Candidate Q&As: Federal, gubernatorial candidates weigh in on abortion, contraception and more

This week, NM Political Report will publish Q&As with candidates for U.S. House, U.S. Senate and governor about their policy platforms regarding a range of topics, including abortion, contraception, LGBTQ issues and domestic violence. See the introduction here. 1st Congressional District
Janice Arnold-Jones (R)

Deb Haaland (D)

Lloyd Princeton (L)
2nd Congressional District
Yvette Herrell (R) – Did not participate

Xochitl Torres Small (D) – Did not participate
3rd Congressional District
Ben Ray Lujan (D)

Christopher Manning (L)

Jerald Steve McFall (R)
U.S. Senate
Martin Heinrich (D)

Gary Johnson (L)

Mick Rich (R) – Did not participate
Governor/Lt. Governor
Michelle Lujan Grisham/Howie Morales (D)

Steve Pearce/Michelle Garcia Holmes (R) – Did not participate

All of this week’s candidate Q&A’s were edited for clarity and length, although we did not edit the meaning of candidates’ answers. We did not include, however, tangents or off-topic issues candidates raised during the course of the conversations. It’s also important to note that the candidate’s answers aren’t annotated and we don’t point out any possible inaccuracies or misstatements.

Candidate Q&A: Michelle Lujan Grisham, candidate for governor

Editor’s note: This week, NM Political Report will publish Q&As with candidates for U.S. House, U.S. Senate and governor about their policy platforms regarding a range of topics, including abortion, contraception, LGBTQ issues and domestic violence. For links to all of our stories, see here. 

The following is from a Q&A with Michelle Lujan Grisham, the Democratic nominee for governor. NMPR: If elected, how will your beliefs about the separation between religion and government guide your administration? Michelle Lujan Grisham: … While the Constitution is pretty clear about religious freedom, there is a clear and distinct separation. I’ll give you a quick example.

Candidate Q&A: Martin Heinrich, U.S. Senate candidate

Editor’s note: This week, NM Political Report will publish Q&As with candidates for U.S. House, U.S. Senate and governor about their policy platforms regarding a range of topics, including abortion, contraception, LGBTQ issues and domestic violence. For links to all of our stories, see here. 

The following is from a Q&A with Martin Heinrich, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate and incumbent. NMPR: If re-elected, how will your beliefs about the separation between government and religion guide your work in the U.S. Senate? Martin Heinrich: I think what you can expect is for my votes and positions that I take in the Senate to be very consistent with the way I’ve voted in the past. I think I’ve got a good body of evidence over time that says I respect people to make their own decisions in their personal lives, and that it’s not the role of government to become intricately involved in those decisions.

Candidate Q&A: Gary Johnson, U.S. Senate candidate

Editor’s note: This week, NM Political Report will publish Q&As with candidates for U.S. House, U.S. Senate and governor about their policy platforms regarding a range of topics, including abortion, contraception, LGBTQ issues and domestic violence. For links to all of our stories, see here. 

The following is from a Q&A with Gary Johnson, the Libertarian nominee for U.S. Senate. NMPR: If elected, how will your beliefs about the separation between government and religion guide your work in the U.S. Senate? Gary Johnson: Well, that they should be separate, period. They have to be, and that’s of course Constitutional.

Candidate Q&A: Jerald Steve McFall, 3rd Congressional District candidate

Editor’s note: This week, NM Political Report will publish Q&As with candidates for U.S. House, U.S. Senate and governor about their policy platforms regarding a range of topics, including abortion, contraception, LGBTQ issues and domestic violence. For links to all of our stories, see here. 

The following is from a Q&A with Jerald Steve McFall, the Republican nominee in the 3rd Congressional District. NMPR: If elected, how will your beliefs about the separation between government and religion guide your work in Congress? Jerald Steve McFall: First, there’s nothing in the Constitution about separation between church and state. … I’m a Christian.

Candidate Q&A: Christopher Manning, 3rd Congressional District candidate

Editor’s note: This week, NM Political Report will publish Q&As with candidates for U.S. House, U.S. Senate and governor about their policy platforms regarding a range of topics, including abortion, contraception, LGBTQ issues and domestic violence. For links to all of our stories, see here. The following is from a Q&A with Christopher Manning, the Libertarian nominee in the 3rd Congressional District. NMPR: If elected, how will your beliefs about the separation between government and religion guide your work in Congress? Christopher Manning: For me, that’s not a big concern.

Candidate Q&A: Deb Haaland, 1st Congressional District candidate

Editor’s note: This week, NM Political Report will publish Q&As with candidates for U.S. House, U.S. Senate and governor about their policy platforms regarding a range of topics, including abortion, contraception, LGBTQ issues and domestic violence. For links to all of our stories, see here. 

The following is from a Q&A with Deb Haaland, the Democratic nominee in the 1st Congressional District. NMPR: If elected, how will your beliefs about the separation between government and religion guide your work in Congress? Deb Haaland: I have to think of my constituents first. … If I get elected, they want a representative who has had experiences like I’ve had.

Candidate Q&A: Janice Arnold-Jones, 1st Congressional District candidate

Editor’s note: This week, NM Political Report will publish Q&As with candidates for U.S. House, U.S. Senate and governor about their policy platforms regarding a range of topics, including abortion, contraception, LGBTQ issues and domestic violence. For links to all of our stories, see here. 

The following is from a Q&A with Janice Arnold-Jones, the Republican nominee in the 1st Congressional District. NMPR: If elected, how will your beliefs about the separation between government and religion guide your work in Congress? Janice Arnold-Jones: My beliefs about separation between religion and government are guided by the [U.S.] Constitution. The Constitution says that it will not preclude religion.

Candidate Q&A: Lloyd Princeton, 1st Congressional District candidate

Editor’s note: This week, NM Political Report will publish Q&As with candidates for U.S. House, U.S. Senate and governor about their policy platforms regarding a range of topics, including abortion, contraception, LGBTQ issues and domestic violence. For links to all of our stories, see here. 

The following is from a Q&A with Lloyd Princeton, the Libertarian nominee in the 1st Congressional District. NMPR: If elected, how will your beliefs about the separation between government and religion guide your work in Congress? Lloyd Princeton: Let me start by saying I am a practicing Episcopalian. I was raised with a degree of religiosity.

Gubernatorial candidate Steve Pearce on the environment

This week, we’re running a series of interviews with New Mexico’s four gubernatorial candidates, each of whom answered questions about issues related to water, energy and climate change. Steve Pearce currently serves as New Mexico’s second district congressman and is the lone Republican running for New Mexico governor. Pearce is also a veteran of the Vietnam War and owned and operated an oilfield services company. NMPR: Coming off a bad winter and with drought returning to the state, what critical water issues are you keeping an eye on right now in New Mexico? Steve Pearce: Water is maybe the most important issue that New Mexico faces.