The last time a Democrat held the Rio Rancho area鈥檚 House District 23, it included Corrales. So, it was a lot bluer back then, even though its voters came out for the two major parties. After redistricting in 2021, voters in the newly drawn district elected Republican Rep. Alan Martinez by about 7 percentage points. Now, Democratic challenger Frank Smith is trying to flip the district back against the odds.
Smith said he has personally knocked on thousands of voters鈥� doors across Rio Rancho.
"It鈥檚 the one place where I have an advantage over my opponent, is that I鈥檓 out canvassing鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 my only path to victory.鈥�
Martinez has what Smith has brought in. He also has prominence beyond his one term in Santa Fe as the House minority whip.
鈥淚 was not looking for a leadership position,鈥� he said of quickly ascending to leadership. 鈥淚 was looking on how best to serve my district and share some of my experience with the caucus, because I spent 15 years as the chief policy director for veterans.鈥�
Martinez worked at the Department of Veterans Services.
Smith argued Martinez鈥檚 role as whip does his constituents a disservice.
鈥淗is job is to get all the Republicans to vote the same way, and I don鈥檛 think that that is healthy,鈥� he said.
Smith said he will have more independence to vote his conscience rather than along party lines.
Martinez refuted that he is hyperpartisan, describing himself as 鈥渁 conservative that鈥檚 not afraid to talk to Democrats.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 not always going to hold the Republican line,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut I do have certain values and I鈥檓 going to stick by those values.鈥�
Gun Policy
Those values include being personally against abortion, though Martinez said the government should not be involved in the issue, and defending the right to bear arms.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think taking my gun away is going to make anybody safer,鈥� he said.
While he calls Second Amendment rights 鈥渁bsolute鈥� on his website, Martinez said he does believe the state should 鈥渢ake guns away from bad actors.鈥�
Smith, a fellow veteran and gun owner, also supports the Second Amendment. But, he said most residents he has talked with are OK with "reasonable restrictions.鈥�
鈥淣o right is absolute,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淧eople are very concerned about some kid next door that has access to a military-style assault weapon.鈥�
He said he supports the state鈥檚 safe storage and red flag laws.
Crime Policy
Both candidates said combating crime is a priority for the district鈥檚 voters, even though it is a relatively safe area.
Earlier this year, Martinez carried to boost recruitment and retention of law enforcement officers statewide.
鈥淭here was a lot of debate on 鈥榙o we want more police officers?鈥� And I think we do,鈥� he said.
he co-sponsored with Democratic leaders allowed retired officers to return to the force while maintaining their pensions. He said keeping some oldtimers around can help rookies become more effective, trustworthy cops.
鈥淭he more experienced officers teaching the younger guys, 鈥楧on鈥檛 get out of your car and the first thing you do is put your hand on your gun. You get out of your car and you engage with that person,鈥欌�� he said.
Smith also supports more police presence, along with increasing penalties for violent crimes.
鈥淗owever, this is a situation we cannot incarcerate our way out of,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have to address the underlying issues, otherwise it鈥檚 never going to improve.鈥�
He said those include poverty, education and substance abuse.
Education Policy
Education is also a key issue in the race. Martinez supports 鈥渟chool choice鈥� policies that allow parents to put their tax dollars toward private education instead. Smith said he agrees families should have a choice, but not at the expense of public school funding, which he鈥檇 like to see increase.
鈥淚f you choose to go a private route, you鈥檙e choosing to go a private route,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f you want private security on top of the police department, you pay additionally for your private security.鈥�
Martinez said he is also open to the idea of dismantling the Public Education Department to cut down on what he described as ineffective and burdensome bureaucracy.
