SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed legislation updating the boundaries of the state’s three congressional districts on Friday, Dec. 17. The map included in Senate Bill 1 was created using data from the 2020 Census.
One of the biggest changes results in the carving out of a portion of Albuquerque’s South Valley, putting it into Congressional District 2. It was approved along party lines with all Democrats voting for it.
“We’re essentially taking Democratic-leaning voters, from the South Valley in Albuquerque, and leaning them down to the Southern district,” said Gabe Sanchez, a professor of Political Science at UNM. “In theory that should make the southern congressional district, more competitive because you’re increasing the number of Democratic voters in the district.”
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All Republicans voting against it called the legislation a dilution of Hispanic influence and representation. They claim the changes target two Hispanic senators and dilute the vote of Hispanics in many districts while remaining a majority of the state overall.
The Congressional map was sponsored by Rep. Georgene Louis, Sen. Joseph Cervantes, and Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto.
