When it comes to the struggles facing working people across our country, one of the most personal to me is the fight for food affordability amid rising costs.

My heart breaks each time I hear from someone worried about paying for groceries as prices rise. It brings me back to a time in my life when I relied on food stamps to feed my child Somah and myself.

As a single mom working my way through law school, tortillas and pinto beans became our dinnertime staples. That combo sustained us through some pretty lean years until one day, the week of Thanksgiving, I found myself staring at a near-empty kitchen cabinet.

I desperately hoped to cook Somah a traditional holiday meal, so I went to the counselor’s office to apply for food stamps. My application was denied, and I broke down and cried right there in the office. It wasn’t until later on, when Somah and I were couch surfing among friends to keep a roof over our heads, that we finally became eligible for the food assistance we so urgently needed.

When I meet working parents on the campaign trail who tell me they’re struggling to keep up with rising prices, I think back to those late nights when I’d sift through the bargain carts at my local grocery store. The anxiety of having to choose between feeding your child or making rent is a feeling you never really forget – and it’s what motivates me to fight relentlessly to keep New Mexico affordable for working families.

I understand the challenges hardworking New Mexicans are facing because I’ve lived them. If your budget allows for it, I hope you’ll chip in $5 to grow our grassroots campaign.

I have a long list of priorities I’d like to tackle as governor, but at the top of that list is making sure our neighbors aren't going hungry because they can't afford to buy food.

Right now, ultra-rich and out-of-touch leaders like Donald Trump and Elon Musk are wreaking havoc on our country and putting vital social programs on the chopping block. Trump’s tariffs are hurting our economy and working families are literally paying the price. Our state deserves a leader who will prioritize bringing down costs – not padding the profits of greedy corporations.

If you can contribute $5 today, I'd be so grateful as we kick off our campaign. But if that's not something you can afford right now, just know I'm deeply thankful to have you as part of this team.

Donate $5 »

Thanks for all you do,

Deb

P.S. Twenty-something years later, Somah and I still make time to bond over a simple dinner of handmade tortillas and pinto beans. 💛