It has become clear that Alan Martinez will stop at nothing to win this House race, including exploiting a traumatic experience from decades ago to insinuate that I was implicated in any way with horrific crimes committed by an abusive ex-partner.

 

Due to the Republicans’ vile tactics, I have made the difficult decision to end my campaign.

 

It pains me to step away from this race, but it’s appalling that a campaign wouldn’t be focused on the people and issues affected by the outcome.  This race should not be about the painful chapters of my personal life; it should be about Alan Martinez’s votes:

• to de-fund public schools, while supporting taxpayer dollars funding elite private schools;

• to strip SNAP benefits from 460,000 New Mexicans;

• to prevent New Mexicans from accessing health care after the Trump administration slashed funding;

• to oppose universal childcare;

• to make it easier for violent domestic abusers to keep their guns;

• to put doctors and nurses who perform abortions in jail; and

• against slashing taxes for 300,000 New Mexicans to protect the profits of his biggest campaign contributors: oil and gas companies. 

 

To be clear: I am not leaving the race because I am not strong or unwilling to fight. I’m a survivor who must prioritize my mental health, and I refuse to allow these tactics to distract from what is at stake in this election. 

 

I believe that the best path forward is to step aside and give another Democrat the opportunity to defeat Alan Martinez, while keeping the focus where it belongs: on the issues, and the people of House District 23.