Press releases
Teresa Leger Fernandez Re-Elected to Serve New Mexico’s Third District
November 8, 2022
SANTA FE, NM - Teresa Leger Fernandez decisively won re-election for New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District tonight. The AP called the race at 8:51 p.m., M.T.
Teresa Leger Fernandez’s campaign for Congress released the following statement on her victory in the race for New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District:
“Tonight, our communities and gente showed what it looks like to win in rural New Mexico. Together, we have shown that small places can do big things - and that when we listen to each other, we can turn pain into progress. When we listen to each other, we can tackle any problem. To New Mexico voters, thank you for caring for our communities. Thank you for showing up for our democracy. And thank you for electing me, trusting me, and sharing your stories. I promise to carry them with the care and love they deserve to Washington, to deliver for our communities, and to always fight for your families like they were my own. Muchísimas, muchísimas, gracias.” - Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez
Teresa Leger Fernandez Releases Next TV Ad of General Election, Highlighting Her History as a Cancer Survivor and Work to Bring Down Healthcare Costs for New Mexican Families
October 25, 2022
Santa Fe, NM -- Today, Teresa Leger Fernandez’s campaign for Congress released its next ad of the general election - called “Survive [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK_2EwYJ4yw&feature=youtu.be]” - highlighting her history as a cancer survivor, and her work to bring down health insurance premiums and prescription drug costs for New Mexican families.
“Rep. Leger Fernandez secured historic legislation to finally bring down the cost of prescription drugs by capping out of pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries and allowing Medicare to negotiate down the cost of life-saving medication. The legislation she helped pass will save thousands of New Mexicans their hard-earned dollars in reduced premiums as well. Nobody should be forced to choose between their health and paying bills and putting food on the table. Rep. Leger Fernandez is holding pharmaceutical companies accountable and standing up for seniors and New Mexican families,” said campaign manager Kyra Ellis-Moore.
Transcript, “Survive”:
I didn’t see it coming.
I was raising my children, working full time.
Then I got a diagnosis - cancer.
I only had one choice: to fight.
I’m Teresa Leger Fernandez,
And for me, access to affordable healthcare is personal.
That’s why I’m working to bring down the costs of premiums and life saving drugs.
So families can stay healthy.
I approve this message because a healthy New Mexico is worth fighting for
Teresa Leger Fernandez’s Campaign Breaks Fundraising Record for New Mexico’s Third Congressional District - Announcing Nearly $850,000 raised in 3rd Quarter, and over $1M cash on hand entering final stretch to Election Day
October 11, 2022
Santa Fe, NM -- Today Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez’s campaign for Congress announced it has broken the record for funds raised in a quarter in the history of New Mexico’s Third Congressional District - raising nearly $850,000 in the third quarter. Rep. Leger Fernandez enters into the final stretch of the General Election with over $1 million cash on hand.
Rep. Leger Fernandez’s fundraising total is made up of 25,400 contributions from 16,400 donors, with an average individual contribution size of under $25.
“Here in New Mexico, we know it’s all about comunidad. I am grateful for the support I have received from across our district - from Farmington and Gallup, to Hobbs and Roswell, and everywhere in between - and I take this support as a sacred trust and responsibility to continue working hard every day to deliver for New Mexicans. We are energized and mobilized as we enter this final stretch to Election Day,” said Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez.
Teresa Leger Fernandez Releases Fourth TV Ad of General Election, Highlighting Her Work to Bring Down Costs for Hardworking New Mexico Families
October 11, 2022
Santa Fe, NM -- Today, Teresa Leger Fernandez’s campaign for Congress released its fourth ad of the general election - called “Chile” - highlighting her work to lower costs for hardworking New Mexico families, by bringing down prescription drug prices, reducing energy costs, and getting affordable water to farmers.
“Rep. Leger Fernandez has worked tirelessly in Congress to lower costs for hard-working New Mexicans. She voted for legislation to lower the cost of gasoline and hold the CEOs of massive corporations accountable for excessive profits at the expense of working families, and she helped pass legislation to bring down the cost of prescription drugs, energy, and child care as well as fix our nation’s supply chain issues, ” said campaign manager Kyra Ellis-Moore.
Thank you to Don Bustos and Santa Cruz Farms for delivering delicious food to families across New Mexico for many generations.
Transcript, “Chile”:
This time of year, there’s a scent in the air.
A tradition passed down through generations.
And with families together again, I’m working to make saving a little easier.
To give families a break, and lower costs.
By capping drug prices for seniors,
Reducing energy bills, and bringing affordable water to farmers.
So everyone can get ahead, and back to what matters most.
Teresa Leger Fernandez Releases Third TV Ad of General Election, Highlighting Her Continued Fight for Accountability and Compensation on Behalf of the Victims of the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire
September 27, 2022
Santa Fe, NM -- Today, Teresa Leger Fernandez’s campaign for Congress released its third ad of the general election - called “Homestead” - highlighting her continued fight to bring accountability and compensation on behalf of the victims of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire.
“Since day one, Congresswoman Leger Fernandez has set out to deliver for the people of New Mexico. And when tragedy struck our district earlier this year, she fought to hold the federal government accountable, successfully securing an independent federal investigation into the Forest Service’s use of prescribed burns and a Presidential Disaster Declaration to unlock disaster aid. Teresa passed her Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act through the House twice in order to fully compensate New Mexicans for damage caused by the fire and is continuing to fight to get the legislation through the Senate, and also secured an increase in federal firefighter pay and cosponsored legislation to expand benefits for firefighters,” said campaign manager Kyra Ellis-Moore.
We are grateful to the Gomez family for sharing their story of loss and hope with New Mexico.
Transcript, “Homestead”:
Our family has worked and lived here since the 1800s.
The fire took so much.
The cattle, my workshop, the house.
It’s been tough, but we have hope, because of Teresa.
She cut through red tape to keep us going.
Teresa is fighting so we can get paid for what we lost.
Having someone that won’t let us down, that is powerful.
Teresa Leger Fernandez Releases Second TV Ad of General Election, Highlighting Her Leadership to Keep Clean Water Flowing Across New Mexico
September 13, 2022
Santa Fe, NM -- Today, Teresa Leger Fernandez’s campaign for Congress released its second ad of the general election - called “Vida” - highlighting her leadership in Congress to keep clean water flowing across New Mexico.
“As a former acequia commissioner, Teresa knows firsthand that here in New Mexico, agua es vida. That’s why in Congress, Teresa has been focused on delivering federal funds and critical infrastructure to keep clean water flowing across New Mexico. From $123 million for the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project across Northwest New Mexico and the Navajo Nation, to $177 million for the Eastern New Mexico Water Pipeline across the Eastern side of our state - these projects will make sure that New Mexican families, farmers, ranchers, and small businesses have access to clean and affordable water for years to come,” said campaign manager Kyra Ellis-Moore.
Transcript, “Vida”:
From Eastern New Mexico to the North,
Agua es vida.
I’m Teresa Leger Fernandez,
As an acequia commissioner, I stopped a developer who tried to take our water.
In Congress,
I’m working to keep clean water flowing and affordable in all corners of our state.
Delivering dollars for critical projects,
Making sure farmers, ranchers, and our communities are strong.
I’m Teresa Leger Fernandez, and I approve this message
Because when the water flows, New Mexico thrives.
Teresa Leger Fernandez Releases First TV Ad of 2022 Cycle, Highlighting Rural New Mexico Roots
August 30, 2022
Santa Fe, NM -- Today, Teresa Leger Fernandez’s campaign for Congress released the first ad of the general election - called “Vegas” - highlighting her deep roots in rural New Mexico.
“Growing up with seven siblings in Las Vegas, Teresa knows first-hand that small places can do big things. She went from Head Start to Congress, and is delivering for our communities by holding the federal government accountable for starting the largest wildfire in our history, fighting for our veterans, and securing funds to keep clean drinking water flowing throughout our state. But, having lost two brothers to addiction and a sister to cancer, she also knows the pain and struggles that so many of our families face. In Congress, she will always fight for all of our families here in New Mexico like they were her own,” said campaign manager Kyra Ellis-Moore.
Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez statement on SCOTUS Decision overturning Roe v. Wade
June 24, 2022
Today, in response to the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and 50 years of precedent protecting the right to privacy, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez issued the following statement:
“In New Mexico, we trust women to make personal decisions about pregnancy with their familias, their faith, and their healthcare provider - without government interference. Today’s Supreme Court decision is wrong and dangerous. It is a rollback of freedom that takes away half a century of the rights of women across our nation. The consequences will jeopardize the health and safety of our families while unjustly criminalizing women and medical providers. I voted to pass laws to protect access, and will always be an advocate for a woman’s right to healthcare.”
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez Statement on Primary Election Results
June 7, 2022
Santa Fe, NM -- Today Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez released a statement on New Mexico’s primary election results.
“Muchísimas gracias, New Mexico! I’ve taken the concerns and voices of New Mexicans to Congress and delivered for our state: from lowering health care costs, to delivering clean water, broadband, and infrastructure investments, to funding $74 million in local projects that will create jobs in communities across every corner of the district. There is so much more to do — especially ensuring New Mexicans impacted by the wildfires receive the financial compensation they deserve and need to rebuild, and defeating the VA’s recommendations to close our rural veterans health centers.
I will always listen to voters across my district, work hard to win their support in November, and fight for New Mexicans in Congress.” said Rep Leger Fernandez
Born and raised in Las Vegas, NM, Teresa spent her career working on behalf of New Mexico’s communities, helping build critical infrastructure and small businesses, promoting tribal sovereignty, and advancing voting rights. A daughter of rural New Mexico, in Congress she champions New Mexico’s children and families, education, small businesses, and tribal and rural communities - so that all New Mexicans can thrive.
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez Files for Reelection to Congress
February 1, 2022
Santa Fe, NM -- Today Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez filed to run for reelection to Congress in New Mexico’s third congressional district.
Rep. Leger Fernandez’s campaign filed over 4,500 signatures - more than three times the 1,376 signatures required to qualify for the ballot - gathered in just over a month from each of the district’s 18 counties.
“Thank you to our volunteers who are the lifeblood of our community-based reelection campaign” said Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez. “Gathering the signatures was made easier by the outpouring of support from voters in every county. From Farmington to Santa Fe, Raton to Roswell, and our sovereign tribal nations, including the Navajo Nation, the Jicarilla Apache Nation, and our beloved Pueblos. Muchisimas Gracias to every volunteer who talked to their neighbors and to every voter who signed the nominating petitions. The support and trust of our communities energizes and inspires me as we launch into this campaign.”
Born and raised in Las Vegas, NM, Teresa has spent her career working on behalf of New Mexico’s communities, helping build critical infrastructure and small businesses, promoting tribal sovereignty, and advancing voting rights. A daughter of rural New Mexico, in Congress she champions New Mexico’s children and families, small businesses, and tribal and rural communities - so that all New Mexicans can thrive.
CHC BOLD PAC endorses Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez for Reelection to Congress
January 21, 2022
Santa Fe, NM -- Today Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez’s campaign for Congress announced the endorsement of CHC BOLD PAC.
BOLD PAC Chairman Ruben Gallego said of the endorsement “The daughter of bilingual education champions, and a proud graduate of Head Start, Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez wants our communities not just to survive, but thrive. From championing funding Title I schools and minority serving institutions on the committee on Education and Labor, to advocating for rural infrastructure, and addressing environmental injustice, Rep. Leger Fernandez is a steadfast advocate for her diverse district and Latinos across the country. BOLD PAC looks forward to Rep. Leger Fernandez's re-election campaign and her continued leadership on behalf of New Mexico's third Congressional district.”
“BOLD was critical to my first election, and I am proud to stand beside them as we work to build greater representation for Latino communities across the country. Every day we are working to deliver para la gente - lowering costs for working families, building rural infrastructure, investing in education and small businesses, addressing injustice and inequity everywhere, and ensuring that our immigrant families are honored and respected. BOLD’s endorsement will help me work to ensure that all of our communities can thrive” said Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez.
BOLD PAC joins Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Senator Ben Ray Lujan, Senator Martin Heinrich, Rep. Melanie Stansbury, and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund in endorsing the Representative’s reelection campaign to continue to represent New Mexico in Congress.
Teresa Leger Fernandez’s Campaign Announces Strongest Fundraising Quarter To Date in Reelection Campaign With Over $400,000 Raised in the 4th Quarter of 2021
January 5, 2022
Santa Fe, NM -- Today Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez’s campaign for Congress announced its strongest fundraising quarter to date in her reelection to Congress, raising over $400,000 in the fourth quarter, and entering 2022 with over $500,000 cash on hand. Over two-thirds of contributions the Congresswoman’s campaign received came from supporters in New Mexico .
“Here in New Mexico, we know it’s all about comunidad. I am proud that our campaign community continues to grow, and am especially proud that more than two thirds of our support this quarter is from New Mexico community members, from corner to corner of our district - from Farmington and Gallup, to Hobbs and Roswell, and everywhere in between. Our campaign has always been and will continue to be New Mexico-powered. This means our supporters are also talking to their familia, to their neighbors and helping spread our message across the state. In Congress, I will continue to be a passionate and representative voice for our communities - with the needs and values of our state as my guide - so we can keep delivering for New Mexico.”
Rep.-Elect Leger Fernandez Selected to Serve on the House Natural Resources Committee
December 19, 2020
The House Democratic Steering Committee selected Representative-elect Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03) to serve on the House Natural Resources Committee. The Steering Committee’s selection will now go to the Democratic Caucus for approval. Congresswoman-Elect Leger Fernandez released the following statement on the nomination:
“Our country must be bold and courageous in the battle against climate change and toward environmental justice for low-income and underserved minority communities. The work of the Natural Resources Committee will be crucial to pass sustainable solutions and protect our water, air, and this beautiful place we call home. Our public lands belong to our future generations and it is our responsibility to preserve it for them.
“New Mexicans share a deep respect for our land. We invest in what we believe, and I’ll advocate for increased investments in renewable energy and in our Native American communities. I’ll seek to safeguard the water flowing from our mountains, cascading along our streams and providing life along our waterways. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve and join the fight to undo four years worth of toxic policies.”
Congresswoman-Elect Teresa Leger Fernandez is a life-long advocate for our environment and previously served as Commissioner of Las Acequias de Chupadero where she successfully fought for water rights. She has represented Native American Tribes and fought to preserve cultural and historical sites on our public lands.
The House Natural Resources Committee has broad jurisdiction over an array of issues that particularly affect New Mexico, including water, public lands and national parks, Tribes, renewable energy development, public health and environmental protections, and the outdoor recreation economy.
Rep.-Elect Leger Fernandez Selected to Serve on the House Education and Labor Committee
December 19, 2020
The House Democratic Steering Committee selected Representative-elect Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03) to serve on the House Education and Labor Committee. The Congresswoman-elect was also nominated to serve on the House Natural Resources Committee. Both selections will now go to the Democratic Caucus for approval. Congresswoman-Elect Leger Fernandez released the following statement on the nomination:
“The Trump administration’s bungled COVID-19 response left New Mexico’s working families behind, overlooked small business owners, and drove us into an economic crisis. But as a nation, we can come together to rebuild a strong, inclusive economy. I believe in that innovative spirit and will work tirelessly to protect families, students, and workers from stagnant wages and the rising costs of living. This committee touches so much of what we know we need in New Mexico and across our country: a $15 minimum wage, student debt reform, early childhood education, workforce development, strong worker and labor protections, and health care for all. We invest in what we believe in, and I believe in our students and their future. I believe access to quality education can transform New Mexico and help us reimagine an American Dream where students from Raton to Rio Rancho can climb the ladder of opportunity and possibility
to unlock their full potential.
“My parents, Manuelita de Atocha (Mela) Lucero Leger and Ray Leger, were educators, union members, and pioneers in bilingual education. Their spirit is alive and vibrant in me as I contemplate the good and hard work ahead.”
Teresa Leger Fernandez Elected to Congressional Hispanic Caucus Leadership
December 8, 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman-Elect Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03) will serve as the Freshman Class Representative to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) for the 117th Congress. The Freshman Representative is part of the CHC leadership team. In this position, Teresa Leger Fernandez will work closely with CHC’s Chair and Whip to communicate and pass the Caucus’ message and legislative priorities.
"The Congressional Hispanic Caucus has championed legislation to address the health, economic and environmental disparities facing our Latino communities and working families. They’ve taken on Trump and his inhumane policies separating children from their families. I’m honored to join the Caucus in their good fight on these issues as the newly elected Freshman Representative. Ahora es cuando! Now is the time to protect our families from the economic devastation the pandemic has disproportionately inflicted on our communities, pass comprehensive immigration reform, and make sure everyone has access to affordable, quality health care," said Rep.-Elect Leger Fernandez.
As Latinos become an ever-larger, and important segment of the American population and an important voting bloc, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus allows Hispanic Members of Congress to work on a collective legislative agenda and champion issues impacting Latino communities throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Both Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and Representative and Senator-Elect Ben Ray Luján served in CHC leadership.
Teresa Leger Fernandez Elected Regional Whip by Democratic Colleagues
November 20, 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman-Elect Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03) was unanimously elected to the leadership position of Regional Whip for Region VI in a vote conducted yesterday by members of the Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico delegations. Leger Fernandez will begin serving as regional whip when she is sworn in as a member of the 117th Congress on January 3, 2020 and will work closely with Democratic Whip James Clyburn.
“I am honored that the members of Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico trust me to serve as their regional whip,” said Leger Fernandez. “As I have done throughout my career, I will work to build bridges as Congress’s historic, diverse Democratic caucus works together to tackle pressing issues like the COVID health and economic crisis, threats to Americans’ healthcare, and climate change.”
Region VI includes the Democratic members in the states of Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. The primary duties of the Regional Whip are helping organize support for legislative action, tracking votes, and ensuring Members have the information they need before they vote.
Teresa Leger Fernandez Elected to Serve New Mexico’s Third District
Leger Fernandez Becomes First Woman and Latina to Represent NM-03 Following a Campaign Centered on Protecting What We Love
November 3, 2020
SANTA FE - Teresa Leger Fernandez won the race for New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District tonight, becoming the first woman and Latina elected to serve the district in Congress. The Albuquerque Journal called the race at 8:41 p.m. MT.
“I take each of the thousands of votes cast in this election as a sacred expression of trust in me and in our shared vision for our future. I will treat this responsibility with the respect and the humility that it deserves.
“For months, you have heard me say, sing, and chant my father’s corrido - ahora es cuando. It’s time now. I am here tonight because of those who came before me, because of all those who shared their time, talents, and resources with this campaign, and because of all of you who voted. This election is about transformation, about building a different economy - one that doesn’t favor the rich over the working class, about science guiding our response to the pandemic, about providing healthcare for all people, not just those who can afford it, and about creating opportunities and living up to our promise,” said Teresa Leger Fernandez.
Leger Fernandez, who ran a robust community-focused campaign for Congress centered on protecting what we love in order to build thriving communities, has secured the seat previously long held by Representative Ben Ray Luján.
Leger Fernandez grew up with a large family in Las Vegas, New Mexico. She is the daughter of bilingual education pioneers and started her education in Head Start, eventually going on to graduate from Yale and Stanford Law School. As an attorney and advocate, she has worked the last 30 years to advance voting rights, promote tribal sovereignty, build affordable housing, protect our acequia waters, and has secured nearly a billion dollars in funding to help build schools, rural health clinics, broadband, businesses and critical infrastructure.
Leger Fernandez Wraps Up Tea with Teresa Series with a Focus on New Mexico’s Creative Economy
In the final Tea with Teresa conversation before November 3rd, Teresa Leger Fernandez sat down with Congresswoman Deb Haaland, Jill Cooper Udall, and Dr. Shelle Sánchez
October 14, 2020
SANTA FE — Democratic nominee for New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District, Teresa Leger Fernandez, concluded her Tea with Teresa: Conversation, Connection, and Community series tonight with a conversation on reinvesting in New Mexico’s creative economy, which was among the most significantly impacted by the COVID pandemic.
As artists, performers, and those engaged in our creative economy have lost business and venues for sharing their art - the conversation asked the question of whether a new Works Projects Administration (WPA) that includes funds for investment in our artists could be implemented as part of COVID recovery legislation.
“Going into 2021, we must do all that we can to support the creative economy following the COVID-19 pandemic. Our artists, performers, writers, artisans, and others in the creative sector represent one in ten of workers in New Mexico. They are not only important to our economy, they are integral to our identity and this beautiful place we call home,” said Teresa Leger Fernandez.
This was the final conversation in the larger Tea with Teresa series, in which Leger Fernandez brought together experts, advocates, and elected officials to discuss the issues that matter most to New Mexicans, including: healthcare, child poverty, climate change, housing, immigration, rural development and cultural preservation.
“This series brought together the experts and advocates who know what it means to take bold and courageous action to tackle climate change, reinvest in our economy, and build the housing and future we need for the next generation,” said Leger Fernandez.
In the first Tea with Teresa, held soon after COVID hit New Mexico, Leger Fernandez spoke with Barbara McAneny, M.D., Immediate Past-President of the American Medical Association, Leslie Hayes, M.D., Board Certified in Family Medicine and Addiction, and Alan Barlow, the CEO of the Kewa Health Clinic about healthcare and the fault lines the virus has exposed in our system.
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), one of the nation’s foremost advocates for child well-being, Child Advocate David Harris, and New Mexico Voices for Children Deputy Director Amber Wallin joined Leger Fernandez for a Tea with Teresa focused on how we can bring an end to child poverty in New Mexico and across the country by creating a political and economic agenda that prioritizes children and families as we move into 2021.
On issues of protecting our environment, Leger Fernandez had conversations with Former Santa Fe Mayor and Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter Executive Committee Chair David Coss, Cultural Resource Consultant from Acoma Pueblo Theresa Pasqual, and Environmental Attorney Noah Long centered on the work we must do to protect our air, land, and water and build a sustainable future for all of our communities. The conversation on rural development heard from Former U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Director Terry Brunner, Executive Director of Quivira Coalition Sarah Wentzel-Fisher, and Conservation Leader and Rancher Lesli Allison on policies and ideas to build strong and resilient rural communities, while at the same time improving our soil health which will help solve our climate crisis.
Over the summer, Leger Fernandez hosted a Tea with Teresa focused on housing and homelessness with Former Secretary of U.S. Housing and Urban Development Henry Cisneros, Executive Director of Homewise Mike Loftin and Executive Director of New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness Hank Hughes. She also hosted a conversation with Marcela Diaz, Founding Executive Director of Somos un Pueblo Unido, a statewide immigrant-led civil and workers’ rights organization, Maria Cristina Lopez of the City of Santa Fe Immigration Committee and Founding Board Member of Somos, and Bill Ong Hing of the University of San Francisco and founder of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center about immigration, the inhumane policies of this presidential administration, and what we must do to move forward on the local, state, and national levels.
In a Tea with Teresa that embraced cultural diversity and the spirit of storytelling in New Mexico, Storyteller Joe Hayes, Storyteller and Museum Cultural Educator Jon Ghahate (Laguna and Zuni Pueblos), and Inaugural New Mexico Poet Laureate Levi Romero joined Leger Fernandez to tell stories and discuss the importance of telling stories as a way to share and preserve cultures, and build understanding between them.