Let me tell you why this news hits close to home for me.
If you haven't already heard by now, Donald Trump and his unelected billionaire sidekick Elon Musk are taking a sledgehammer to the Department of Education.
I know it can feel overwhelming to keep up with the news. This is too important to ignore.
This news hits close to home for me. Let me tell you why:
This move hurts students all across New Mexico. Tragically, New Mexico currently ranks among the worst in the nation when it comes to our elementary and middle school students' achievement in math and reading. Children in our state are already struggling, and gutting the Education Department could risk federal funds that help every student succeed – regardless of barriers they may face as a result of poverty.
It hurts low income children like my Somah. When it was time for Somah to attend preschool, I had no idea how I'd cover the costs. Luckily, I found a school that allowed parents to volunteer cleaning up classrooms in exchange for a discount on tuition. It wasn't always easy, but it was the only way I could have afforded to send them to preschool.
I cleaned up my child's preschool to reduce the bill. It hurts people like me, who've taken on student loans. Believe it or not, I still owe student loans. I made the decision to take on debt to attend undergrad and law school at UNM, and I swear, some days it feels like I'll be paying them down forever. People across the country are getting crushed by the weight of student debt, and cutting the Department of Education further endangers critical funding for higher education access.
The day I graduated from UNM in 1994. 30 years later, I'm still paying down student loans. I am running for governor because I have lived the struggles that too many people in New Mexico and across the country currently face, and I'm determined to fix what's broken. Our children are relying on us to fight for a bright future for them, and that's what our campaign is about. I know that with Trump in the White House it can feel overwhelming, or like the odds are stacked against us. But if we come together, I know we will win.
If you can, will you rush a split $10 donation between our grassroots campaign and Heartland Patriots before my first public fundraising deadline on Monday, April 7? By contributing, you'll directly help us reach our $150,000 goal and support our fight to build a future where all New Mexicans can access a good education.
If you've stored your info with ActBlue Express, we'll process your contribution instantly:
Be fierce,
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