A pedestrian traverses the rotunda within the New Mexico state Capitol constructing in Santa Fe, N.M.
Morgan Lee/AP
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Morgan Lee/AP
This piece initially appeared as a part of NPR’s dwell protection of the 2024 election. For extra election protection from the NPR Community head to our dwell updates web page.
ALBUQUERQUE — Democrat Cindy Nava, a former DACA recipient and official within the Biden administration, has gained a seat within the New Mexico Legislature in response to a race name by The Related Press. Nava defeated Republican Audrey Trujillo to symbolize the Albuquerque-area district.
Nava is one of many first former DACA recipients to win public workplace. Her dad and mom got here to the U.S. when she was seven years previous. As a youngster, Nava advocated for insurance policies to help different undocumented youth earlier than the 2012 program created federal protections for these dropped at the nation illegally.
Extra: New Mexico election outcomes
She was the primary DACA recipient to obtain a White Home political appointment beneath the Biden Administration, the place she labored within the Division of Housing and City Growth. In Washington, she labored on points like inexpensive housing and creating alternatives for first-time house patrons.
She says she determined to run for workplace in New Mexico to spice up illustration of the state’s Hispanic-majority inhabitants.
As a state senator, Nava says she is going to deal with excessive housing costs and homelessness, and work to deliver a world class schooling system to New Mexico.
