Santa Fe’s Alexis Johnson to face Teresa Leger Fernandez
Alexis Johnson won the GOP nomination in the June 2 primary in New Mexico’s District 3 in her bid for the United States House of Representatives.
Receiving 36.7 percent of the primary votes, Johnson beat out fellow conservatives Harry Montoya (35.4 percent) and Karen Bedonie (27.8 percent).
The Santa Fe native will face off against Las Vegas Democrat Teresa Leger Fernandez in the Nov. 3 general election.
“I was outraised over [10:1] as far as the ratio in money received, I think I had less than $10,000 and all the other candidates cumulatively raised about $110,000 plus,” Johnson told the Gallup Sun. “How does somebody that has no Republican insider pledges, per se, with the delegates or money, how does somebody like that come out?”
“That is the question my campaign is answering, the voice of the New Mexican. My message is resonating with the community,” she said.
The district is made up of 16 counties, including the Gallup-area, Four Corners area, Santa Fe area and Clovis.
Johnson, an engineer by profession, says Fernandez’s views do not reflect the consensus of the entire district.
“I think that New Mexicans are going to be voting Republican, because the Republican party is resonating with their traditional, cultural values,” Johnson said.
In this time of social distancing, methods of campaigning for Johnson’s team include using digital media, virtual town halls, making phone calls, and yard signs.
If Johnson wins the election in November, she will become the first Republican to hold the District 3 seat since Bill Redmond of Santa Fe was elected to the post to finish Bill Richardson’s term from May 1997 to January 1999. Redmond did not win his re-election bid.
“I will bring together our community for the betterment of New Mexicans through our faith, family, freedom, and New Mexican pride,” she said.
“I’m here to push our U.S. Constitution and our rights. I have a deep love and appreciation for my culture and all of our cultures here in New Mexico,” she added.
By Dominic Aragon
Sun Correspondent
