Candidate · November 3, 2026

Melanie Ann Stansbury

On the ballot for U.S. House · New Mexico's 1st District

DEMIncumbent
raised through Oct 14, 2026
$1.7M
cash on hand
$311K
issues with public statements
11

§1On the ballot

Why this matters: This is exactly how the candidate appears on your ballot, from the state's official candidate list.

OfficeU.S. House · New Mexico's 1st District1
Party on the ballotDEM1
StatusIncumbent — Currently represents New Mexico's 1st District in the U.S. House.2
Also on the ballot

§2Who they are

Why this matters: Background and experience help you judge how someone might do the job. These come from public records and the candidate's own materials.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Her campaign website says she earned a master's degree from Cornell University in development sociology, with an American Indian studies minor, and a bachelor's degree from Saint Mary's College of California in human ecology and natural science.3 It says she worked early in her career as a science educator in New Mexico schools through the Museum of Natural History, later did research and advisory work on land and water issues, and then worked in Washington, D.C., in the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.3 It says she took office in the New Mexico House of Representatives, representing District 28, in 2019 and won election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2021.3,4 Her official House biography lists her committee assignments as Natural Resources and Oversight and Accountability.5

Why they say they're running

Her campaign website says she went to Washington in 2021 because of the high stakes, saying the state needs a champion for its communities and for the issues that matter most to them.4

Service in Congress since 2023

  • 2025–nowU.S. Representative, NM-12
  • 2023–2025U.S. Representative, NM-12

Websites and accounts

§3What they've said on the issues

Why this matters: These are positions the candidate has stated publicly — on their campaign website or in public statements — summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Issues they haven't spoken about publicly are left out.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Each issue has its own range of views. A position is marked on that range only when the candidate's own statement clearly matches one option; there is no overall left–right score.

Economy, Jobs and Trade

Federal minimum wage

Her campaign website says she wants the federal minimum wage set at $15 an hour.7

  1. Keep at $7.25 or leave to states
  2. Raise it to less than $15, such as $10 or $12
  3. Raise to $15 or more
Marked: the option their statement matches.

Immigration

Legal status for immigrants here without permission, including Dreamers

Her campaign website says families must be reunited and the country must provide a path to citizenship, and that she supports humane immigration policies that address the root causes of migration.7

  1. No new legal status, including for people brought here as children
  2. Legal status only for people brought here as children, such as DACA recipients
  3. Legal status, but not citizenship, for most who pass background checks and pay a fine
  4. A path to citizenship for most who meet requirements such as background checks
Marked: the option their statement matches.

Elections and Government Reform

Campaign finance rules

Her campaign website says she has led efforts to take big money out of politics, supports campaign finance reform at all levels, and has had a policy since 2018 of not accepting funds from corporations or corporate PACs.7

Courts, Rights and Civil Liberties

Discrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender identity

Her campaign website says she will fight to protect LGBTQIA+ rights, end discrimination in employment, health care and housing, and ensure that laws cover everyone, whatever their sexual orientation or gender identity.7

  1. Pass broad protections such as the Equality Act
  2. Add protections with broad exemptions for religious groups and businesses
  3. No new federal protections; leave it to the states
Marked: the option their statement matches.

Health Care

Health insurance system

Her campaign website says health care is a human right and that she supports Medicare for All, along with making sure everyone has access to quality care regardless of pre-existing conditions.7

  1. One government plan for everyone (Medicare for All)
  2. Add a government plan that anyone can choose to buy
  3. Keep the current mix of private and public coverage, including the ACA
  4. Fewer federal insurance rules and more private plan choices, with aid paid to individuals
Marked: the option their statement matches.

Crime, Policing and Prisons

Marijuana laws

Her campaign website says she voted in 2019 to decriminalize cannabis, supports expunging records of nonviolent drug offenders, and supports legislation allowing recreational cannabis, regulated in the way alcohol is.7

  1. Keep recreational use against the law
  2. Reduce penalties for having small amounts, without legal sales
  3. Let each state decide, with no federal penalties where a state allows it
  4. Make it legal for adults to buy and use
Marked: the option their statement matches.

Environment and Public Lands

Conservation and development on federal lands

Her campaign website lists preserving public lands among the goals of legislation she is working on, along with action on climate change, more renewable energy, water security and clean air.7

Family and Social Policy

Food assistance (SNAP)

Her campaign website says she will back bills in Congress that would broaden food and income support programs and send money to fight childhood hunger nationwide.7

  1. Undo the 2025 changes or expand benefits and eligibility
  2. Keep the program as changed in 2025
  3. Tighten eligibility and work rules further
Marked: the option their statement matches.
Child care costs

Her campaign website says she supports a Child and Dependent Care Credit and wants to reduce the financial burden on working families who need child care.7

Paid family and medical leave

Her campaign website says she will work in Congress to expand paid family and medical leave.7

Technology, Privacy and AI

High-speed internet access

Her campaign website lists broadband among the infrastructure investments she champions in Congress, along with drinking water systems and road paving.7

§4Popular bills that never got a vote

Why this matters: Many bills with wide support from both parties never reach a vote, so no member of Congress is ever on record for or against them. Signing on as a sponsor or cosponsor is the only public record of support.

While Melanie Ann Stansbury served, these bills had broad support from both parties but never reached a floor vote. No officeholder ever had to vote on them. Melanie Ann Stansbury sponsored or cosponsored 37 of the 52. How bills die without a vote.

See all 52

§5Money

Why this matters: Campaigns report where their money comes from and how much they have left. Outside groups that spend on their own, without coordinating with the campaign, report that too.

Reported to the Federal Election Commission for the 2025–2026 election cycle, through October 14, 2026.60

Raised$1,721,315
Spent$1,556,278
Cash on hand$310,746

Where the money came from

Individual donors$1.4M · 83%
PACs and other political committees$264K · 15%
Transfers from the candidate's other committees$23K · 1%
Other receipts (other loans, refunds, interest)$3,472 · 0%

§6Financial disclosures

Why this matters: Federal candidates and members of Congress must report their assets, income, debts and outside jobs, and members must report stock trades. These filings show possible conflicts of interest.