After campaign signs vandalized, opposing candidates joined forces to put up new ones

Natalie Figueroa and Kurstin Johnson are battling for an open Albuquerque-area Senate seat in this year’s general election.

But the two candidates recently joined forces — at least for an afternoon — to help put up each other’s campaign signs along a busy roadway.

The unlikely collaboration came about after some of Johnson’s campaign signs were vandalized.

That prompted one of her supporters to approach Figueroa at a recent candidate forum to discuss the incident. The two candidates then came up with the plan to meet for a show of civil resilience.

“This seemed like something we could both agree on and was worth a try,” said Figueroa, a Democrat and high school Spanish teacher who is giving up the state House seat she has held since 2019 to run for the Senate.

Johnson, a Republican who works as a Realtor, said the two candidates spent about 30 minutes putting up large campaign signs — one for each of them. They were joined by their husbands and campaign managers.

“I’m really trying to approach this campaign very differently,” said Johnson, who described the disappointment of seeing her campaign signs vandalized as the “perfect example of the cancel culture we’re living in.”

Figueroa said the two candidates had previously spoken, but did not have a close relationship entering this year’s election cycle.

They disagree on a range of issues in this year’s race, including approval of a state-run paid family leave program, banning certain assault weapons and whether state lawmakers should be paid a salary.

But Figueroa said she felt compelled to do something after learning of the destruction of her opponent’s campaign signs, which she described as “really, really disappointing.”

“It doesn’t have to be personal, there doesn’t have to be a vendetta and it doesn’t have to be nasty,” Figueroa told the Journal.

Unfortunately, the candidates’ display of solidarity was marred when a passing motorist threw a beer can at them.

The can did not hit anyone though, and Figueroa said she wasn’t sure if it was intended specifically at either of them.

The two candidates are running for the Senate District 18 seat currently held by Democrat Bill Tallman, who is not seeking reelection this year.

The district, after being redrawn in redistricting three years ago, straddles Interstate 40 and extends into the Northeast Heights.

Absentee and early in-person voting begin across New Mexico next week, with Election Day scheduled for Nov. 5.