Southern New Mexico Counties See Uneven Gains from Special Session Relief

LAS CRUCES, NM — New Mexico’s 2025 special legislative session delivered targeted relief to counties across the state, aiming to offset federal cuts and stabilize essential services. But while Doña Ana County welcomed the funding with unified legislative support, Otero County’s top Republican leaders voted against the measures—even as their constituents stood to benefit.

Otero County, home to GOP Chair Amy Barela and represented in House District 51 by Rep. John Block (R), received millions in allocations for food assistance, rural health care, and infrastructure stabilization

Yet both Barela and Block opposed the relief bills, citing concerns over fiscal overreach and federal entanglement.

Their votes stood in contrast to the county’s economic realities: with a population of roughly 67,000, Otero has over 9,000 residents enrolled in SNAP and approximately 35% relying on Medicaid.

Meanwhile, Doña Ana County—New Mexico’s second-most populous region—saw its delegation fully support the session’s relief efforts. Sen. Jeff Steinborn (D-Las Cruces), Rep. Doreen Gallegos (D-Las Cruces), and Rep. Willie Madrid (D-Chaparral) voted in favor of expanded funding for BeWell NM, food banks, and Medicaid protections. Their votes reflected the county’s demographic urgency: nearly 220,000 residents, over 38,000 SNAP recipients, and a Medicaid reliance rate of 42%. The county also faces unique challenges, with nearly 10,000 non-citizens at risk of disenrollment under new federal rules.

Both counties will benefit from the $8 million allocation to food banks, including Roadrunner Food Bank in Las Cruces. But the contrast in legislative tone was stark. Doña Ana’s progressive bloc embraced the session as a necessary intervention, while Otero’s conservative leadership rejected the measures despite their local impact.

As federal policies shift and local needs intensify, The 47th Voice News will continue tracking how political will—and community outcomes—diverge across Southern New Mexico. The stakes are high, and the voices are many.

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