New Mexico 1st District
Melanie Stansbury (D) holds this seat and is running again. 2 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
Melanie Stansbury
Democrat · holds this seat today
FLiberty Score FOn the liberty side in 36 of 115 votes and bills.
Raised $1,721,315 since January 2025: 83% from people, 15% from PACs and other committees, 2% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Didi Okpareke
Republican · pharmacist and compounding pharmacy owner
No gradeNo grade yetI have no votes in Congress to count for Okpareke, and what Okpareke has said and done settles only 2 of my principles. I went through it on October 30. A grade needs 4.
Voting in New Mexico: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Didi Okpareke, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Okpareke, so the grade above comes from this list: what Okpareke has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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In her candidate questionnaire she said she opposes U.S. involvement in the Iran war.
“I oppose U.S. involvement in the Iran war.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Opposing American action against Iran is the against side of the Iran regime measure.
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Asked about Trump's Iran war, she told the paper the operation should be finished quickly, without naming a policy.
“You did what you needed to do — hurry up”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
A call to finish quickly names no deal, sanction or strike policy, and it sits beside her questionnaire answer, so it does not settle the measure.
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She said the U.S. should not deploy troops or spend billions fighting another country's war, naming Ukraine and Israel.
“we should not deploy troops or spend billions fighting another country's war, whether Ukraine, Israel, or anyone else.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Rejecting spending on Ukraine's war and putting 'our own people' first is the isolationist against side of the free nations test.
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She supports tariffs as a negotiating tool only if they guarantee lower costs for families.
“I support tariffs as a negotiating tactic and economic tool so long as they guarantee lower costs for American families.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
A conditional tariff stance is not the broad tariffs the measure counts against, so it is left unclear.
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
Who should win this race, and why?
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Discussion
New Mexico 1st District
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