abortion

Following an hours-long debate, the New Mexico House passed a bill to protect those who provide or seek abortions or gender-affirming care in the state. the measure would enshrine into law safeguards for out-of-state patients and clinicians issued by executive order after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Bill sponsor Senator Katy Duhigg said that the law was necessary to ensure that all people in New Mexico have the same ability to access reproductive and gender-affirming care.

Democratic lawmakers and the Attorney General pushing back against local authorities find themselves at the center of a legal debate that some think could even rise to the US Supreme Court.

House Bill 7 was written after city and county ordinances in eastern New Mexico restricted access to abortion, even though the procedure remains legal in the state.

These midterm elections saw a swell of support nationally for Democrats by younger voters. KUNM's Jeanette DeDios talked to young voters at the University of New Mexico polling station to find out what issues brought them out. She sat down with News Director Megan Kamerick.

With Election Day next week and early voting underway, voters in Congressional District 3 will decide whether to elect incumbent Democrat Teresa Leger Fernandez, or challenger Republican Alexis Martinez Johnson.New Mexico in Focus Correspondent Gwyneth Doland with our media partner New Mexico PBS sat down with Martinez Johnson to talk about the newly redrawn district, climate change and her thoughts on abortion in the state.

Election Day is on November 8 and early voting is underway. In Congressional District 3 Republican Alexis Martinez Johnson is looking to unseat incumbent Democrat Teresa Leger Fernandez.New Mexico in Focus Correspondent Gwyneth Doland with our media partner New Mexico PBS sat down with Leger Fernandez to discuss how she helped secure funding for Hermit’s Peak fire, her thoughts on reproductive rights and how she’s campaigning in her newly redrawn district.

Vice President Kamala Harris spoke before a capacity crowd at the University of New Mexico Tuesday on protecting access to reproductive rights. She was joined by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, running for reelection in a race where abortion access has been a key issue.

In a debate that covered policing, border policy, abortion and energy, the two candidates seemed both to be softening previous stances on policy issues.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham praised President Biden’s pledge this week to codify abortion protections in federal law if the Democrats secure a majority in congress. She characterized the move as a commitment to “echo” the work being done here in New Mexico, and tells KUNM she "absolutely" would pursue codifying the right to an abortion in state law if reelected.