After Decades of Political Control, New Mexico is Still Waiting for Results
(Online Version): https://www.abortionfreenm.com/news/after-decades-of-political-control-new-mexico-is-still-waiting-for-results
Part Four of a Continuing Series Examining Faith, Politics, and Public Policy in New Mexico
By Bud Shaver
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Following the release of the latest national child well-being rankings, on June 9, 2026, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham acknowledged that New Mexico ranks 49th in the nation for child well-being, stating:
"That ranking is a reminder that we still have work to do." The Governor pointed to improvements in graduation rates, literacy rates, child poverty, family income, childcare access, and increased investments in children and families, concluding: "The work isn't finished, but we will continue investing in children, families and opportunities because every New Mexican deserves the chance to succeed."
The Governor's comments came just one day after celebrating New Mexico's abortion policies and continued abortion expansion.
The contrast was difficult to ignore.
On Monday, New Mexico's political leadership celebrated abortion. On Tuesday, it celebrated protecting vulnerable children and improving child well-being.
Many New Mexicans see a contradiction. A society cannot claim to champion children while refusing to protect children before birth. Eventually, New Mexicans will have to decide which message they believe.
Regardless, the Governor is right about one thing:
The work is not finished.
After decades of Democratic control of the Governor's Office, the Legislature, and most statewide elected offices, New Mexico remains a state still waiting for many of the outcomes it has repeatedly been promised.
According to the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book, New Mexico continues to rank near the bottom nationally in child well-being. Despite billions of dollars in government spending and years of promises from state leaders.
This is not a one-year problem. It is a generational pattern.
For decades, New Mexicans have been told that more spending, more government programs, and more progressive policies would improve outcomes. Yet after generations of one-party control and record government spending, New Mexico continues to rank near the bottom in child well-being, education, economic opportunity, workforce participation, and public safety, while often ranking near the top in poverty, violent crime, drug abuse, and overdose deaths.
The question is no longer whether more work remains to be done.
The question is why New Mexico is still waiting for results.
Moving from 50th to 49th is not a success story. It is a reminder that the promise never materialized.
Nowhere is that disconnect more visible than abortion policy.
New Mexico was once shaped by deep Catholic, Hispanic, and family-centered traditions that viewed the protection of innocent human life as a foundational value. Yet over time, the state moved in the opposite direction.
Governor Lujan Grisham and legislative leaders have worked aggressively to expand abortion access, recruit abortion providers from other states, eliminate abortion reporting requirements, and invest taxpayer dollars into abortion-related infrastructure.
Today, New Mexico is one of the most permissive abortion states in America.
At the same time, state leaders frequently speak about protecting children and supporting families.
As Tara Shaver, a leader with Abortion Free New Mexico, recently observed:
"Only in New Mexico can politicians spend billions of dollars, rank near the bottom in child well-being, and ask voters to celebrate the progress. Simply put, you cannot advocate for children while advocating for abortion. You cannot celebrate protecting vulnerable children on Tuesday and defend ending vulnerable children's lives on Monday. Eventually, New Mexicans have to decide which message they believe."
The Turnout Gap
Some New Mexicans raise concerns about election integrity, voter rolls, and transparency. Those concerns deserve to be addressed. But regardless of those debates, one fact remains:
Elections are often decided by a relatively small percentage of New Mexicans who consistently show up to vote.
In 2026, New Mexico had approximately 574,000 registered Democrats and 444,000 registered Republicans. Yet only about 30% of Democrats and 21% of Republicans participated in the primary election.
That means a relatively small but highly motivated segment of voters continues to exert outsized influence over the state's political direction. These voters appear willing to supportcandidates advancing the Democratic Party's abortion agenda and broader progressive platform despite New Mexico's continuing struggles with education, child well-being, public safety, and economic opportunity.
At the same time, roughly 63% of New Mexico adults identify as Christian or Catholic. If even a fraction of those believers consistently engaged in the political process and supported candidates who shared their values, New Mexico's political landscape could look very different. "New Mexico is not being governed by a majority of its citizens. It is being shaped by a motivated minority that consistently shows up to vote. If people of faith and conviction participate, the future can change." - Bud Shaver, Abortion Free New Mexico
A Different Future Is Possible
The challenges facing New Mexico were not created overnight, and they will not be solved overnight.
But voters must honestly ask whether the political establishment responsible for New Mexico's current condition is capable of delivering a different future.
The names on the ballot change. Too often, the governing philosophy remains the same.
Supporters of candidates such as Deb Haaland, who recently won the Democratic primary for governor, argue they represent continued progress. Critics see a continuation of the same policies, priorities, and political approach that has governed New Mexico for decades.
Ultimately, the question is not whether a candidate is likable, historic, or well-connected.
The question is whether they represent a genuine departure from the policies that produced the state's current condition.
If the same ideas continue producing the same outcomes, voters should not be surprised when the results remain the same.
New Mexico's future is not predetermined.
If more conservatives, Christians, pro-life voters, and dissatisfied New Mexicans consistently participated in the political process, the state's direction could change.
A motivated minority will continue to shape New Mexico until a silent majority decides to participate.
After decades of promises, New Mexico is still waiting for results.
The future of New Mexico will not be decided by those who complain about the results. It will be decided by those who show up to change them.
The question is whether New Mexicans are finally ready.
CONTINUING OPINION SERIES
The first articles in this series examined the role of faith, public engagement, and moral responsibility in shaping New Mexico's future.
This article examines the political leadership, policies, priorities, and outcomes that have shaped New Mexico for decades.
Previous installments include:
•THE DERELICTION OF MORAL DUTY BY THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY OF NEW MEXICO — Examining the silence of much of New Mexico's religious community amid the state's growing social, cultural, and moral challenges.
•"WE DON'T WANT TO BE POLITICAL": HOW NEW MEXICO CHURCHES SURRENDERED THE PUBLIC SQUARE — Examining how many churches and faith leaders have retreated from public engagement despite the consequences of public policy.
•DON'T BE POLITICAL — UNLESS IT'S THE RIGHT POLITICS — Exploring the selective standards often applied to political engagement and public accountability in New Mexico.
Together, these articles ask a broader question:
If New Mexico continues to struggle with many of the same challenges decade after decade, is it time to reconsider the ideas, institutions, and political priorities that have shaped the state's direction?
ABOUT ABORTION FREE NEW MEXICO
Abortion Free New Mexico works to end abortion through investigative research, public exposure, accountability efforts, and direct outreach to women and families. Through sidewalk outreach, pregnancy assistance, and educational initiatives, the organization seeks to build a culture where every preborn child is valued and protected.t block.
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