Debra Marie Sariñana

Debra Sariñana

Democratic Party

New Mexico House of Representatives District 21

Tenure

2017 - Present

Term ends

2026

Years in position

8

Compensation

Base salary

$0/year

Per diem

$191/day

Elections and appointments

Last elected

November 5, 2024

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Air Force

Personal

Profession

Teacher

Contact

Official website

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal Facebook

Personal Instagram

Debra Sariñana (Democratic Party) is a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives, representing District 21. She assumed office in 2017. Her current term ends on December 31, 2026.

Sariñana (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the New Mexico House of Representatives to represent District 21. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

Sarinana's professional experience includes working as a math teacher at Manzano High School. She also served in the U.S. Air Force.

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at:editor@ballotpedia.org.

2023-2024

Sariñana was assigned to the following committees:

• Appropriations and Finance Committee
• Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Vice Chair

2021-2022

Sariñana was assigned to the following committees:

• Appropriations and Finance Committee
• Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee

2019-2020

Sariñana was assigned to the following committees:

• Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee
• House Education Committee

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

New Mexico committee assignments, 2017
• Education
• Energy, Environment and Natural Resources

Sponsored legislation

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.

Elections

2024

See also: New Mexico House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for New Mexico House of Representatives District 21

Incumbent Debra Sariñana won election in the general election for New Mexico House of Representatives District 21 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Debra Sariñana (D)	100.0	6,850

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,850
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 21

Incumbent Debra Sariñana advanced from the Democratic primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 21 on June 4, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Debra Sariñana	100.0	1,162

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,162
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Sariñana in this election.

2022

See also: New Mexico House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for New Mexico House of Representatives District 21

Incumbent Debra Sariñana won election in the general election for New Mexico House of Representatives District 21 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Debra Sariñana (D)	100.0	5,410

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 5,410
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 21

Incumbent Debra Sariñana advanced from the Democratic primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 21 on June 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Debra Sariñana	100.0	1,247

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,247
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2020

See also: New Mexico House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for New Mexico House of Representatives District 21

Incumbent Debra Sariñana defeated Paul McKenney in the general election for New Mexico House of Representatives District 21 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Debra Sariñana (D)	69.8	4,950
	Submit photo	Paul McKenney (L)	30.2	2,142

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,092
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 21

Incumbent Debra Sariñana advanced from the Democratic primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 21 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Debra Sariñana	100.0	1,659

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,659
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 21

Paul McKenney advanced from the Libertarian primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 21 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Paul McKenney	100.0	18

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 18
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

See also: New Mexico House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for New Mexico House of Representatives District 21

Incumbent Debra Sariñana won election in the general election for New Mexico House of Representatives District 21 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Debra Sariñana (D)	100.0	4,077

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,077
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 21

Incumbent Debra Sariñana advanced from the Democratic primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 21 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Debra Sariñana	100.0	1,012

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 1,012
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: New Mexico House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the New Mexico House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 8, 2016.

Debra Marie Sarinana ran unopposed in the New Mexico House of Representatives District 21 general election.

New Mexico House of Representatives District 21, General Election, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Debra Marie Sarinana  (unopposed)	100.00%	4,685
Total Votes				4,685
Source: New Mexico Secretary of State

Debra Marie Sarinana defeated incumbent Idalia Lechuga-Tena and Amanda E. Kinkaid in the New Mexico House of Representatives District 21 Democratic primary.

New Mexico House of Representatives District 21, Democratic Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Debra Marie Sarinana	43.23%	706
	Democratic	Idalia Lechuga-Tena Incumbent	38.09%	622
	Democratic	Amanda E. Kinkaid	18.68%	305
Total Votes				1,633

Endorsements

In 2016, Sarinana's endorsements included the following:

• Albuquerque Area Firefighters, Local 244
• Albuquerque Teachers Federation (ATF)
• American Federation of Teachers (AFT) NM
• American Federation of County, City and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Council 18 (Co-endorsement)
• Animal Protection Voters New Mexico (Co-endorsement)
• Maggie Hart Stebbins, Bernalillo County Commissioner, District 3
• Debbie O'Malley, Bernalillo County Commissioner, District 1
• Mimi Stewart, State Senator, District 17
• Jacob Candelaria, State Senator District 26
• Christine Trujillo, State Representative, District 25

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Debra Sariñana did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Debra Sariñana did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Debra Sariñana did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

---

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

---

Debra Sariñana campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	New Mexico House of Representatives District 21	Won general	$22,016	$20,321
2022	New Mexico House of Representatives District 21	Won general	$40,970	$23,053
2020	New Mexico House of Representatives District 21	Won general	$46,428	N/A**
2018	New Mexico House of Representatives District 21	Won general	$25,826	N/A**
2016	New Mexico House of Representatives, District 21	Won	$38,131	N/A**
Grand total			$173,372	$43,374
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in New Mexico

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states.  To contribute to the list of New Mexico scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

2024

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show].

In 2024, the New Mexico State Legislature was in session from January 16 to February 15. A special session was held on July 18, 2024. Animal Protection Voters Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animal welfare. Conservation Voters New Mexico Legislators are scored on environmental and conservation issues. National Federation of Independent Busines Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues. Rio Grande Foundation Legislators are scored on their votes on bills relating to economic issues.

2023

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show].

In 2023, the New Mexico State Legislature was in session from January 17 to March 18. Animal Protection Voters Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animal welfare. Conservation Voters New Mexico Legislators are scored on environmental and conservation issues. Rio Grande Foundation Legislators are scored on their votes on bills relating to economic issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2022

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show].

In 2022, the New Mexico State Legislature was in session from January 18 to February 17. Animal Protection Voters: Senate and House Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animal welfare. Conservation Voters New Mexico Legislators are scored on environmental and conservation issues. National Federation of Independent Business Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues. Rio Grande Foundation Legislators are scored on their votes on bills relating to economic issues.

2021

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show].

In 2021, the New Mexico State Legislature was in session from January 19 to March 20. Animal Protection Voters Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animal welfare. Conservation Voters New Mexico Legislators are scored on environmental and conservation issues. Rio Grande Foundation Legislators are scored on their votes on bills relating to economic issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2020

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show].

In 2020, the New Mexico State Legislature was in session from January 21 to February 20. Animal Protection Voters: Senate and House Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animal welfare. Conservation Voters New Mexico Legislators are scored on environmental and conservation issues. National Federation of Independent Business Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues. Rio Grande Foundation Legislators are scored on their votes on bills relating to economic issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2019

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show].

In 2019, the New Mexico State Legislature was in session from January 15 through March 16. Animal Protection Voters: Senate and House Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animal welfare. Common Cause New Mexico Legislators are scored on their votes on bill supported or opposed by the organization. Conservation Voters New Mexico Legislators are scored on environmental and conservation issues. Rio Grande Foundation Legislators are scored on their votes on bills relating to economic issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2018

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show].

In 2018, the 53rd New Mexico State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 16 through February 15. Conservation Voters New Mexico Legislators are scored on environmental and conservation issues. Rio Grande Foundation Legislators are scored on their votes on bills relating to economic issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2017

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show].

In 2017, the 53rd New Mexico State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 17 through March 18, 2018. Animal Protection Voters: Senate and House Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animal welfare. Association of Commerce and Industry of New Mexico Legislators are scored on their votes on economic issues. Common Cause New Mexico Legislators are scored on their votes on bill supported or opposed by the organization. Conservation Voters New Mexico Legislators are scored on environmental and conservation issues. Rio Grande Foundation Legislators are scored on their votes on bills relating to economic issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

See also

2024 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. President U.S. Congress U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

Newsletters

The Daily Brew The Weekly Brew The Ballot Bulletin Checks and Balances Economy and Society Hall Pass Number of the Day Robe & Gavel

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Candidate

New Mexico House of Representatives District 21

Website

Facebook

Officeholder

New Mexico House of Representatives District 21

Website

Personal

Facebook

Instagram

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by -	New Mexico House of Representatives District 21 2017-Present	Succeeded by -

[show]

Current members of the New Mexico House of Representatives

Leadership

Speaker of the House:Javier Martínez

Majority Leader:Reena Szczepanski

Minority Leader:Gail Armstrong

Representatives

District 1

Rodney Montoya (R)

District 2

Mark Duncan (R)

District 3

Bill Hall (R)

District 4

Joseph Hernandez (D)

District 5

Doreen Johnson (D)

District 6

Martha Garcia (D)

District 7

Tanya Mirabal Moya (R)

District 8

Brian Baca (R)

District 9

Patricia Lundstrom (D)

District 10

G. Romero (D)

District 11

Javier Martínez (D)

District 12

Art De La Cruz (D)

District 13

Patricia Caballero (D)

District 14

Miguel Garcia (D)

District 15

Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D)

District 16

Yanira Gurrola Valenzuela (D)

District 17

Cynthia Borrego (D)

District 18

Marianna Anaya (D)

District 19

Janelle Anyanonu (D)

District 20

Meredith Dixon (D)

District 21

Debra Sariñana (D)

District 22

Stefani Lord (R)

District 23

Alan Martinez (R)

District 24

Elizabeth Thomson (D)

District 25

Cristina Parajón (D)

District 26

Eleanor Chavez (D)

District 27

Marian Matthews (D)

District 28

Pamelya Herndon (D)

District 29

Joy Garratt (D)

District 30

Elizabeth Torres-Velasquez (D)

District 31

Nicole Chavez (R)

District 32

Jenifer Jones (R)

District 33

Micaela Lara Cadena (D)

District 34

Raymundo Lara (D)

District 35

Angelica Rubio (D)

District 36

Nathan Small (D)

District 37

Joanne Ferrary (D)

District 38

Rebecca Dow (R)

District 39

Luis Terrazas (R)

District 40

Joseph Sanchez (D)

District 41

Susan Herrera (D)

District 42

Kristina Ortez (D)

District 43

Christine Chandler (D)

District 44

Kathleen Cates (D)

District 45

Linda Serrato (D)

District 46

Andrea Romero (D)

District 47

Reena Szczepanski (D)

District 48

Tara Lujan (D)

District 49

Gail Armstrong (R)

District 50

Matthew McQueen (D)

District 51

John Block (R)

District 52

Doreen Gallegos (D)

District 53

Sarah Silva (D)

District 54

Jonathan Henry (R)

District 55

Cathrynn Brown (R)

District 56

Harlan Vincent (R)

District 57

Catherine Cullen (R)

District 58

Angelita Mejia (R)

District 59

Mark Murphy (R)

District 60

Joshua Hernandez (R)

District 61

Randall Pettigrew (R)

District 62

Elaine Sena Cortez (R)

District 63

Martin Ruben Zamora (R)

District 64

Andrea Reeb (R)

District 65

Derrick Lente (D)

District 66

Jimmy Mason (R)

District 67

Jack Chatfield (R)

District 68

Charlotte Little (D)

District 69

Michelle Abeyta (D)

District 70

Anita Gonzales (D)

Democratic Party (44)

Republican Party (26)