Dear fellow New Mexicans,

In March of 2025, I launched my campaign for Lieutenant Governor — filled with excitement and ready, with a dedicated team beside me, to engage voters across our great state.

Then, life intervened. My husband, Eric, received a cancer diagnosis, and it quickly became clear his treatment would be more intensive than we ever imagined. So I made the only choice that mattered: I stepped back to give Eric my full, undivided attention, and last fall I suspended my campaign. It was the hardest decision of my career — and the right one for my family.

Seven months later, I'm sharing wonderful news: Eric has completed his treatment and received a clean bill of health. He's growing stronger every day.

So when I heard last week that Maggie Toulouse Oliver had suspended her campaign to care for her own health, my heart broke for her. I know what that moment feels like — the fear, the uncertainty, the way everything else in the world goes quiet. Maggie has given so much of herself to New Mexico, and stepping back to focus on her health takes real courage. She and her family are in my heart, and I hope every New Mexican will hold them there too. Health and family come first. Always.

It was in the days that followed that something I never expected began to happen. My phone started ringing — supporters from every corner of New Mexico, urging me to reconsider my candidacy. I'll be honest: it's been a whirlwind. But I've come to see it as a rare gift, and a call I can't ignore. 

The chance to serve New Mexico is a privilege I would never take for granted — and I'm ready to serve again if called upon.

Having run statewide twice before, I know what it takes to win and to govern. Before I suspended my campaign last fall, we'd already raised more than $165,000 — a testament to the belief so many of you share in what we can build together. 

That foundation is still here. So am I.

It’s critical that the next Lieutenant Governor be a true partner to Deb Haaland — working in lockstep to deliver real results for New Mexico families. That decision now rests with Deb and our Democratic State Central Committee. I trust the process, and I also believe the people of New Mexico should be heard in it.

So here are three things you can do right now to stand with me:

1. Add your name. Endorse this campaign and join the New Mexicans calling for me to serve. It takes ten seconds — and every name shows Deb and the committee that this movement is real.

2. Make your voice heard. Call the chair of your county Democratic Party and tell them where you stand. The members of that committee answer to you, and when they hear from fired-up neighbors, it matters.

3. Fuel the fight. Chip in $10, $25, or more today to power the work ahead. Your name is your voice, your call is your weight, and your gift is the fuel that carries us to the finish.

I'm ready to serve. Let's get back to work — together.

With gratitude and determination,
Stephanie