Election 2024: Representation Matters
General election results confirmed what a lot of us already knew: Black / African Americans are succeeding in New Mexico governance and politics, offering uplifting ideas and initiatives.
by Rudolfo Carrillo
The 2024 Election is over but the project of attaining diverse representation within our democracy is ongoing. “No taxation without representation” is a foundational tenet of American society but achieving meaningful political representation takes initiative, hard work and community support. Results of state and local races confirm what a lot of us already knew: Black / African Americans are succeeding in New Mexico governance and politics, offering uplifting ideas and initiatives.
The top of this year’s list of winners reflects our communities’ commitment to cultural growth and progress.
Making Moves & Pushing for Change
In Senate District 23, incumbent Sen. Harold Pope Jr. handily defeated his Republican challenger, Terry Lynn Aragon, garnering 53.2 percent of the vote. In the last legislative session, Pope worked on bills that provided solar market development tax credits, prohibited banning of library books, and called for establishment of a homelessness reduction division within the NM Department of Health.
Straight to the Top, No Turning Back
In the state race for House of Representatives District 19, Albuquerque native and Manzano High School alum Rep. Janelle Anyanonu overwhelmed her opposition—Leanna Derrick, a Republican—in a landslide victory that saw Anyanonu garner 72 percent of the vote. Anyanonu has been a critical part of the progressive coalition at the Round House, providing a cogent, critical voice on legislation this past year, including HB 151, requiring state-funded post-secondary educational institutions to adopt policies and procedures addressing affirmative consent in sexual conduct, as well as SB 132, mandating low-cost STI prevention and treatment options.
Giving ‘Em the Business & Winning Trust
Another victory for all New Mexicans came clear when Rep. Pamelya Herndon was reelected in House District 28. Herndon went toe to toe with first-time GOP candidate Marcie May, establishing herself as the citizens’ choice by an 11 percent margin that saw 55.7 percent of district voters give her the nod. Herndon, as readers may recall, sponsored HB 33, a new mandate signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in March 2024 that calls for prescription drug price transparency across the supply chain.
Breaking Through & Breaking Barriers
In judicial branch news, New Mexico Court of Appeals Judge Shammara Henderson—who previously turned back opposition from two serious Independent and Republican contenders when she ran as a Democrat in the 2020 General Election—won her statewide retention election in the 2024 General Election with 69 percent of the vote.
From Appointed to Duly Elected
At the local courtroom level, Division XI Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Judge Shonnetta Estrada, a gubernatorial appointment, was duly elected to her position in an unopposed race. Estrada was appointed to the bench in November 2022 by Lujan Grisham. Prior to that appointment, Estrada began her career in the DA's Office in the General Crimes Division before serving as a prosecutor in the Second Judicial District Attorney's Office, most recently working as a senior trial attorney and assistant supervisor in the Major Crimes Division.
Looking beyond a typical two-party analysis of this year’s electoral outing and focusing instead on the above facts, it’s possible to declare a clear winner: Black New Mexicans continue to make strides, diversifying local leadership through their political victories, and improving all of our lives in the process.
Correction
Dec. 13, 2024
A previous version of this story incorrectly conflated 2020 General Election results for Division 11 Judge of the Metropolitan Court with 2024 General Election results in Judge Shammara Henderson's retention race, which Henderson won with 69 percent of the statewide vote. UpLift Chronicles sincerely regrets this error.