Sen. Martin Heinrich, Deb Haaland and Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, all favored to win their respective races on Tuesday, came to the University of New Mexico to rally votes as the 2018 midterm elections come to a close.
The rally was held in the Student Union Building on Thursday, and was organized by UNM College Democrats.
Haaland spoke first. She said this was the most important election in her lifetime.
Haaland is running against Janice Arnold-Jones to fill the open seat that represents large swaths of Central New Mexico, including Albuquerque, in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Research and Polling, an Albuquerque-based firm, released a poll on Nov. 1 that showed Haaland leading Arnold-Jones by 12 percent.
Haaland, a UNM graduate, formally chaired the Democratic Party of New Mexico. If elected, she would be the first Native American woman to hold a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Heinrich spoke next. He opened his speech asking the crowd, “How many of you think Donald Trump represents your values?” The crowd responded with a “boo.”
Heinrich is running for his second term as Junior Senator for New Mexico.
According to Research and Polling, Heinrich leads his Republican challenger Mick Rich by 20 percent. Libertarian and former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, is polling in third at 12 percent.
Grisham was last to speak. Of the three candidates, Grisham’s race is the closest. The Research and Polling poll has her leading Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM) by 10 percent.
Grisham is running to replace Susana Martinez as Governor of New Mexico. Both her and Pearce are forfeiting their long-held congressional seats to run for New Mexico’s highest office.
Much of the talking-points at Thursday’s rally were centered on reforming higher education.
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“Just because you don’t have the money to get a college education, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get one,” Haaland said after her speech. She added that with President Trump in office, it would be hard to push that kind of legislation through. “With winning back the house, that will give us an opportunity to hold the Republicans accountable.”
College Democrats President Julisa Rodriguez said she was pleased with the event. She added that she was happy with the turnout and the speakers were “big hits.”
The rally took place with the SUB atrium, two floors down from the early voting sites in Lobo A and B.
New Mexico election code prohibits campaigning within 100 feet of either a building or within 100 feet of the door where voting is occuring. Rodriguez said the rally received approval from the Albuquerque Bureau of Elections and SUB Event Planning.
The rally was also held in part by New Mexico For All, the consolidated campaign effort for Democratic candidates in New Mexico.
The midterm elections conclude on Tuesday, Nov. 6.
Justin Garcia is a freelance reporter with the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers ASUNM. He can be contacted at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Just516garc.
