My Democratic abuelos raised me. Here's why I'm now a Republican running for Congress.

Alexis Martinez Johnson
·4 min read
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My abuelos, who were Democrats, raised me to live the American dream in my hometown of Roswell, New Mexico. My grandfather spent his days digging ditches to provide for my schooling, put food on the table and keep me clothed.

From there, I worked hard and excelled in my studies so that I was able to go to college, graduating from New Mexico Tech with a degree in environmental engineering.

Now, I'm running for Congress – as a Republican. I'm not alone among my fellow Latinos in moving from a Democratic past to a Republican present.

Democrats have historically done well with Latinos, but a Wall Street Journal poll in December found that Latino voters were evenly split on whether they would support a Democrat or a Republican for Congress. In June, Republican Mayra Flores became the first woman born in Mexico to win a seat in the U.S. Congress when she was elected in a historically Democratic district in South Texas.

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Flores'  election may well be an early sign of things to come among Latino voters in November.

Democrats have abandoned my family's values

My abuelos were staunch Democrats. They believed in the values of hard work, family and self-determination. That’s how I was raised. But the current Democratic Party has left those values that are so important to our community. I adopted the values my abuelos treasured so deeply. While the Democratic Party has left these values, the Republican Party continues to embody them.

Democrats have historically done well with Latinos, but a Wall Street Journal poll in December found that Latino voters were evenly split on whether they would support a Democrat or a Republican for Congress.
Democrats have historically done well with Latinos, but a Wall Street Journal poll in December found that Latino voters were evenly split on whether they would support a Democrat or a Republican for Congress.

This is why we are seeing a Hispanic exodus from the party of higher inflation, skyrocketing gas prices, baby formula shortages, unanswered crime waves and economic stagnation. In addition, this administration is working with dictators from Iran and Venezuela to obtain energy when we are able to produce oil and gas here in the United States, including in New Mexico. The Biden administration is setting us back.

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Many New Mexicans are moving to the party that will stop the out-of-control spending in Washington leading to historic price inflation on everything working-class families need. I am running for Congress in New Mexico’s 3rd District as a Republican because I believe that my voice, family and pocketbook are valued and protected when the radical left is not in charge.

Increase domestic oil and gas production

I will work hand in hand with our oil and gas industry by maintaining high environmental standards while making sure we advocate for approving oil and gas production permits. This is a simple, easy way to cut record-high gas prices so families are able to make a dollar go further.

Instead of allowing rampant crime and stripping law enforcement of vital funding, we need to fund our police departments so our law enforcement officers are adequately trained and equipped so our communities are safe.

Alexis Martinez Johnson, an environmental engineer, is the Republican nominee for Congress in New Mexico's 3rd District.
Alexis Martinez Johnson, an environmental engineer, is the Republican nominee for Congress in New Mexico's 3rd District.

Instead of electing radical activist lawyers who know nothing about our environment, we need to elect an environmental engineer, with the common sense to know it is foolish to start a government-prescribed forest burn during a period of high winds.

Instead of border policies that have led to higher human trafficking, we need to take the compassionate route of securing our border so that families don’t take extreme risks to get across the border.

Gun violence: I have buried too many victims of gun violence. The Supreme Court decision means I'll bury more.

In Congress, I will move to streamline our immigration process to prioritize compassion and the inherent dignity of migrants while securing our border. America is one of the greatest countries on earth where people come from across the globe to have a better life. We should make it easier to become an American, not harder!

I was raised Republican by Democratic abuelos because these were the values they held. Safer communities, lower cost of living and commonsense policies for New Mexican working families. It’s time for opportunity. It’s time for the Hispanic community to join me in the Republican Party.

Alexis Martinez Johnson, an environmental engineer, is the Republican nominee for Congress in New Mexico's 3rd District. She lives in Santa Fe with her husband, Christopher, and their four children. Follow her on Twitter: @alexisjohnsonnm

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Republicans' gains among Latinos reflect Democrats' shift in values