Each state has its own government. For example, there are 112 legislators who create new laws for New Mexico. Since its statehood in 1912, most of these lawmakers have been men. But New Mexico made history in 2025. For the first time, there are more women than men in the state legislature!
Residents of New Mexico voted on November 5, 2024. On that day, they elected the 112 lawmakers to work at the New Mexico State Capitol in Santa Fe. They chose members of the New Mexico House of Representatives and members of the New Mexico Senate. In total, they elected 60 female lawmakers into the state’s government.
New Mexico’s state lawmakers officially began their job with the start of the state legislature’s first meeting on January 20, 2025. After more than 100 years, women held a in the legislature. And New Mexico became the fourth state to do that. (Nevada was the first in 2018; Colorado did it briefly in 2023, and Arizona did that for a few months in 2024.)
Anita Gonzales is one of the newly elected women in New Mexico’s House of Representatives. And she is the first woman to serve as state representative for the 70th . “I am the first female state representative for this district,” she explained. “And I hope that I am the first of many.” Gonzales told News-O-Matic why this matters.
“It’s important to have female legislators simply because matters,” said Gonzales. “Lawmakers bring their life experiences with them into their service,” she added. “And it is important to have all perspectives — including female legislators.”
Many people are celebrating this new representation in New Mexico. Yet Gonzales says there is more to do. “We are moving the marker,” she explained. “But there is still room to grow for representation.”
Gonzales has hope that she and her fellow New Mexican legislators — men and women — can move forward to help all New Mexicans. She said, “We have a lot to be proud of, and we also have some work to do.” For Gonzales, that work includes dreams to “build a better home community for the future and make positive changes.”
Gonzales also hopes her election shows that anybody can make a difference — including kids. “I know it is sometimes hard to believe that your voice matters, but it does,” she said. “As a state representative, I am one of many paying attention,” Gonzales explained. Legislators create laws based on what they believe is best for the people in their district. One way they decide what is best is by listening to those people.
Gonzales had a message for students in her state. “You are the next generation of New Mexicans, and, more important than ever, you are needed to help our state move forward,” she said. “You are the ones that will help carry on the and of our great state.” The lawmaker shared a final tip to all young people:
“I encourage you to get involved and be part of the process.”
By Hannah Marcum
Updated January 23, 2025, 5:00 P.M. (ET)
