New Mexico general election 2026: Public Education Commission

The New Mexico Public Education Commission approves public charter schools applications, and reviews and supports the over 100 charter schools currently in the state. The commission is administratively attached to the New Mexico Public Education Department, which supplies the commission with staff. Ten partisan commissioners serve four-year terms with no term limits representing 10 districts across the state.

Charter schools are public schools that are governed by an independent governing board instead of being administered by a school district like traditional public schools. 

In the Nov. 3 general election, the Democratic incumbent faces a challenge from a Forward Party challenger to represent the Albuquerque-area district.

Two candidates, a Republican and a Democrat will vie for the open seat in southern New Mexico’s District 7, and hope to replace Patricia Gipson, who did not run for re-election.

Source NM posed several questions to the candidates about their races. Their answers have been edited for clarity and concision.

District 3

District 3 covers western parts of Albuquerque in Bernalillo County. There are currently 14 public charter schools in the district, according to the PEC.

Dennis Dinge

Forward Party candidate Dennis Dinge is a physicist, researcher and educator who previously worked at Sandia National Laboratories and is state treasurer of the Forward Party, which was certified in May as a minor party in New Mexico. He previously ran for New Mexico’s first congressional district in the 2018 Democratic primary, but dropped out of the crowded race in 2017.

Why do you want to serve on the PEC and what makes you the best choice?

The PEC felt like a natural fit for my background in research and makes me a better candidate. I worked at the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, which was the largest database in the world that mapped galaxies. I want to bring that same data-centered approach to New Mexico’s public charter system.

What is the biggest challenge charter schools face in New Mexico?

Barriers like lack of charter school options and transportation. Public charter schools need to be available to all students in the state. There are rural areas of the state that could use them, and parents may lack the transportation to get their kids there. 

What role do charter schools play in the larger educational landscape in New Mexico?

Public charter schools provide educational experiences that usually may not be offered in the state, such as ones that focus on trades or art. They have some wiggle room to experiment with different teaching methods, and if those methods are successful, lawmakers can consider adopting on a statewide level.

Do you think the Trump administration’s massive investment in charter schools while also cutting federal funds meant for public schools is a step in the right direction for national education policy? 

To cut funding for public schools is never a step in the right direction. Federal funding should not prioritize one type of public school over a different one — money is best spent helping all schools. It’ll be rare to find me in agreement with the Trump administration.

As the Yazzie/Martinez education equity case continues, how will you hold charter schools accountable for enrolling and serving the student populations affected in the case and satisfying the court’s order?

Prospective charter schools have to include how they will help affected Yazzie-Martinez students in their initial application. If they don’t, then an objection will be raised. The same goes for renewal applications, though it will be easier since the commission can look at the track record to see if the school has been successful in satisfying the court’s order.

What type of charter-school legislation would you back/hope to see in the coming session?

I would like to see the Legislature promote charter schools in rural parts of the state and ensure that underserved populations are cared for. Virtual charter schools may be a way to address that. I want to also make sure that charter schools are not allowed to discourage unions in any way.

Jacob Trujillo

Jacob Trujillo is the Democratic incumbent of District 3, appointed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on June 17 after former commissioner Alan Brauer resigned due to moving from the state.

Trujillo cites his status as a charter school graduate — he attended  Albuquerque Institute for Mathematics and Science — as a point of pride. He has served as the chair of the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County since 2025 and as a field representative for U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.). 

Trujillo was appointed to the position by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on June 17 after previous commissioner Alan Brauer resigned.

Why do you want to serve on the PEC and what makes you the best choice?

I feel a need to fill a gap of representation because the PEC consists of people who never went through the educational system they govern.

What is the biggest challenge charter schools face in New Mexico?

We need to better educate the public that public charter schools are not private schools. The charter schools under PEC are also public schools and do not hand-pick like private schools do.

What role do charter schools play in the larger educational landscape in New Mexico?

Charter schools allow us to test out different education styles to see what is working and then implement at other schools. This improves the public education system as a whole.

Do you think the Trump administration’s massive investment in charter schools while also cutting federal funds meant for public schools is a step in the right direction for national education policy? 

I do not think that is a good direction. Republicans want to privatize education, and the way they start getting there is by promoting charters while cutting public schools. That is why charter schools need to be very well regulated.

As the Yazzie/Martinez education equity case continues, how will you hold charter schools accountable for enrolling and serving the student populations affected in the case and satisfying the court’s order? 

One of the things I took my oath on was a copy of the Yazzie/Martinez case. If applicant schools are not supporting the Yazzi-Martinez student population, I will vote against their application. They have no reason to be a school in New Mexico.

What type of charter-school legislation would you back/hope to see in the coming session?

Funding in order to hire and pay staff for the PEC. Currently, the PEC doesn’t have its own staff. A dedicated staff would make the PEC have better technical assistance for schools, families and students.

District 7

District 7 primarily covers Doña Ana County and a portion of Otero County in southern New Mexico, including Las Cruces. There are eight charter schools in the district, per the commission. The current District 7 commissioner is Patricia Gipson, a Democrat, who also serves as chair, but is not running for reelection.

John Foreman

Republican candidate John Foreman is a lifelong educator who taught high school history, social studies and economics in New Mexico public and private schools. He previously ran as a Republican for New Mexico House District 52 in 2022 and lost to state Rep. Doreen Gallegos (D-Las Cruces).

Why do you want to serve on the PEC and what makes you the best choice?

I have always been a fan of school choice and charter schools are the only version of that for parents in New Mexico. My background in the education system is extensive — teacher, coach, administrator — which makes me qualified to sit on the commission.

What is the biggest challenge charter schools face in New Mexico?

The challenge going forward is to keep charter schools autonomous so they can do their mission and not feel pressure from teachers unions or funding mechanisms.

What role do charter schools play in the larger educational landscape in New Mexico?

They give parents a choice and fill a role that maybe wasn’t there before. Students interested in a specific trade or career can have the opportunity to learn the skills required through charter schools which can keep them engaged in order to graduate.

Do you think the Trump administration’s massive investment in charter schools while also cutting federal funds meant for public schools is a step in the right direction for national education policy? 

Some of the federal moves were in the spirit of competition and competition is good. We need to look on a case-by-case basis, regardless if a school is charter and public, and see who is succeeding and progressing and shift funds accordingly.

As the Yazzie/Martinez education equity case continues, how will you hold charter schools accountable for enrolling and serving the student populations affected in the case and satisfying the court’s order? 

I previously was a principal in the Navajo Reservation and I know that students in the Yazzie/Martinez population can accomplish great things with the right classroom leadership that starts with the teacher. 

What type of charter-school legislation would you back/hope to see in the coming session?

I support legislation that supports the autonomy of charter schools and that promotes increased vocational training.

Fred Parker

Democratic candidate Fred Parker spent close to 30 years as a New Mexico public educator  prior to retiring. He started his career cleaning computers for an elementary school before becoming a teacher and later an administrator. This is his first time running for an elected position.

Why do you want to serve on the PEC and what makes you the best choice?

As a prior district level leader that oversaw a local charter school, I understand the intricacies and knowledge needed for the position. 

What is the biggest challenge charter schools face in New Mexico?

Declining enrollment rates, which we see across the country. We need to reengage families and students in a way that is responsive to their needs and get enrollment back on track.

What role do charter schools play in the larger educational landscape in New Mexico?

Since charter schools are smaller, they are more agile to respond to student needs and pivot if needed. They hit the niche needs for families that want something different. 

Do you think the Trump administration’s massive investment in charter schools while also cutting federal funds meant for public schools is a step in the right direction for national education policy? 

Federal funds being allocated for charter schools is, in some cases, a good thing since they do not have access to certain types of funding that our traditional public districts have. 

As the Yazzie/Martinez education equity case continues, how will you hold charter schools accountable for enrolling and serving the student populations affected in the case and satisfying the court’s order? 

Equity has to show up in actual opportunities and outcomes than just what comes from written plans in applications. The commission needs to track the outcomes during each charter school review on how well they’re serving Yazzie/Martinez student populations.

What type of charter-school legislation would you back/hope to see in the coming session?

I’d like to see some funding increases to support charter schools for lease reimbursement that is matched to inflation and a clearer mechanism for charter schools to acquire and build facilities.