Tara Jaramillo

New Mexico’s house district 38 is among a handful of key swing districts being closely watched by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Now, the race between incumbent Democrat Tara Jaramillo and Republican challenger Rebecca Dow to hold that seat is quickly proving to be one of the most closely watched, and hotly contested in the state.

It is one of a number of measures proposed this session aimed at improving safety for New Mexican children, who have some of the country's very highest rates of trauma like abuse and neglect. The agency meant to protect them has come under severe criticism.