New Mexico Dem US Rep. Stansbury debates 1st Congressional District GOP challenger Okpareke

The two candidates squaring off to represent New Mexico’s First Congressional District at a Tuesday evening debate found little room for agreement.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) faces Rio Rancho pharmacist and political newcomer Ndidiamaka “Didi” Okpareke in the Nov. 3 general election. During the course of a half-hour broadcast on KOAT, the two agreed that the Iran war is causing undue economic stress for New Mexicans and needs to end quickly.

The search for common ground largely ended there. Each candidate took turns painting their opponent as either a party-line Democrat or a “rubber stamp” for the Trump administration.

Stansbury, who replaced former U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland after President Joe Biden appointed her to lead the U.S. Department of the Interior, has been an outspoken critic of the second Trump administration, particularly regarding its handling of the controversial Epstein files.

New Mexico Election 2026: US House of Representatives, District 1

“Do you want to elect a candidate who had to look up what Congress does in order to run and who called this president one of the greatest presidents in her lifetime?” Stansbury asked.

Okpareke said she will “produce results in Congress, not rhetoric,” and spent the bulk of her airtime Tuesday criticizing Stansbury for being ineffective in office, citing New Mexico’s consistently low national rankings in areas such as education, crime and healthcare.

A panel of journalists questioned the candidates on a number of pressing issues facing New Mexico, including affordability, Medicaid eligibility changes and whistleblower allegations that federal drug enforcement agents let fentanyl flow into New Mexico.

Affordability

When asked how they would bring down the cost of gas, groceries and housing in New Mexico, Okpareke said she would focus on cutting taxes and championing economic development bills. Specifically, she proposed opening pharmaceutical manufacturing plants in New Mexico.

“The way to overcome the current crisis that we are facing is by putting more money in your pocket,” she said.

Stansbury said she’ll continue to push the White House to end the Iran war, which she blamed for driving up the cost of everyday goods. Inflation grew to a 3.7% annual rate in September, according to an Oct. 14 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, up from 3.4% in August. 

“The most immediate way that we end this disastrous inflation in our communities is by ending the illegal and unconstitutional war in Iran,” Stansbury said. “We also have to end the tariffs, reverse the disastrous cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and food programs.”

Epstein investigations

Moderators asked Stansbury whether the state House of Representatives’ investigatory subcommittee focused on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has served her with a subpoena to testify before the commission.

Stansbury said she has not received a subpoena, but is “absolutely prepared to present all of the facts and information that the committee is asking for, in front of the committee, under oath.”

“What we need is justice and accountability for the survivors, not just in New Mexico but all across the country,” she said.

Moderators then asked Okpareke if she believes enough is being done at both the federal and state level regarding Epstein and his conspirators and how she would approach the issue, if elected. Rather than answer the question, she used her time to attack Stansbury for not yet speaking at a state “truth commission” meeting.

Medicaid

New Medicaid eligibility requirements are set to take effect Jan. 1. Moderators asked both candidates what they would say to New Mexicans who may lose coverage.

Stansbury blamed Trump and Republicans in Congress for the changes and said she’ll fight in the next session to undo them.

“As a New Mexican, this is personal,” she said.

Okpareke accused Stansbury of standing by while the administration implemented cuts.

“Medicaid is specifically for the most vulnerable in the community,” she said. “It is not for able-bodied citizens who have the ability to work or volunteer.”

She then proposed reselling unopened and unused prescription drugs that people have thrown away to bring down the cost of healthcare across the U.S.

DEA fentanyl controversy

In June, whistleblowers publicly accused U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency officials of participating in a controversial practice known as “fentanyl walking,” in which agents monitor — but do not seize — illicit drug transactions in hopes of catching bigger criminal operations down the line.

Elected New Mexico officials at the state and federal levels have sharply criticized the federal law enforcement agency following the allegations and demanded restitution. Moderators asked both candidates what the federal government ought to do in response.

Stansbury said she and her colleagues in Congress are investigating the matter and pushing for accountability.

“If an individual — regardless of if they are in law enforcement or not — did so, they must be held accountable,” she said. “That is why I support the state’s investigation and potential prosecution.”

Okpareke blamed the Biden administration for the scandal, which she said “left the border open,” paving the way for cartels to bring the deadly drug into New Mexico.

“Don’t be mistaken — this happened under the Biden-Stansbury coalition,” she said.

Artificial intelligence

Both Stansbury and Okpareke have been critical of data center developments in New Mexico, particularly as it relates to their effects on water and air quality.

Moderators asked both candidates how they’d approach such developments in the coming years as Trump has become a strong supporter of data centers and the AI industry.

Okpareke said the president’s agenda on the subject “is not going to work right now here in New Mexico.”

Stansbury, who’s been a vocal critic of the Project Jupiter development under construction in Doña Ana County, said she supports federal regulations to “rein in” the industry.

“New Mexicans have been clear: They do not want unregulated data centers in New Mexico stealing our water, stealing our land, polluting our air and abusing our communities,” she said.