Former legislators seek return to Roundhouse, as state House races take shape 

SANTA FE — New Mexico might be the only state that doesn’t pay its legislators a salary — at least for now — but there must be something about the Roundhouse that keeps some members coming back.

At least four ex-lawmakers filed paperwork Tuesday to run for office, including former state Rep. Debbie Rodella of Española, who served for 26 years in the state House before being ousted in the 2018 primary election.

Rodella is vying with fellow Democrat Yolanda “Pancha” Jaramillo of Dixon for the House District 41 seat that has been held by Rep. Susan Herrera, D-Embudo, for the last seven-plus years. Herrera announced this year she would seek reelection.

Rodella said she had decided to run this year regardless of whether Herrera sought reelection, saying constituents have been urging her to do so for several years.

“I’ve been contemplating it for a while, and decided to throw my hat in the ring,” said Rodella, who said water and infrastructure remain key issues in the largely rural northern New Mexico district.

However, Jaramillo portrayed the race as one of progress versus the past in a Wednesday campaign launch announcement.

“At its core, this race is about the direction we want: do we continue moving forward with the progress we’ve made over the last eight years, or do we go backward?” said Jaramillo, who is a former teacher and a board member of the New Mexico Acequia Association.

No Republican candidates filed to run in the Democratic-leaning district, meaning the winner of the June 2 primary election could have a clear path to victory in November.

Rodella could face questions in the race about ex-husband Tommy Rodella, who served more than seven years in federal prison after being convicted in a road rage case while he was Rio Arriba County sheriff.

In other races around the state, Republican former state Rep. David Adkins of Albuquerque filed to run against incumbent Democrat Charlotte Little in House District 68.

Adkins previously represented a different West Side Albuquerque state House seat from 2015 through 2018, but said his house was moved into a new district after lawmakers redrew political boundary lines in 2021.

A pastor and former firefighter, Adkins said he’s been keeping an eye on the Legislature since leaving office and would seek to bring back a more moderate approach to issues.

“My name is still out there,” he told the Journal. “There’s still a lot of people who know me.”

Little narrowly won election to the state House in 2022, then won reelection by a larger margin two years ago.

Meanwhile, the two other former lawmakers seeking to return to the Roundhouse are former Reps. Harry Garcia of Grants and Marsella Duarte of Albuquerque.

Garcia was ousted by fellow Democrat Michelle Abeyta of To’Hajiilee in the 2024 primary election in House District 69, then unsuccessfully sought appointment to a different vacant House seat later that year. Abeyta is seeking reelection to a second two-year term this year in a race that does not feature any GOP candidates.

Garcia did not return a phone call this week. He said in a statement he was proud of his past service but knows he can “do better.”

“In my time away from public office, I’ve listened to the voices across our community,” Garcia said in a statement released by a media consultant. “Now more than ever, I’m ready to fight for the needs of families in District 69 and earn your trust with results.”

As for Duarte, she was appointed to a vacant Albuquerque-based state House seat in late 2022 but only served for about one month before a newly elected state representative was sworn into office. If both candidates are qualified by Bernalillo County Clerk Michelle Kavanaugh, Duarte will face off in the June primary election against Democratic incumbent Yanira Gurrola.

With all 70 state House seats up for election this year, only five incumbents are not seeking reelection.

That list includes two representatives who are running for a different office — Democrat Matthew McQueen of Galisteo is running for land commissioner and Republican Martin Zamora of Clovis is running for Congress. It also includes three lawmakers who are planning to step down at year’s end: Reps. Joanne Ferrary, D-Las Cruces, Jimmy Mason, R-Artesia, and Herrera.

Meanwhile, this year’s legislative races could mark the last time candidates run for unsalaried seats.

That’s because lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment during this year’s 30-day session that, if approved by voters in November, would pave the way for legislators to receive a salary starting in 2029.

The salary level would be tied to the state's gross median annual income, with future increases connected to inflation. That amount was set at $64,140 as of 2024.

Dan Boyd covers state government and politics for the Journal in Santa Fe. Follow him on X at @DanBoydNM or reach him via email at dboyd@abqjournal.com.