This isn’t going to be an “it’s all going to be okay” post, because we won’t lie to you. Many of us are hurting, scared, and angry—ourselves included. It’s okay and right to feel that way right now. Take the time you need to process your feelings. But when you’re ready to come back, we need you, because we have one heck of a fight on our hands.

Before we get into that, it’s important to recognize our wonderful candidates and volunteers who have been working so hard. You are all amazing, and we appreciate you so much. While the results weren’t what we wanted, please know how much your efforts were noticed and valued. 

I do want to point out that in an election that saw Democratic votes lower across the nation, here in Valencia County, we had over 2,000 more votes for Rep. Gabe Vasquez than two years ago, over 1,000 more votes for Rep. Melanie Stansbury, and our losses in the local races narrowed some. That is progress, especially in such a rough election year for Democrats overall and in very red Valencia County. Plus, we have a new Democratic State Senator in Dist. 30, Sen. Angel Charley, and a new Democratic House Representative in Dist. 69, Rep. Michelle Paulene Abeyta. THANK YOU!

This was a really hard election for Democrats across the country. I’m sure we’ll hear plenty of analysts and Monday morning quarterbacks telling us what went wrong and who’s to blame. Instead of pointing fingers and taking our anger out on each other, let’s come together and focus on what we can do in the next couple of years.

I invite you all to come back together, harness this energy, and work to make Valencia County the kind of place we all know it can be. The only way we can do it is together. 

Please consider purchasing tickets to our annual fundraiser the DPVC Christmas Party. This year we will donate our net proceeds to the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center, as they are gearing up to stand and fight for our neighbors and community members that are being targeted by the Trump administration.

Thank you again to our wonderful volunteers and candidates. The fight doesn’t end here.

– Summer Ludwig, Chair