Legislators Discuss Proposed Bills Prior to Session
January 20, 2026 was the opening day for the NM Legislative Session. Several League priorities are being addressed, including some that were discussed with Doña Ana County 
lawmakers during a December 2025 event. The Legislative Conversation and Social was widely attended by League members, and members of two co-hosts — AAUW of Las Cruces and NAACP of Doña Ana County — which are also non-profit organizations. The event is an annual gathering to bring the League’s priorities to legislators and vice versa. Legislators who attended were: Sen. Carrie Hamblen, Sen. Joseph Cervantes, Sen. Bill Soules, Sen. Jeff Steinborn, Rep. Joanne Ferrary, Rep. Sarah Silva, Rep. Nathan Small, Rep. Rebecca Dow, and several legislative aides. Topics that rose to the top included healthcare, education, water resources, salaries for state legislators, and others. To watch the Legislature in action, go to www.nmlegis.gov/ and click on webcasts. You can select which committees you’d like to monitor.
Thank you for Voting, but our work is not done
The League of Women Voters of Southern NM thanks each and every resident in Doña Ana County who voted in the Local Regular election on Nov. 4, 2025. But the work of the LWVSNM must continue as we encourage more citizens in our county to vote in our local, state, and federal elections. Results from the NM Secretary of State’s office reports that throughout New Mexico, 350,997 ballots were cast in November, which is 25.32% of the total number of eligible voters of 1,386,040.
In Doña Ana County, the voting percentage was lower than the state’s percentage; only 18.74% of the county’s eligible voters cast a ballot totaling 26,574 out of a potential 141,730 voters. The League will work to increase this percentage in the next election in June 2026.
No Kings Rally
LWVSNNM members attended the Oct. 18 rally at the Albert Johnson Park in front of Branigan Library. LWVUS is an official partner for the October 18 No Kings event— a day of mobilization to stand in solidarity with partners and stand up against hate and authoritarianism. The League has consistently and boldly spoken up in the face of rising authoritarianism. And believes that this event is an opportunity to put words into action and show up in defense of democracy and as an effective ally.
LWVSNM Welcomes New Members
Several new members attended the second New Members Social of the year. These gatherings give new members a chance to meet others and become more familiar with the League and its activities and goals. The Fall Social was hosted by Liz Rodriguez-Johnson, 2nd Vice President.
Several new members attended the social. TOP LEFT: The new member (center) is Stacey Hammer with Penny Scribner and Dale Yeo; TOP RIGHT PHOTO: Both Randee Greenwald and Suzanne Kane joined the League; BOTTOM PHOTO: Vice President Beth Bardwell sits with Publicity Coordinator Lynda St. Clair and new member Mona Charney (right). [Photos courtesy of Rebecca Courtney]
Thank you to those who attended the Healthcare Panel Event hosted by LWVSNM on Saturday, September 13, 2025! Three experts discussed the hurdles New Mexico faces in providing equitable medical services to all New Mexicans and preventing doctors from leaving the state.
Attendees of the Healthcare Panel Event in Las Cruces raise their hands in participation. The event was hosted by the League of Women Voters of Southern New Mexico (LWVSNM) on September 13, 2025.