The West Side Challenge
What are YOU doing to elect Democrats?
The West Side Challenge – WSD’s initiative to motivate our members to volunteer for our Democratic candidates – kicked off at our annual picnic on Aug. 15. Details below.
Training provided for canvassing and calling.
5 Things About the West Side Challenge
- What We Are Doing. WSD is energizing our members to help get out the vote for our West Side Democratic candidates. We are coordinating with the candidates’ campaigns each week. In each weekly Calls to Action newsletter, we will identify the candidate(s) we will support on the following Saturday.
- How We Choose the Candidates Each Week. We, as WSD, are focusing on our West Side Democratic candidates. WSD has been instrumental in turning the West Side blue and we want to keep it that way! On the West Side, we have 6 candidates running for State Representative. Of the 6, 2 are running unopposed (Reps. Patricia Roybal Caballero and Yanira Gurrola); 4 have opponents (Reps. Eleanor Chavez, Joy Garratt, Cynthia Borrego, and Charlotte Little). Rep. Little’s race has been determined to be the most critical race. Her opponent, Republican David Adkins, is a former state representative on the West Side with strong community ties. Because of this, WSD has decided to focus most of our support to Rep. Little’s reelection campaign. We will also support our other West Side Democratic candidates who have opponents in the coming months. There is plenty of opportunity to support our candidates. You can find all their campaign websites in Local Election Connections.
- How the West Side Challenge Integrates with the DPNM Coordinated Campaign: The DPNM Coordinated Campaign (CC) focuses on NM Democratic candidates running in national races and state-level races. The CC has a dedicated field organizer for the West Side – Jayraina Montoya, who is located at the West Side CC Office, 6300 Riverside Plaza Ln, Suite 100. Contact her at 505-383-8652 or at jayrainamontoya@nmdemocrats.org.
- Who Is Coordinating the West Side Challenge? WSD Chair Dorothy Wilkinson (505-710-4945) is coordinating the weekly phone banking and WSD member Karlyne Nordholm is providing the call lists for the phone banking team. WSD Ideas Team Chair Laurie Gould (505-541-0533) is coordinating the weekly canvassing. Contact one of them to sign up.
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What You Get Out of It:
- The satisfaction of knowing you worked hard to keep the West Side and NM blue, and to flip the US Congress.
- For each 2 hours worked, your name gets entered into a raffle for a $75 gift certificate good at any of the M'Tucci's restaurants. The more you volunteer, the better your chance of winning.
Annual WSD Picnic held on August 15
Picnic committee chair Sue Wolinsky with Sen. Cindy Nava and Democratic candidate for Lt. Gov. Stephanie Garcia Richard.
Picnic emcee BC Assessor Damian Lara
Longtime Democratic activists Candy and Frank Patterson meet member Sam Wolinsky at the Welcome Table.
Most of the picnic committee, including Dorothy Wilkinson, WSD chair. Laurie Gould (back row, left) ran the WSD Volunteer Challenge to recruit volunteers for our candidates.
Our “Servant Leaders” – Rep. Charlotte Little (who kicked off her reelection campaign at the picnic) and Sheriff John Allen at the grill, with help from member-activist Chris Sedillo.
DPNM coordinated campaign field organizer for the West Side Jayraina Montoya with Carl Shampine.
Judge Diana Garcia with Tony and Penny Garcia – all members.
Member Mark Finley gave wagon rides to kids who attended – to their delight!
Our exclusive monthly WSD Newsletter only goes to paid members.
If you haven’t paid your 2026 dues, go here to join or renew your membership online.
Upcoming WSD Monthly Meetings
WSD monthly meetings will be held on Saturdays at the West Mesa Community Center, 5500 Glenrio Rd NW, ABQ 87105 from 12:30 to 2:30 on these dates: September 19, October 17 and November 21. Topics to be announced.
West Side Democratic Legislators Running for Reelection in November
Sign-up now to volunteer!
(Go to website to learn more about the candidate and to volunteer)
NM Democratic Congressional Candidates with Districts on the West Side
Who are Running for Re-Election
Sign up to volunteer with Representative Melanie Stansbury · Democratic Party of New Mexico (Congressional District 1)
Gabe for Congress -
(Congressional District 2)
Ben Ray Luján for U.S. Senate
(US Senator, statewide)
Democratic Candidates for NM Statewide Offices
Sign-up for West Side Phonebanking on Thursdays!
Stop in to meet our DPNM Coordinated Campaign West Side Field Organizer Jay Montoya at the office on Coors and Montano: 6300 Riverside Plaza Ln, Suite 100. The office is open 12 to 6 daily.
Sign up to help our West Side candidates by:
- canvassing
- phone banking
- postcard writing / letter stuffing.
Sign up for the Thursday evening phone banking here:
Meet at the office or make your calls at home.
Access to Votebuilder needed: http://www.votebuilder.com/.
Script and calling software will be provided. Contact Jay with questions: jayrainamontoya@nmdemocrats.org.
505-383-8652
Speakers Bureau Summer Training Schedule Announced
The Speakers Bureau team has been meeting for a few months. We are shooting videos of the practice sessions we have already had.
We will continue our training at the Taylor Ranch Library through September 8. The training is now 6:00-7:30 pm on specific Mondays and Tuesdays (when the library is open til 8:00 pm) to better accommodate everyone’s work schedules.
All meetings are from 6pm-7:30pm.
Sessions will be held:
- (Tuesday) September 8.
Lynn Sarkany is organizing the Speakers Bureau. Contact her at info@westsidedems.org.
Support NM Democratic Candidates Who Will
Face Opponents in November
Find out about NM Democratic candidates who will face opposition in November. These candidates need your help to win. Blue Boosters for NM is a new activist/research group providing the information. Analysis provided by Indivisible ABQ and Santa Fe. Blue In NM — 2026 Candidates (Information from Indivisible ABQ.)
Local Volunteer Opportunities
Tell your NM legislators to stop Data Centers from coming to NM. Here’s a letter (from Indivisible ABQ) you can use or write your own. Find legislators’ email addresses here.
Dear Representative XX,
I am very concerned about Project Jupiter and Blackstone's attempt to buy out PNM as a move to build a data center in NM. These entities are private equity companies whose sole purpose (and history) is to exploit resources for shareholder profits.
Data Centers use unprecedented water and energy, putting pressure on New Mexicans consumption and cost for these vital public services! These projects will eventually leave our state poorer and resource drained.
Please support your colleagues Rep Hochman-Vigil and Rep Cates in passing a moratorium on data centers in our state!
Thank you,
Your Name and zip code
Help us write 500 postcards to people in swing states and to environmental voters.
Two sessions: Saturday, Aug. 29, 2-4 pm; Thursday, Sept. 24, 3-5 pm.
RSVP for address link here. Sign up for virtual phone banking. Can be done at home using http://www.votebuilder.com/. Script and calling software will be provided.
Contact Jay with questions: jayrainamontoya@nmdemocrats.org
Open discussion on Zoom, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 6:30-7:30 pm.
Voter Protection Roundtable · Democratic Party of New Mexico.
Save our Elections in NM
Join Common Cause NM and the Election Protection coalition to protect NM elections from federal government overreach. Volunteers are nonpartisan. 2026 EP Field Volunteer Training Sign Up.
Recurring Local Protests
Albuquerque | Corner of Montgomery & Juan Tabo | 11am – 12pm
Rio Rancho | Corner of U.S. 550 & New Mexico 528 | 10am – 11:30am
Info and RSVP here.
(for LGBTQ+ adults and allies)
Albuquerque | Morningside Park | 10am – 11am
Info and RSVP here.
Albuquerque | Corner of 4th & Lomas | 9 to 10 am
Info and RSVP here.
Albuquerque | Corner of Montgomery & Juan Tabo | 11am – 12pm
Info and RSVP here.
Albuquerque | Corner of Paseo & Ventura | 12pm – 1pm
Info and RSVP here.
Santa Fe | Corner of Sandoval & West Alameda | 12pm – 1pm
Info and RSVP here.
invites you to participate in
Get the Flock Out | American Civil Liberties Union
. Write your Congresspersons.
Sept. 7, 12-6 pm.
Tell Congress to stop funding Trump’s War on Iran. It’s escalating – again. Stop the National Defense Authorization Act in Congress.
ADD YOUR NAME: DEMAND THE SENATE VOTE DOWN THIS NDAA | VoteVets
No Illegal Partisan Attacks on Essential Programs
American Civil Liberties Union
New Sound System Arrives
At last—we have our new sound system.
We’ve been hearing about it for about a year – the limitations of the undersized current system, Executive Committee approval of an initial $1,000 to pay for a new one, the early attempts of small-change fundraising, updated needs analysis and cost, more serious fundraising, and some major donations.
“I’m thrilled we have the new sound system,” said Paul Evans, WSD volunteer A/V coordinator who did the needs analysis for the new system. “It will help WSD to continue our fight for our values on the West Side of town – at venues large and small. For small events, we can use the small speaker we already had. For big events, we can use the new, larger speakers.” He also recommended that WSD buy a cart to haul the system and bags to protect the speakers.
It all adds up to $2392.45 with two large speakers and two beefy microphones that will incorporate some components of our old system. Here’s how we paid for it:
- We budgeted $1,000 from our budget.
- We collected $1,100 from the DPBC and some area legislators, and we have $300 promised from area legislators. We will collect the remainder now that the 2026 Legislative Session has ended.
Audio/Visual Volunteers Needed Now
Paul Evans with the new sound system.
“Now that we have a larger sound system, we need help to run it... We also need someone to help me with the visual side by editing video footage,” Evans explained.
Contact Paul Evans at info@westsidedem.org to apply. Your “pay” is our gratitude and helping elect candidates who reflect our values!
Audio Technician
- Set up, operate, and troubleshoot sound equipment.
- Handle and transport heavy equipment.
- Team player supporting WSD’s mission.
Video Technician
- Edit short-form video for social media.
- Collaborate on footage needs and deadlines.
- Support WSD's digital messaging goals.
Paul Evans — Our A/V Mastermind
How did WSD lure an A/V expert with 40 years of experience?
The answer is simple: Recruit an expert who aligns with your values.
“I feel our democracy is at stake. Each of us needs to step up. We hold the keys. If we don’t do it, nobody will.”
5 Things About Paul Evans
- Roots: Raised in St. Paul, MN. He is deeply concerned about civil rights and believes we must protect our community locally.
- NM Journey: Came to NM in 1984. Amassed ~40 years in professional TV news and government videography.
- History Maker: Covered state government under four governors and visits from the Dalai Lama and various Presidents.
- Producer: Produced "Wild New Mexico" and the popular "Dance! Dance! Dance!" teen program.
- At the Meeting: See him behind the camera at WSD meetings and be sure to thank him for all he does!
Our Mission
To Serve the 88,000 Democrats
Living on the West Side
Democrats Care!
We encourage and support candidates who will work for the good of everyone in our community. We believe in a government that is truly “of the people, by the people, and for the people”…not just for corporations, Wall Street, or the rich.
United By A Common Goal…
Social justice and human rights are more important than corporate profits. We seek to improve the quality of life for all of our residents through grass-roots support of candidates who listen and work to implement liberal programs and legislation.
Get Involved…
Your candidates can’t win without your help. Canvassing, phone banking, word-of-mouth, volunteering, and donating are all ways to work together to achieve our common goals.