Melanie A. Stansbury

In the 2024 House race for NM-1, Melanie Ann Stansbury (D) defeated Steve Jones (R) 56.4% to 43.6%. Melanie Ann Stansbury received 193,203 votes compared to 149,546 for Steve Jones, a comfortable 12.7-point margin indicating a moderately safe district.

As the incumbent, Melanie Ann Stansbury benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. The 2024 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.

In the 2022 House race for NM-1, Melanie Ann Stansbury (D) won with 55.8% of the vote, defeating Michelle Garcia Holmes (R) who received 44.2%. A third candidate also appeared on the ballot. Melanie Ann Stansbury's 11.5-point lead over the runner-up showed solid but not overwhelming support.

This was an open-seat race with no incumbent running — Debra A. Haaland (D) previously held the seat. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. As a Democrat, Melanie Ann Stansbury won despite the historical midterm penalty against the president's party (Democrat Biden was in office).