How LWVSNM Supports Democracy
LWVSNM encourages residents to be involved in expressing their views regarding democracy. The League is now selling unique t-shirts that can be ordered through the League. For a few more days, League members who want to order a t-shirt emblazoned with “Women Defend Democracy” can email lwvsnm@gmail.com and specify what size is needed. Coordinator Rebecca Courtney said sizes for the cotton shirts range from small to extra-large. They cost $20 each. In addition to the shirts, the League is willing to help other members make signs that can be used during peaceful rallies.
The League is also willing to make a sign for League members who are not comfortable making their own. An upcoming rally when the signs can be visible is the No Kings Rally on March 28 at the Albert Johnson Park in Las Cruces.
Thank you, Doña Ana County Lawmakers
The Legislative session ended on Thursday, Feb. 19 and the League of Women Voters of Southern New Mexico wish to thank each and every one of our area legislators for their hard work on behalf of New Mexicans. Many important pieces of legislation, including some that the League advocated for, were passed and are now before the Governor for her consideration.
Ranging from medical malpractice to allowing voters to determine whether to provide legislators with professional salaries, the long list of bills, memorials, and resolutions can be reviewed. Go to nmlegis.gov and at the top of the page click on the “Legislation” menu tab. If you don’t have a bill number, you can search bills by subject matter, such as “Education,” “Taxation,” or “Environment.”
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.
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.