorities and integrate their recommendations into negotiations with the legislature. I plan to use my longstanding working relationships with legislators and advocates to push for bold ideas presiding over the Senate in the Roundhouse As SNAP cuts threaten food security for New Mexicans who are already living paycheck to paycheck, it is even more important that the state steps up to bridge the gap using every possible resource
CANDIDATES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 40 - CONTESTED PRIMARY
Rep. Joseph Sanchez: No response submitted
Dr. Nancy Wright: I believe funding food banks and improving support to WIC and SNAP are good investments with dependable returns I would support both increasing the state’s funding support to food banks as well as making the funds recurring. This is more important now as the amount of money the federal government contributes will likely decrease. Also, private donations from citizens will probably decrease as well, as inflation causes prices to increase.
CANDIDATES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 70 - CONTESTED PRIMARY
Ambrose Castellano: No response submitted.
Rep. Anita Gonzales: I will continue to prioritize funding for NM’s food banks because food security underpins every other policy priority such as education, housing stability, healthcare, and economic opportunity. In the 2025 1st Special, I (along with colleagues) supported critical funding to food banks and local pantries to meet urgent community needs, and I will build on that commitment in the 2027 budget Especially in rural districts like mine, these programs are essential lifelines I will advocate for consistent, reliable funding while also supporting infrastructure investments that strengthen food distribution and access
Question 2: In seven New Mexico counties, 40-100% of the population lives in a food desert (limited or no access to grocery stores). How would you approach ensuring that the people in those communities have access to food? (Counties are Harding, Catron, DeBaca, McKinley, Rio Arriba, Colfax, Doña Ana, highest to lowest.)
CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR
Sam Bregman: Food deserts are a failure of infrastructure and opportunity I’ll tackle them with real solutions: invest in rural grocery stores, food hubs, refrigeration, roads, and broadband so families can access deliveries and fresh food. I’ll expand mobile markets, community co-ops, and incentives for grocers to open in underserved counties. And I’ll strengthen local agriculture so more food is grown, processed, and sold close to home. Every zip code deserves access to healthy food.
Deb Haaland: Every corner of New Mexico Tribal land, rural towns, colonias deserves fresh food close to home. Several of these counties are home to Pueblos and Tribal Nations, and I will partner with them as sovereign governments. As I laid out in my Healthcare plan, I will grow the Healthy Food Financing Program to bring grocery stores, food co-ops, and farmers’ markets to underserved communities Building on my Affordability plan, I will explore waiving permit fees for rural grocers in food deserts and invest in farm-to-market roads Where a family lives shouldn’t decide whether they eat well
Gregg Hull: Government programs alone cannot solve food deserts we need to make rural New Mexico a place where businesses want to invest. As governor, I'll pursue targeted regulatory relief and tax incentives to attract grocery retailers, mobile markets, and food cooperatives to underserved counties. I'll work with the legislature to streamline permitting for new food retail operations in high-need areas. I'll also expand broadband access in rural communities, enabling residents to access online grocery and delivery services that didn't exist a generation ago. Infrastructure investment and private enterprise are the long-term solution.
Ken Miyagishima: Counties are political subdivisions of the state, while cities are not As governor, I would require these counties to set up facilities for storing food and essential items for those in need, known as an "unfunded mandate " I recognize that Roadrunner Food Bank has a strong network for food distribution, but some areas, especially in the north central, eastern, and northeast New Mexico, have limited outreach
Duke Rodriguez: Eliminate gross receipts tax on retail sales to encourage businesses to expand and relocate to rural areas. Pivot away from costly broadband hookups and toward Starlink portals to ensure internet access in these areas. Create new licensure categories within the Regulation & Licensing Department for mobile stores and retailers. Ease regulations on local farmers so they can sell more food where they grow it.
Doug Turner: No response submitted.
CANDIDATES
Aubrey Dunn: No response submitted
David Gallegos: No response submitted.
Manuel “Manny” Lardizabal: I'd launch mobile food markets and incentives for grocers to serve food desert counties like Harding and Catron, partnering with faith-based groups for distribution. Emphasizing local solutions and economic incentives over mandates, we'll bring nutritious food to rural families, honoring our duty to care for neighbors in need.
J.C. Lopez: No response submitted.
Sen. Harold Pope, Jr.: Food deserts are a failure of access and a call to action. In counties like Harding, Catron, DeBaca, McKinley, Rio Arriba,…, we need a community-driven approach to ensure families can access healthy, affordable food We should invest in mobile markets, food hubs, and partnerships with food banks, while incentivizing grocery stores and supporting local retailers We must strengthen infrastructure like transportation, storage, and distribution as well as expand SNAP and WIC, including online access and matching programs Finally, we should connect New Mexico farmers to local markets This is about equity, dignity, and ensuring access to nutritious food for all
Maggie Toulouse Oliver: The state has an active role to play in ensuring healthy food is readily accessible in all parts of New Mexico. Incentivizing new grocery stores and food coops with community control and providing funding to lower the cost of stocking healthy foods like fresh produce are policies worth implementing.
CANDIDATES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 40 - CONTESTED PRIMARY
Rep. Joseph Sanchez: No response submitted.
Dr. Nancy Wright: Because grocery stores are private businesses, it is not politically palatable for the state to force grocery stores to open or remain open in food deserts. County-run or state-run grocery stores, along the lines of what Mayor Zohran Mamdani suggests in New York, are an interesting idea to look into, as well as supporting mobile food distribution in rural areas Another idea I have heard of is allowing hunters to donate meat from their kills to food banks, and distributing more hunting tags to incentivize this
CANDIDATES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 70 - CONTESTED PRIMARY
Ambrose Castellano: No response submitted
Rep. Anita Gonzales: Tackling food deserts require a mix of access, infrastructure, and local solutions In rural New Mexico, distance, not just poverty, is a major barrier In my district, both San Miguel and Torrance counties reflect this challenge To address this, I support expanding mobile food distributions, investing in regional food hubs, and strengthening partnerships with schools, senior centers, and local providers to bring food directly into communities. We also need infrastructure investments, like storage and distribution facilities, and incentives for rural grocery access. Solutions must be flexible, community driven, and tailored to the realities of rural and frontier counties.
Question 3: NM Grown provides state funding to schools, child care centers, senior centers, and food banks to purchase locally grown foods from NM farmers and producers. In FY25, the program generated $7.05 million in total economic output. How would you support the expansion of NM Grown or expand selling opportunities for NM producers?
CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR
Sam Bregman: NM Grown is a win-win: healthier families and stronger local economies I’ll expand it by increasing purchases from New Mexico farmers for schools, child care centers, senior centers, hospitals, and food banks I’ll also invest in food hubs, cold storage, transport, and processing facilities so small producers can scale up and reach bigger buyers. We grow world-class chile, pecans, beef, and dairy. More of that wealth should stay right here in New Mexico.
Deb Haaland: NM Grown is exactly the kind of program that pays off many times over for kids, for seniors, for farmers As a small business owner who produced salsa for mom-andpop shops across this state, I know what New Mexico buying New Mexican means As Governor, I aim to grow funding for NM Grown’s Approved Supplier Program to certify more local producers, fully replace the federal dollars cut last year that powered NM Grown’s Regional Farm to Food Bank Program, and expand NM Grown eligibility to hospitals and correctional facilities.
Gregg Hull: NM Grown is exactly the kind of program government should support it stimulates local economic activity, connects producers with institutions, and strengthens New Mexico's agricultural sector without creating long-term dependency As governor, I'll champion continued funding for NM Grown and work to reduce bureaucratic friction that makes it hard for small farmers to participate I'll also push to expand institutional purchasing requirements for state-funded facilities and create a streamlined certification pathway for small producers Growing New Mexico agriculture from within our borders is smart economic policy and good nutrition policy simultaneously
Ken Miyagishima: We can increase the number of buyers by including universities, community colleges, state employee cafeterias, and institutional facilities. To help small producers participate, we can ease certain requirements that may be limiting them. Additionally, the state could offer free hunting licenses to those willing to donate various game meats and fish
Duke Rodriguez: I would continue the program and would direct the Regulation & Licensing Department to examine any relevant regulations which impact participants. Any regulations which can be safely eliminated should be eliminated to allow participants more flexibility.
Doug Turner: No response submitted
CANDIDATES FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Aubrey Dunn: No response submitted
David Gallegos: No response submitted.
Manuel “Manny” Lardizabal: I support expanding NM Grown by streamlining funding and creating direct markets for NM producers at schools and senior centers. As a pastor and entrepreneur, I'll champion policies boosting local agriculture, generating economic output while providing fresh food reflecting stewardship of God's bountiful land.
J.C. Lopez: No response submitted
Sen. Harold Pope, Jr.: This is a smart investment as it supports farmers, local economies, and delivers food to our communities. I strongly support expanding it. I will advocate for increased, recurring funding so more schools, childcare centers, senior centers, and food banks can participate, especially in rural and tribal areas. We must also strengthen the supply chain by investing in hubs, cold storage, and distribution so producers can access more markets. I’ll expand procurement policies to prioritize local food and partner with our federal delegation to grow support. This keeps dollars in New Mexico, supports farmers, and expands access to healthy, local food.
Maggie Toulouse Oliver: Programs like NM Grown should continue to be funded Their resources should be expanded, especially to achieve the goal of eliminating food deserts in line with the previous question Funding these programs clearly has an economic multiplier - healthy and local foods provide income for New Mexico’s farmers Food security frees families from the trap of poverty, helps kids do better in school, and reduces cost burdens on parents I would work in consult with the governor and the legislature to push for funding legislation to maintain and expand NM Grown
CANDIDATES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 40 - CONTESTED PRIMARY
Rep. Joseph Sanchez: No response submitted
Dr. Nancy Wright: NM Grown is a great idea and as a legislator I would support continuing this program Despite working at a federally qualified health center and having my children attend public school in Las Vegas, I had not heard of this program before. I would be in favor of continuing and expanding NM Grown to new areas.
CANDIDATES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 70 - CONTESTED PRIMARY
Ambrose Castellano: No response submitted.
Rep. Anita Gonzales: I strongly support expanding NM Grown because it strengthens both food access and our local agricultural economy. I co-sponsored HB 229 (2025) and supported GRO funding for a local community center in my district that is building a large farmers market initiative creating direct sales opportunities for producers while increasing access to fresh, local food I will also continue to support legislation that eases the burden on NM producers such as simplifying procurement and reducing barriers to participation, while prioritizing locally grown products in state purchasing Expanding these markets keeps dollars in New Mexico, supports farmers, and ensures communities have access to healthy, locally grown food
Question 4: In New Mexico, nearly 615,000 households are struggling to make ends meet, despite being employed. These are healthcare aides, grocery store associates, restaurant staff, and other essential workers who make too much to qualify for assistance programs but not enough to survive. What interventions would you consider to stabilize working families so they can make ends meet? Would raising minimum wage be part of this equation?
CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR
Sam Bregman: If you work full-time, you should be able to afford to live I’ll help working families by expanding the Child Tax Credit and Working Families Tax Credit, lowering housing costs, cutting health care costs, and growing better-paying jobs through apprenticeships and workforce training Yes, wages matter, and minimum wage should be part of the conversation but it can’t be the only tool Families need higher pay and lower costs My focus is making work pay again in New Mexico.
Deb Haaland: Yes, and raising the minimum wage is just the start. Working New Mexicans are facing a crisis where wages fail to cover basic rent and groceries. As Governor, I will fight for a living wage indexed to inflation, expanded tax credits for families, and Paid Family and Medical Leave. By cracking down on wage theft and launching the New Mexico Affordability Navigator, we will make it easier for families to navigate state programs and ensure that earning more always leads to getting ahead.
Gregg Hull: The best intervention for working families is an economy that creates betterpaying jobs through growth, not mandates. I'll focus on reducing New Mexico's high cost of doing business through regulatory reform and tax competitiveness, which encourages employers to raise wages on their own initiative On minimum wage, I'm cautious mandated increases can reduce hours and eliminate entry-level positions, hurting the very workers they're meant to help I prefer workforce development investments, expanded EITC access, and removing barriers to advancement so workers can earn their way into stability rather than remain dependent on assistance thresholds
Ken Miyagishima: I support the state-sponsored daycare program. By using an incomebased sliding scale, we can ensure its viability and sustainability. This program has the potential to significantly reduce poverty in New Mexico My economic plan for smaller cities, called economic gardening, aims to help these communities create important jobs with higher wages
Duke Rodriguez: Eliminate state personal income tax so that working people keep more of their paychecks. Eliminate gross receipts tax on retail sales so that working people have more flexibility to spend their dollars. Child care assistance funds should follow the family so that families can make their own child care choices.
Doug Turner: No response submitted.
CANDIDATES FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Aubrey Dunn: No response submitted.
David Gallegos: No response submitted.
Manuel “Manny” Lardizabal: To stabilize working families, I'd cut burdensome regulations, expand job training via public-private partnerships, and offer tax credits for essentials Raising minimum wage risks inflation harming the vulnerable; instead, grow opportunities so all can thrive, as Proverbs 14:23 teaches diligence brings reward
J.C. Lopez: No response submitted.
Sen. Harold Pope, Jr.: Too many working families in New Mexico are doing everything right and still falling behind. Raising the minimum wage to a true living wage must be part of the solution, but we also need a comprehensive approach. We must lower costs by expanding affordable housing, including down payment assistance and tenant protections, and reduce healthcare costs through a public option and lower prescription drug prices I support targeted tax relief, expanding tax credits, and guaranteed basic income We must invest in affordable childcare and transportation, and protect workers by enforcing wage laws, strengthening protections, and supporting the right to organize
Maggie Toulouse Oliver: Yes! The minimum wage must be raised in New Mexico to a living wage. Recent long-term research out of states where the minimum wage was raised show a significant positive impact for workers, with no measurable decrease in employmentproving that raising the minimum wage is not a job killer, as opponents claim. We also must continue to support universal pre-k and childcare, which are already alleviating major cost burdens from families. I will also push for paid family & medical leave, and to build and support more affordable housing.
CANDIDATES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 40 - CONTESTED PRIMARY
Rep. Joseph Sanchez: No response submitted.
Dr. Nancy Wright: Raising the minimum wage is part of the solution. The state can encourage affordable housing through tax incentives or increasing section 8 housing. Universal childcare needs to be made available for any worker, including those with special-needs children and those who work nights and weekends. Healthy affordable food should be available to everybody in the state, not just those who live in cities. This can be incorporated in SNAP and WIC benefits. Making wind and solar power easier to access will lower energy costs. Finally, supporting medicaid and funding ACA subsidies will help keep healthcare out of pocket expenses lower
CANDIDATES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 70 - CONTESTED PRIMARY
Ambrose Castellano: No response submitted.
Rep. Anita Gonzales: Too many working families are caught in the gap of earning too much to qualify for assistance but not enough to cover basic costs I support a balanced approach that reduces household expenses while increasing earning power We’ve already taken steps by investing in affordable housing programs and expanding access to healthcare and insurance, which directly ease financial pressure I also support policies that strengthen wages, including thoughtful increases to the minimum wage, paired with support for small businesses. In addition, I would prioritize tax credits, childcare assistance, and workforce development so families can build stability while staying in the workforce.
Question 5: What single measurable outcome on food access or nutrition would define success in your administration, and how would you hold state agencies accountable for achieving this outcome?
(This question is from a board member of The Food Depot.)
CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR
Sam Bregman: Success means fewer hungry families. My measurable goal: cut food insecurity in New Mexico by 25% during my first term. We’ll track county-by-county hunger rates, child nutrition participation, and access to fresh food in rural communities. Agencies will have clear targets, public dashboards, and quarterly progress reviews. If programs aren’t delivering results, we’ll fix them. Government should be judged by outcomes, not press releases.
Deb Haaland: Cutting child food insecurity. New Mexico has ranked at or near the bottom for child well-being for as long as I’ve been in public service, and a state this rich in resources should not have hungry kids in its classrooms. I will set a clear reduction target, build it into the performance plans of the Health Care Authority, ECECD, and PED, publish progress on a public dashboard, and partner with food banks, Tribal Nations, and the Department of Agriculture. If the number isn’t changing, I'll say so out loud and course-correct.
Gregg Hull: My target: reduce the percentage of New Mexico children experiencing food insecurity by 25% over four years, tracked annually using USDA data. I'll hold state agencies accountable through performance agreements tied to budget allocations agencies that hit benchmarks get maintained or expanded funding; those that don't face program reviews. I'll establish a Food Security Office of Accountability within the Governor's office to publish annual public scorecards. Metrics without accountability are meaningless. New Mexico has too long accepted poor outcomes I intend to change that by making results, not spending levels, the measure of success.
Ken Miyagishima: By the end of my first term, I aim to reduce child food insecurity by 50% overall and by 40% in rural counties. I also want to increase the use of locally sourced food in state-run facilities to 30%. These results can be tracked. I would require agencies to report on meals served, nutritional improvements, and the percentage of New Mexicogrown foods purchased. Additionally, we can create public scorecards to display hunger rates and local food purchases by county.
Duke Rodriguez: We want to see improvements in our various Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program numbers: 1) a decline in the error rate; 2) a stabilization or decrease in the overall number of people receiving SNAP benefits; 3) a growth in the number of people graduating out of SNAP because of increasing income New Mexico must become more accountable for its SNAP numbers because of pressure from the federal government.
Doug Turner: No response submitted
CANDIDATES FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Aubrey Dunn: No response submitted
David Gallegos: No response submitted.
Manuel “Manny” Lardizabal: Reduce food insecurity by 20% in four years, measured via annual HHS surveys. I'd hold agencies accountable through quarterly reports to the Governor's office and public dashboards, ensuring transparency and faith-driven compassion guides our progress.
J.C. Lopez: No response submitted
Sen. Harold Pope, Jr.: Success in my administration will be measured by one clear outcome: reducing food insecurity in New Mexico by at least 25% within four years. That gives us a real, achievable benchmark. We must align policy and funding by strengthening SNAP, expanding NM Grown, and ensuring consistent, recurring support for food banks and local food systems. Accountability is critical. I will require agencies to set annual targets, publicly report progress, and coordinate across departments, using data dashboards to track results and identify gaps. I also believe in community accountability by working with partners like The Food Depot in real time.
Maggie Toulouse Oliver: Reducing the percentage of New Mexicans classified as “food insecure” is a measurable progress point - currently, NM is above the national average at nearly 14% of residents in 2025 We can hold agencies accountable by providing the funding to achieve measured goals and regularly auditing their progress I believe there is too little communication and data sharing between state agencies in general, and this results in lost information and distrust Improving the trust and collaboration element of government is something I prioritized as Secretary of State, and I will continue to do so as Lt Governor
CANDIDATES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 40 - CONTESTED PRIMARY
Rep. Joseph Sanchez: No response submitted
Dr. Nancy Wright: As a pediatrician I am especially concerned about the impact of hunger on a child’s developing brain Of course, a parent’s food insecurity will lead to their child’s food insecurity too. In public health school I learned that measurable positive impacts on outcomes such as hunger is extremely difficult to achieve. There are many state agencies involved in solving child hunger, such as WIC, SNAP, CYFD, and the school system, and I would want these agencies to follow the statistics. I would aim to cut the in half the number of children in New Mexico who live with food insecurity.
CANDIDATES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 70 - CONTESTED PRIMARY
Ambrose Castellano: No response submitted.
Rep. Anita Gonzales: A clear measure of success would be a meaningful reduction in food insecurity rates among our most vulnerable, especially children and seniors. If we can measurably lower those rates year over year, that signals real progress To achieve this, I would prioritize programs that directly serve these populations, including school-based, year-round nutrition programs, senior meal services, and partnerships with food banks and community providers I would hold state agencies accountable by setting measurable targets, requiring regular public reporting, and tying funding to outcomes Success means not just investing in programs, but ensuring those investments translate into fewer children and elderly New Mexicans going without consistent, nutritious food
Question 6: What experiences have shaped your understanding of food access in New Mexico, whether through your community, your work, or your own life? (This question is from a volunteer with The Food Depot.)
CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR
Sam Bregman: As a prosecutor and public servant, I’ve seen how hunger touches everything Kids struggling in school, seniors choosing between medicine and meals, parents working two jobs and still falling behind. I’ve worked with families in crisis and communities doing their best with too little support. I know food insecurity isn’t about laziness it’s about costs, access, and systems failing people. That’s why I believe feeding families isn’t charity. It’s a moral obligation and smart policy.
Deb Haaland: I know what it’s like to be at the grocery store and have to tell your child to put something back because you don’t have the money. I lived that. As a single mom, I relied on food stamps and WIC I know that addressing hunger means more than ensuring people don’t go hungry – it means people are happier and healthier, and it means our local economy is stronger, our public education system is more effective, and our communities are safer I’ve lived these struggles and I’ve worked to address them in my time as a public servant
Gregg Hull: Traveling across New Mexico as a candidate has made clear that food insecurity looks different in every community from the distance a family in Harding County must drive to reach a grocery store, to the working parent in Albuquerque who earns too much for SNAP but too little to stock a refrigerator What I've heard consistently is that people want dignity and opportunity, not dependency. That shapes my approach: connect communities with markets, reduce barriers to local food production, and build an economy where families can afford to feed themselves without needing government assistance to survive.
Ken Miyagishima: When I started my business several years ago, my office partner was a former co-founder of Casa de Peregrinos in Las Cruces. She shared stories about how it began and the amazing support from the community. Even though my family wasn't wealthy, we always had food on the table I can’t imagine anyone in the U S going hungry As governor, I will ensure that no one goes hungry during my term
Duke Rodriguez: When I was a teenager growing up in Alamogordo, I received free lunch at school However, I rarely used my free lunch tickets because the process embarrassed me Everyone who received free lunch at school had to present a bright red ticket in the cafeteria. I hated being so visibly and obviously marked as a free lunch recipient. That experience taught me that food support programs should work to empower, rather than embarrass, recipients. We must use food support programs as a method to uplift people without shaming them.
Doug Turner: No response submitted.
CANDIDATES FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Aubrey Dunn: No response submitted.
David Gallegos: No response submitted
Manuel “Manny” Lardizabal: As a pastor serving Albuquerque's diverse communities and entrepreneur witnessing rural struggles, I've seen food insecurity firsthand through church outreaches feeding families My corrections work revealed systemic barriers; these experiences, rooted in Christ's love for the least, fuel my commitment to just solutions.
J.C. Lopez: No response submitted.
Sen. Harold Pope, Jr.: Food access in New Mexico is both personal and rooted in service. Growing up as the oldest of five, I experienced food insecurity and sometimes relied on SNAP I know what it feels like to worry about having enough food, and that drives my work In the Air Force and now in the Senate, I’ve seen how access to food shapes opportunity and stability I’ve worked with organizations like The Food Depot and heard from families across the state, especially in rural and tribal communities where access is often limited Food access is about dignity, equity, and economic justice
Maggie Toulouse Oliver: From the time I first worked as an organizer for pro-labor and community focused candidates in the 1990s, I have been aware of the challenges New Mexico families face - including my own. As a single mom taking care of two sons, there were times we too lived paycheck to paycheck No family should worry about where their next meal will come from I firmly believe New Mexico can provide enough for all our people to live healthy lives free from the burden of food insecurity
CANDIDATES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 40 - CONTESTED PRIMARY
Rep. Joseph Sanchez: No response submitted
Dr. Nancy Wright: My experiences with food access are drawn mostly from my decades of experience as a pediatrician I work with parents as they navigate with WIC, but I worry about the quality of food available for the adults in a household I am employed at a Federally Qualified Health Center where the patient population is impoverished The closest I have come to personally experiencing food insecurity was when I lived in a Nigerian village as a Peace Corps Volunteer. However, that was due to not knowing where to access food as opposed to not having the money to buy food.
CANDIDATES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 70 - CONTESTED PRIMARY
Ambrose Castellano: No response submitted
Rep. Anita Gonzales: My understanding of food access comes from both personal experience and hands-on service in my community I have family members who rely on commodities and have needed food assistance at different times, giving me a very real perspective on how critical these programs are Through volunteer work with community food distributions and school pantries, I’ve seen that food insecurity affects not only those who are unhoused, but also working families and students. In HD70, I have also supported District GRO funding and capital investments for food insecurity services and distribution infrastructure. These experiences shape my commitment to practical, dignified solutions.