
By Julia Goldberg | Editor-in-Chief
Happy Friday, everyone. Looks like a rainy weekend ahead, so grab the umbrella if you’re heading out to vote early. You can find early voting polling locations here. You’ll find our Voter Guide below if you need to read up on federal, state and legislative races, or peruse this year’s constitutional amendments. Our busy week ends with a look at the increasingly expensive 2nd Congressional District race; the cost of the state’s universal childcare program to its early childhood trust fund; and a look ahead at next year’s legislative efforts to inch the needle toward universal healthcare. We’ve got plenty more to read below and online at sourcenm.com. And if you don’t want to wait until Monday to hear from us again, sign up for our free weekend roundup newsletter. Thanks for reading!

Recent Federal Election Commission filings and other records show that millions of dollars continue to pour into New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District race between U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), left, and Republican Greg Cunningham ahead of the Nov. 3, 2026, election. (Courtesy photos)
Multimillion-dollar ad buys increase in New Mexico’s closely watched CD2 race
Millions of dollars continue to pour into New Mexico’s closely watched 2nd Congressional District race, according to recent filings from candidates and political action committees. Source’s Patrick Lohmann takes a look at the most recent filings, and some of the PACs donating to Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez and Republican challenger Greg Cunningham.

A legislative economist told lawmakers this week that New Mexico’s early childcare trust fund, which supports the state’s universal childcare program, will be empty by 2048 without adjustments. (Above: Mrs. Olga's Daycare in Las Cruces shot in September 2026 by Leah Romero for Source NM)
Course correction needed for New Mexico universal childcare fund, legislative economist says
The New Mexico Legislature’s chief economist told lawmakers this week that without adjustments, New Mexico’s early childhood trust fund will be unable to support the state’s new universal childcare program by 2048, Source’s Matt Mondschein reports.

U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) visited Albuquerque on Thursday to tout recent healthcare related earmarks and also express her support for a burgeoning state effort toward universal healthcare in New Mexico. (Photo by Patrick Lohmann/Source NM)
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) visited Albuquerque Thursday to tout roughly $11 million in funding her office has secured for an array of healthcare programs, but also alluded to forthcoming efforts at the state Legislature to bring universal healthcare to New Mexico.

A new report from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions surveyed more than 1,200 unemployed New Mexicans and found that the top barrier to entering the workforce is a lack of nearby jobs. (Photo by Danielle Prokop/Source NM)
New Mexico workforce participation at prepandemic levels but lags behind nearby states, report says
New Mexico’s workforce participation rate has fully recovered to prepandemic levels but continues to lag behind neighboring states, according to a new report from the state Department of Workforce Solutions. The statewide workforce participation rate of 58% trails behind that of neighboring states and the national average of 61.8%
ICYMI
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We're reading (and gifting) a New York Times analysis about the impact of court decisions like New Mexico’s $25 billion Meta ruling this week on the tech industry.
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