Core Values of the Democratic Party of New Mexico
Excerpted from the Democratic Party of New Mexico State Platform
Agriculture
We support small, local, and sustainable New Mexico agriculture that enables fair water access with water conservation efforts. These farming practices are important to help alleviate food deserts in urban and rural communities. We recognize the importance of local agriculture to include farming and ranching.
Arts
Democrats recognize the role of the arts toward making a community attractive to its citizens, tourists, labor force, and business partners and we are committed to investing in the arts to continue our state’s rich cultural heritage.
Business, Economy, and Revenue Sources
Every American, including women, people of color, and other marginalized communities, has the right to a job that earns enough to provide adequate food, housing, clothing, healthcare, recreation, and protection from the economic fears of old age, illness, or accidents, while ensuring adequate resources for future generations to provide equally for themselves. And businesses have the right to operate free from unfair competition at home and abroad. We support a progressive tax system where all businesses and individuals pay their fair share.
Civil Rights
We acknowledge the rights of all persons to be treated equally, with dignity and respect, regardless of race, color, creed, gender identity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, physical ability, cognitive ability, or age.
Criminal Justice Reform
Democrats are committed to reforming our criminal justice system as a means to improving safety for everyone, including promoting community-based alternatives to mass incarceration of non-violent offenders.
Education
Democrats believe that an educated populace is the cornerstone of sustainable democracy, and the single most important driver of economic prosperity. Affordable, high-quality pre-K through college education is a basic right that is protected by New Mexico’s dedicated, high-quality educators. We believe that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that the public education system prepares all to participate meaningfully in society.
Ethics, Elections, and Politics
A just and functioning society can only exist when all people have an equal voice. Every citizen of voting age residing in New Mexico and the U.S. has a right and should be encouraged to vote. We actively work to prevent and remove obstructions to voting in any local or federal election. We also believe that the government has the right to regulate campaign finance.
Energy and Environment
Democrats support the use of clean energy and will train the workforce, create jobs, and support small businesses as we transition to a renewable energy infrastructure. We will position New Mexico as a key global hub for technology, manufacturing, and construction to join and accelerate the clean energy transition as a means to protect air, land, and water, and stop the worst effects of climate change.
Healthcare
Healthcare is a fundamental human right. Regardless of their circumstance, everyone in New Mexico and the U.S. should have access to comprehensive, affordable, high-quality health care in conjunction with comprehensive behavioral health services, and reproductive care, including access to birth control, quality prenatal and postpartum care, and abortion care.
Immigration
Democrats will create an obtainable path to citizenship and comprehensive reform that creates a humane and non-discriminatory immigration system that keeps families together, and strengthens our economy.
International Relations
Democrats call for the use of diplomacy, alliances, and peacebuilding interventions of governmental and non-governmental organizations that re-foster trust in America’s role in addressing international and civil conflicts. All actions of United States institutions and supporting organizations—including the military, intelligence agencies, State Department, and military contractors, and any U.S. international business transactions—should reflect integrity, respect, and ethical behavior in accordance with human rights and international norms and laws. And we believe that our security, prosperity, and well-being is best served by friendly and cooperative relations with border countries.
Labor
Democrats will remove obstacles for workers, public and private, to exercise their right to organize and join unions. We recognize how unions contribute to building a stronger middle class, as well as their critical role in fighting for living wages, fair work rules and hiring practices, and safe working conditions.
Media
A free and open media with diverse ownership and multiple opposing views from independent journalists is essential to a functional democracy because voters must be informed to make sound voting decisions.
Native Americans
Democrats will fulfill, honor, and strengthen to the highest extent possible the United States’ fundamental trust responsibility grounded in the Constitution, treaties, and case law to Indigenous Peoples. Democrats recognize the inherent sovereignty of Tribes, Pueblos, Bands, Villages, and Nations, and will work to enact laws and policies that are led and informed by them. We will ensure that Indigenous People have consistent access to clean air, land, and water as well as the ongoing, protected right to defend their natural resources and inseverable sovereignty.
Public Safety
Democrats believe everyone has a basic right to be free from coercion and violence, including harm imposed by corporate degradation of water, air, and soil. We will support a multi-faceted strategy to public safety including law enforcement, intervention and treatment, and universal background checks for firearm purchases.
Science & Technology
Government has a role in supporting science and technology research to be used for public good. Technological growth and the supporting infrastructure should be equally accessible to all, provide equitable benefits, and ensure socially responsible development for public good. Policy makers should be informed by the best science available.
Transportation & Infrastructure
Democrats believe in state and federal investment in public infrastructure and transportation to improve our state’s economic competitiveness and create jobs. We also believe everyone should have clean water, electricity, heat, and high-speed Internet.
Veterans & Military Affairs
We believe all qualified persons who wish to serve our nation are free to do so without discrimination. Our country has a sacred, moral responsibility to honor all of our veterans and wounded warriors. The party that passed the G.I. Bill of Rights will always work to protect the benefits our veterans and their families have earned in service to our nation.
Women
Democrats are committed to ensuring full equality for women in education, employment, healthcare, and in all other spheres of society. We recognize that violence against women and girls is an epidemic and stand firm in the need for a societal shift and prosecution of perpetrators. Democrats are pro-choice.