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Government

Curtis vs. Chavez, issue by issue

Where the candidates stand, ahead of the Nov. 3 District 31 state House race.

By Duke City Ledger
3 min read ALBUQUERQUE
What the public records and data show, with the sources listed at the end. How we label stories The editor chose this story and directed the research and writing, using AI tools, and checked it before it went up. How we label stories
Side-by-side campaign portraits of Lisa Curtis, in a green striped shirt, and Nicole Chavez, in a black top
Lisa Curtis and Nicole Chavez, the Democratic and Republican candidates for state House District 31. Photo: Courtesy of Lisa Curtis for Change (Curtis) and Nicole Chavez for New Mexico (Chavez) · Courtesy

The short version

  • They differ on education, school choice versus community schools, and split on how to curb gun violence.
  • They agree on two: cracking down on repeat offenders and the doctor shortage.
  • We sent both candidates questions on Oct. 15. Neither had answered.

The cards run from where they differ most to where they agree most, and compare how each would do it. The Ledger emailed both campaigns questions on Oct. 15; neither had answered by publication.

Lisa Curtis

Democrat

Attorney and former state senator; chaired the NM Commission on the Status of Women. Hadn't answered our questions.

Campaign websiteBallotpediaVote411

Nicole Chavez

Republican

State representative since 2025; 26 years in health care administration. Hadn't answered our questions.

Campaign websiteBallotpediaVote411

Where they differ

Education

Differ

Curtis

Would expand community schools and school-based health centers, and focus on teacher retention

Source

Chavez

Backs school choice and more parental say in the classroom

Source

What they said

Chavez’s site says: “Let families choose the right school for their child, not be locked in by their ZIP code.” Curtis’s plan would instead “expand community schools and school-based health centers” and focus state resources on recruiting and keeping teachers.

A gun barrel

Gun violence prevention

Same goal, different approach

Curtis

Would pursue commonsense gun-safety laws and community violence prevention

Source

Chavez

Sponsored bills on penalties for felons with guns and on juvenile gun use and background checks; none advanced

Source

What they said

Curtis: “Reduce gun violence through commonsense gun-safety laws and community violence prevention.” Chavez’s list of bills she sponsored includes penalties for felons caught with guns and a bill on juvenile gun use and background checks, none of which advanced. The bills’ titles are all her site gives; it states no broader position on gun laws.

Where they agree

Crime and policing

Agree

Curtis

Would strengthen pretrial detention and monitoring for genuinely dangerous repeat offenders

Source

Chavez

Wants tougher penalties for repeat offenders and accountability for violent juveniles

Source

What they said

Chavez: “Tougher penalties for repeat offenders. Real accountability for violent juveniles.” Curtis: “Strengthen pretrial detention and monitoring for genuinely dangerous repeat offenders.”

Doctor shortage

Agree

Curtis

Would pay medical school tuition and expand loan repayment and residencies for providers who stay in New Mexico

Source

Chavez

Would lower malpractice premiums and raise Medicaid reimbursements to stop providers leaving

Source

What they said

Chavez: “Raise Medicaid reimbursements. Stop the exodus of providers to neighboring states.” Curtis would “pay medical-school tuition for students who commit to practicing in New Mexico” and expand residency slots.

Only one has said

Data centers

Only Curtis

Curtis

Would pause new data-center development until the state sets protections, and make data centers pay their full water and power costs

Source

Chavez

Hasn’t said

What they said

Curtis’s plan would “pause new data-center development while New Mexico puts strong protections in place” and require the industry to pay the full cost of the water and electricity it uses.

Issue photos: Gun violence prevention, stock photo by Somchai Kongkamsri · Pexels License.

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Where this came from

This story draws on the reporting and public records listed here. Where they differ from this page, go by the original.

  1. Early voting Bernalillo County Clerk
  2. Nicole Chavez for New Mexico Nicole Chavez for New Mexico
  3. Nicole Chavez, District 31 New Mexico Legislature
  4. Priorities - Lisa Curtis for Change Lisa Curtis for Change
  5. About - Lisa Curtis for Change Lisa Curtis for Change
  6. Votes on the state budget that funds Albuquerque Public Schools. nmlegis.gov
  7. State House, District 31: term sos.nm.gov
Cite this story
APA

Duke City Ledger. (2026, October 16). Curtis vs. Chavez, issue by issue. Duke City Ledger. https://dukecityledger.com/news/state-house-31-issues/

MLA

“Curtis vs. Chavez, issue by issue.” Duke City Ledger, 16 Oct. 2026, https://dukecityledger.com/news/state-house-31-issues/.

Chicago

Duke City Ledger. “Curtis vs. Chavez, issue by issue.” Duke City Ledger, October 16, 2026. https://dukecityledger.com/news/state-house-31-issues/.

Credit and republishing guidelines

#state house 31#election 2026#lisa curtis#nicole chavez#voter guide

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