DPNM Backs Constitutional Amendment 4

Democrats implored to vote in favor of a professional legislature

Today, the Democratic Party of New Mexico announced its support for Constitutional Amendment 4 on the 2026 general election ballot. 

Democratic Party of New Mexico Chair Sara Attleson released the following statement:

"As Democrats, we believe electing leaders who know what working-class families experience leads to good government that represents the common good for the most people. The Democratic Party of New Mexico encourages every voter in New Mexico to vote for Constitutional Amendment Four on their general election ballot.

"Parents, people at the start of their professional careers, working-class New Mexicans – our state legislature should be composed of people who have the same lived experience as those they are elected to represent. Constitutional Amendment 4 would lead to a legislature that can more capably address the needs of working-class New Mexicans because it understands the needs of working-class New Mexicans. A professional legislature would be a very modest investment that would yield significant, long-term results for New Mexico. 

"As a Labor Organizer for the Albuquerque Teachers Federation, I emphasized that our union contract with Albuquerque Public Schools should allow members to have the appropriate leave time to serve in the legislature, because I’ve always believed that elected leadership should include working-class voices which reflect the majority of New Mexicans. This agreement between APS and the teachers’ union has made it possible for many elected leaders who are educators to start their public service career in the Roundhouse. 

"Democrats stand for working families, not protecting entrenched power. We see modernizing the ‘status quo’ with a more competitive, representative pool of potential leaders in Santa Fe as a good thing."

Constitutional Amendment 4 was introduced as House Joint Resolution 5 earlier this year and passed both the House and the Senate with not one Republican in either chamber voting for it. Constitutional Amendment 4 would amend the state constitution and does not require action by the governor, instead being sent to voters for approval. 

“New Mexico’s outdated system creates barriers for young people, working people, parents, and caregivers who want to serve as lawmakers. We should be making it easier for New Mexicans who understand the challenges their communities face to serve, not harder,” said House Joint Resolution 5 sponsor Representative Cristina Parajón (D-Albuquerque). 

“The question isn’t just whether legislators should be paid. It’s who can afford to serve under the system we have today,” said House Joint Resolution 5 sponsor Senator Angel Charley (D-Acoma). “When public service comes at a personal financial cost, that shapes who gets a seat at the table and whose experiences are represented when laws are written.”

Should Constitutional Amendment 4 be approved by voters, compensation for legislators would be tied to New Mexico’s median household income. Constitutional Amendment 4 builds on other efforts to modernize the legislature that recently allowed lawmakers to hire full-time support staff and open district offices for the first time in state history. 

DPNM’s Executive Committee voted to support the Amendment in a virtual election held between Thursday, October 8th and Saturday, October 10th. The DPNM Executive Committee consists of Officers, Congressional District Vice Chairs, County Chairs, the Young Democrats of New Mexico President, the New Mexico Federation of Democratic Women President, and Democratic National Committee Members from New Mexico.