SANTA FE – Attorney Teresa Leger Fernandez has picked up an endorsement from a second major national group that focuses on women’s issues as she pursues the seat in northern New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District.
NARAL Pro-Choice America, which advocates for abortion rights, announced that it has endorsed Leger Fernandez, one of several Democrats running to succeed U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján. Luján is a candidate for the U.S. Senate seat in the 2020 elections.
“The decisions we make about our bodies, our families, and our futures are deeply personal, and our right to make these decisions must be protected, respected and free from governmental interference,” said Leger Fernandez, of Santa Fe, in a news release.
“I am honored to have NARAL’s support, and proud to be part of a community that is doing the work to ensure that our rights are accessible to all.”
Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said, “With people’s fundamental rights under fire like never before, New Mexicans need fierce advocates like Teresa who won’t back down in the face of unprecedented anti-choice attacks.”
Leger Fernandez also has been endorsed by EMILY’s List, the influential D.C.-based political action committee that backs female candidates running in local, state and national campaigns.
NARAL contributed about $360,000 to federal House and Senate candidates last year. The OpenSecrets.org site says NARAL’s New Mexico contributions included $5,000 each to Luján and U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small and $2,500 to U.S. Rep. Debra Halaand.
There are two other women running as Democrats for the 3rd CD seat – former CIA agent and author Valerie Plame of Santa Fe and Sandoval County Treasurer Laura Montoya.
Other Democrats competing in the heavily Democratic district are Santa Fe District Attorney Marco Serna, state Rep. Joseph Sanchez of Alcalde, environmental attorney Kyle Tisdel of Taos, former deputy New Mexico Secretary of State John Blair, Cameron Alton Chick Sr. of Rio Rancho and Gavin Kaiser of Santa Cruz.
The Republican field has grown by two recently. Audra Lee Brown of Portales has been joined by Karen E. Bedonie of Farmington and Alexis Johnson of Santa Fe.
