The cards run from where they differ most to where they agree most, and compare how each would do it. Neither campaign had answered the Ledgerâs questions by Oct. 15. De La Cruz is the incumbent; Tafoyaâs site lists priorities but no bills.
Art De La Cruz
Democrat
Incumbent state representative. Hadn't answered our questions by Oct. 15.
Steven E. Tafoya
Republican
Challenger running on crime, schools and South Valley roads. Hadn't answered our questions by Oct. 15.
Where they differ
Taxes
Same goal, different approach
What they said
De La Cruzâs site says HB 47 âwas signed into law and expanded property tax exemptions for military veterans.â Tafoyaâs site lists âfighting for fiscal responsibility and keeping more money in the pockets of residentsâ as a priority, with no tax named.
Schools
Same goal, different approach
What they said
De La Cruzâs site thanks capital outlay recipients including Mark Armijo Academy, Albuquerque Public Schools and the University of New Mexico, with no dollar amounts in the page text. Tafoyaâs site says he is âpreparing children for the future with better education and resources for local schools.â
Same goal, different approach
Crime
Same goal, different approach
De La Cruz
Sponsored 2026 bills on juvenile justice, felons with guns and car crimes, and won $100,000 for sheriff's crime-prevention tech
Source · his 2026 session summary
Tafoya
Goal only, no plan
Says he'd take tactical steps to address crime and keep South Valley neighborhoods safe, naming none
What they said
Tafoyaâs site lists âtaking real, tactical steps to address crime and keep South Valley neighborhoods safe for families.â De La Cruzâs 2026 session summary lists bills he sponsored on juvenile justice, felons caught with guns and car crimes, and $100,000 he won for crime-prevention technology for the county sheriffâs office.
Health care
Same goal, different approach
What they said
Tafoyaâs site lists âexpanding access to quality healthcare and mental healthcare for veterans and residents.â De La Cruzâs session summary lists $180,000 for primary care, dental and behavioral health services for South Valley, Barelas and North Valley residents, including sliding-fee discounts for lower-income patients.
Roads and utilities
Same goal, different approach
What they said
Tafoyaâs site lists âmodernizing roads and utilities to build a South Valley that lasts for the next generation.â De La Cruz, who chairs the House Transportation, Public Works and Capital Improvements Committee, lists $200,000 to improve roads and utility infrastructure in the South Valley in his session summary.
Artificial intelligence safety
Only De La Cruz
De La Cruz
Lists HB 174, which would have set safety and transparency standards for companion AI products
Tafoya
Hasnât said
What they said
De La Cruzâs site says HB 174 âwould have set safety and transparency standards for âcompanion artificial intelligence products.ââ The Ledger found no statement on AI from Tafoya.
Issue photos: Crime, stock photo by Siobhan Howerton · Pexels License.
Reader comments
What do you think?
Burqueños know this city best. Add what you've seen, ask a question, or push back on the story.
Loading commentsâŠ
New here? Sign up with your email. Confirm it and you're in, no password.
Comments are closed on this story.
Comments are the commenter's own words, not the Ledger's. Comment rules