Democrat incumbent Rep. Marian Matthews cruised to an Election Day victory with 54% of the votes going her way.
Unofficial results on the New Mexico Secretary of State’s website shows 7,671 votes were cast for Matthews and 6,522 votes cast for her Republican opponent Robert Godshall.
“Thank you everyone for showing your support! We did this together! You have someone on your side fighting for you! I feel very honored and grateful,” a post reads on the Marian Matthews for HD27 Facebook page.
An in earlier post Matthews wrote, “When you go out to vote tomorrow, remember this. I have stood up and fought for EDUCATORS, VETERANS, ANIMAL RIGHTS, UNIONS, WOMEN, our LANDS and WATER, LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY, WORKERS, and the list continues. My endorsements say it all. #ActionsSpeakLouder #MakeAPlanToVote.”
During the 2022 regular legislative session, Matthews sponsored several crime bills, including HB 68, which makes changes to the state criminal code. Section 50 of the bill creates a new section to the criminal code titled “Criminal Damage to Property by Theft or Attempted Theft of Regulated Material—Penalty” making it a criminal offense to damage property in the process of a theft, including damages resulting from the theft of a catalytic converter.
In her 2022 capital outlay request, Matthews requested funding for equipment in classrooms at Dennis Chavez Elementary in the amount of $69,601 and $250,000 for renovation of the swimming pool at Eisenhower Middle School. She asked for $300,000 for Albuquerque Fire Rescue wildland rescue vehicles and equipment and several hundred thousand dollars for improvements at Eastdale Little League, including $171,600 for the construction of a batting cage, among other requests.
Voters seemed to like Matthews’ track record, electing to keep her in office for another two years.
According to 2021 NM Secretary of State voter registration information, 39% of registered voters in NM House District 27 were Democrat, 38% Republican, 22% other and 1% Libertarian. There were 23,282 registered voters in House District 27 as of Jan. 29, 2021. With a total of 14,193 votes cast in the District 27 race, that’s about a 60% voter turnout, assuming the 2021 numbers are still accurate.