Undefeated Sen. Pete Campos faces challengers for District 8 seat

First is Connie Trujillo in Dem primary

State Sen. Pete Campos has never lost an election while running for Senate District 8, the immense 14,500-squaremile northern New Mexico district that includes seven counties — all of Colfax, Guadalupe, Harding and Mora counties, and parts of Quay, San Miguel and Taos counties.

Though he’s been unopposed a few times — he sailed through the 2016 election unchallenged in both the Democratic primary and general election in 2016 — he’s defeated every opponent he’s faced since he was first elected to the state Senate in 1990.

But the road to victory may not be so smooth for him this time around. Connie Jimenez Trujillo is challenging him in the June 2 Democratic primary and Republican Melissa Key Fryzel awaits the winner in November’s general election.

Trujillo, a nurse, midwife and first-time politician from Las Vegas, New Mexico, decided to enter the race partly because the Alumbra Women’s Health and Maternity Care’s labor delivery unit at Alta Vista Regional Hospital was shuttered in 2017.

“That started it. That kind of got me thinking,” she said.

Trujillo said it took her weeks to get a meeting arranged with Campos, whom she thought, as a state Senator, could help save the unit. The next day, the hospital announced it would close the labor delivery unit after 20 years.

“I was very disappointed in that. I felt he didn’t really advocate to keep it open or try to find solutions to keep it open,” she said.

Trujillo started her career as an engineer, “but I really didn’t find much fulfillment in that,” she said. “I didn’t feel like I was doing much for my fellow man.”

So she switched careers and became a midwife, a job in which she takes great satisfaction.

The mother of three grown children, Trujillo says access to health care remains the biggest issue for many people in District 8. She also says that diversifying the economy, agriculture and renewable energy are issues she wants to work on in the Legislature.

Trujillo noted that Campos has been senator in District 8 since she graduated Robertson High School and that it’s time for a change.

“I feel he has become very complacent right now, very comfortable,” she said.

Sen. Campos says he hasn’t lost his fire to serve the people of District 8.

“In everything I do, I put people first,” he said. “The whole key to it is that it’s something that I really enjoy and love.”

Asked to respond to Trujillo saying that he hadn’t done enough to keep the women’s health and maternity care unit at the hospital in Las Vegas open, Campos said, “At Alta Vista, as everyone knows, we had a great unit going. But we had doctors who decided to relocate, so we didn’t have proper medical staff. However, the fight continued and the advocacy continued, and we were able to open a birthing unit.”

Campos said he will continue his advocacy for improving access to health care there and elsewhere if reelected.

Campos continued by saying his years of professional experience and in the Legislature is to the benefit of his constituents. He’s a member of the Senate Finance Committee, and

serves on interim committees for the Legislative Finance Committee, the Legislative Council, Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy, and Water and Natural Resources committees.

Outside the Legislature, Campos says he’s been active on boards, including those of banks and medical centers.

Now retired, Campos spent more than 27 years in education, as a school superintendent, instructor and counselor for at-risk students and immigrant students.

He was also mayor of Santa Rosa prior to beginning his Senate seat winning steak.

Campos has a big lead in terms of fundraising, according to campaign finance reports filed through May 11. His campaign has raised more than $35,000, compared to $3,350 for Trujillo.

Campos has received contributions of $1,000 or more from such groups as the American Federation of Teachers — New Mexico, the Union Pacific Railroad, NGL Water Solutions of Denver, and Ultra Health and PurLife medical marijuana producers.

Asked how long he intends to serve as a state senator, Campos said, “The good Lord knows. I’ve still got the health, the energy, maturity, and I provide an opportunity for stability. As long as people will give me the opportunity to serve them, that will determine how long I’m here.”