State Representative District 26
State Representatives sit in the New Mexico House of Representatives, which is the lower house of New Mexico. Representatives introduce and vote on proposed laws, serve on legislative committees, and participate in hearings, floor debates, fact-finding and investigations. They also may assist constituents with issues and problems the constituents may have with government agencies within New Mexico. Term: Two years; no term limits.
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ELEANOR CHÁVEZ
(Dem)
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COREY RUBIN ZIMMERMAN
(Rep)
1. What qualifies you for this office?
2. How would you address your highest priorities?
3. How should the legislature address future water needs in an increasingly arid state?
4. What criteria should be applied when considering proposed large economic development projects?
5. What more can be done to ensure that residents have adequate access to health care in your district?
mailingstate
NM
Campaign Phone
5054014632
Occupation
Legislator
Filing County
Bernalillo
I have served four terms as a legislator. From 2009 to 2012, I represented House District 13. Since 2022, I have represented House District 26. I have also served on the Public Education Commission and the Bernalillo County Labor Board. I have also served on various boards of community organizations. I bring a wealth of experience in union and community organizing. I have a deep understanding of the hardships that families in my District face daily, and I will continue to fight to improve their lives.
My top priorities are healthcare, workers' rights, CYFD, and environmental protection. I will continue to work on systemic healthcare change to reduce costs and increase access. I believe workers should be able to organize without facing intimidation from management, and implementing nurse-to-patient ratios will improve staffing and patient care. CYFD has been on a downward spiral, causing harm to children and families. I support removing CYFD from the governor's purview and appointing Child Welfare experts to run the agency. We must protect our natural resources from industries that pollute our land, air, and water. I will introduce and support legislation that addresses all of these issues.
Climate change is depleting our water supply, and we must act with urgency. We need to expand the capacity of state agencies responsible for water management and provide them with the resources they need to support their work. We must abide by interstate compact agreements. Implementing the Water Security Planning Act is essential to future planning. We need to increase conservation efforts and create a public education program/campaign to teach New Mexicans how to conserve water in their daily lives. Industry must also act responsibly to conserve water.
We must consider whether the proposed project aligns with the community's values and needs. Does the community support the project? Is the project sustainable for the long term? The governmental entity responsible for regulatory oversight should conduct an independent analysis of the true overall job creation and long-term economic development benefits and impacts. Another important question to consider is the project's environmental impact, especially on water.
We need to focus on growing our own healthcare workforce. During the 2026 legislative session, the legislature allocated $500 million to the UNM School of Medicine to increase medical student admissions. The legislature allocated $30 million for Medicaid expansion, $25 million toward BeWell premium assistance, to prevent coverage loss for individuals and families earning under 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL), $38.1 million to offset the expiration of EPTCs for those earning above the 400% of the FPL, and $40 million for immigrant Medicaid enrollees who would otherwise lose eligibility on October 1, 2026. We must continue working to address the high cost of pharmaceuticals and other healthcare cost drivers.
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