A bipartisan Women’s Caucus has been established in the New Mexico State Legislature after historic gains in the 2018 election. Currently, one-third of the state legislature is made up of women. Rep. Kelly Fajardo (R) and Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez (D) were nominated to lead the 39-member caucus. The group will focus on helping women, children, and families.

In the 2018 elections, 31 women were elected to the 70-seat state House of Representatives. Women currently hold eight out of 42 seats in the state Senate. The 39 women in the 2019 legislative session is a 31 percent increase from 2016 and 7 percent higher than the national average. This is the highest number of female legislators in New Mexico since 1967, which is the earliest year that records are available.

New Mexico is currently one of 14 Democratic trifectas. Democrats control the state Senate by a 26 to 16 margin and the state House by a 46 to 24 margin. The governor’s office is controlled by Michelle Lujan Grisham (D).