Herndon vs. Olson, issue by issue

Asked about crime and homelessness, Olson told the Ledger: “Enforce current laws and promote building facilities to address mental health, addiction, and community safety centers.” Her plan would also “advance a Three Strikes approach for serious violent crimes, firearm offenses, and sexual abuse of minors” and “support stronger consequences for repeat violent offenders”. Herndon’s priority is to “build safer neighborhoods by supporting first responders, preventing gun violence, and expanding access to mental health and substance use treatment”. Both name mental health and addiction; Olson also lists support for law enforcement, prosecutors and first responders, and Herndon’s plan names first responders.

Herndon’s record page says she voted for House Bill 4 in 2026, which sends more insurance premium surtax money to the state’s Health Care Affordability Fund from 2027, and says she would make health care more affordable. Olson would pursue reforms that reduce excessive malpractice costs without eliminating patient protections, “expand medical training and residency opportunities in New Mexico” and support loan forgiveness for providers serving local communities.

Herndon would protect free universal child care and tuition assistance, make health care more affordable, and address rising housing costs. Her record page also lists the Opportunity Scholarship Act, which became law in 2022. Olson would “support a full, independent audit of state spending”, “review state spending before asking families to pay more” and “support returning a fair share of natural-resource revenue to New Mexico citizens”.

Both want to conserve water through drought. Herndon would “protect New Mexico’s water, land, and air while preparing communities for drought and wildfire”. Olson would upgrade drainage, use more non-potable water at public facilities and crack down on wasted public water, and support efficient irrigation and rainwater storage.

Herndon would “put children’s safety first through stronger oversight, clear accountability”, with more support for caseworkers, foster families and relatives and earlier family support. Olson told Vote411 she would “put child safety first, separate neglected children from juvenile offenders,” improve facilities and foster care, and strengthen independent oversight.

Olson would “determine who will pay for a project before commitments are made”, evaluate its effects on schools, health care, roads, water and utilities, and “require meaningful public consultation and compliance with local standards”. Her plan names no specific project. Herndon told Vote411 that a large project should be judged first on its “potential impact on local employment and job creation,” then on how much water it needs and its effect on the environment, and that it must fit long-term community goals.

Asked about the proposed sale of PNM, Olson said: “It sounds like a sale to push Data Centers forward in New Mexico. I would like to further study the outcomes of the sale and the projected benefits.” She didn’t say what she would do about electric bills.

Olson said: “Privacy is a valued right of US citizens. I oppose them in the current use.” She added: “I hate the constant government monitoring of citizens.” She didn’t say who should be able to see the cameras’ data.

Asked about her largest donors, Olson said: “Primarily myself and small donors. I have invested in myself because I believe in my purpose to improve New Mexico. I owe nothing to big business.” She named no decision she would step aside from. The Ledger checked: her filings for the 2026 election, through Oct. 5, show her own loans, $5,601, were her campaign’s largest single source, and 34 of her 46 gifts were $200 or less.

Olson also said: “My opponent is a lawyer backed by lawyers and big business.” The Ledger checked: Herndon’s filings for the 2026 election, through Oct. 5, list gifts from Presbyterian ($2,000), New Mexico Gas Co. ($1,750), Addus Home Care ($1,000) and ConocoPhillips, Anheuser-Busch and Merck ($500 each), and at least $2,200 from lawyers and people who work at law firms.

Asked what most voters don’t know about the office, Olson pointed at her opponent: “My opponent has been in office for nearly 6 years and the same problems continue to exist.” She wrote: “Number LAST in New Mexico without a plan to improve crime, homelessness, poverty, education…Time for change.” The Ledger checked: the 2026 Kids Count report ranked New Mexico last in education. Herndon has represented the district since 2021.