In Valencia County, there is only one race this year with a primary contest, that is NM Senate District 30. The candidates are Clemente Sanchez and Angel Charley. There is no Republican candidate for this race, so the candidate that wins the primary will be our next state Senator!
The DPVC does not endorse one candidate over the other; however, we do want to give each candidate as many opportunities as possible to connect to our voters. Our DPVC Radio podcast, hosted by the talented George Colombo, sat down with each candidate. Please take some time to listen and learn about your options.
Clemente Sanchez
With a career spanning over twenty-five years, Clemente Sanchez served as the Director of the New Mexico State University Grants Campus Small Business Development Center (SBDC). His professional journey also includes diverse roles such as auditing private and public entities, including tribal governments, tax consulting, and financial controller for the Pueblo of Laguna. Clemente’s leadership continued as President & CEO and Chairman of the Board of the Bank of New Mexico, followed by tenure as Senior Vice President/Senior Banking Officer at TBK Bank in New Mexico. Currently retired, Clemente remains actively involved in government relations.
Elected to the New Mexico State Senate in 2012 and serving until 2020, Clemente chaired the Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee, while also serving on the Senate Rules Committee, Senate Committee’s Committee, and the Legislative Council.
As Senator, Clemente prioritized the needs of the constituents in Senate District 30, as he firmly believes that the seat belongs to the people. If elected back to the Senate, he will uphold strong principles and be a strong advocate for the community.
Angel Charley
Throughout Angel Charley’s career, she has dedicated herself to advocating for the safety of women and children. As the former Executive Director of the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women, she worked to amplify the voices of missing and murdered Indigenous women, and pushed for policy reforms to combat violence against women. Her community involvement includes serving on the New Mexico State Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives Task Force and as Secretary for the Laguna Federation of Democratic Women.
Additionally, Angel Charley serves as a Board Member for the Alliance of Tribal Coalitions to End Violence and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE). As a mother and a staunch advocate for rural and Native communities, she understands firsthand the challenges faced by working families in our community.
Angel Charley resides in the Pueblo of Acoma with her husband, Keegan King.
