Corey Zimmerman

Corey Zimmerman graduated from the Maplewood Academy. He earned a graduate degree from Andrews University in 2010. His career experience includes working as a chaplain.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am Corey Zimmerman, a conservative Christian Republican running for New Mexico State Representative, House District 26.

I am a board-certified chaplain and Executive Director of a Christian nonprofit organization. With a Master of Divinity and years of experience serving families in hospice and ministry, I am passionate about servant leadership, strong families, public safety, and economic opportunity.

As a husband and father, I am committed to defending life, parental rights, religious liberty, and common-sense policies that put New Mexico families first. I believe in limited government, fiscal responsibility, and restoring trust in our communities.

I’m running to bring principled, faith-based leadership to Santa Fe and to fight for safer neighborhoods, better schools, lower taxes, and real solutions for District 26.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Faith, Family, and Freedom — I am a Christian conservative who will bring principled, servant leadership to Santa Fe. I will always defend life, traditional family values, and religious liberty.Safer Communities & Stronger Families — I will back law enforcement, crack down on crime, support parental rights in education, and fight for policies that strengthen families instead of government dependency.Economic Opportunity & Fiscal Responsibility — I will work to lower taxes, cut wasteful spending, reduce regulations, and support job-creating energy development so New Mexico families can thrive and keep more of what they earn.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Life & Family: Protecting innocent life from conception to natural death and strengthening parental rights and traditional families.

Public Safety: Supporting law enforcement and tough-on-crime policies to keep our communities safe.

Education: Empowering parents through school choice and local control.

Healthcare: Rebuilding New Mexico’s healthcare system so doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers want to come, stay, and grow their careers here. We must cut bureaucracy, protect providers, and make our system better than surrounding states.

Fiscal Responsibility: Cutting waste, lowering taxes and regulations to promote economic opportunity for working families.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Jesus Christ is my ultimate example of servant leadership and moral courage. In politics, I admire Ronald Reagan for his defense of freedom and limited government. I strive to lead with faith, integrity, and a servant’s heart.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, servant leadership, courage, fiscal responsibility, and moral clarity grounded in faith. An elected official should serve the people with honesty and conviction, not special interests.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To faithfully represent the people of District 26, protect our constitutional rights, practice fiscal responsibility, ensure public safety, and improve education and economic opportunity through limited government and common-sense policies.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to leave a legacy of servant leadership, integrity, real results, stronger families, safer communities, better schools, and more freedom. A legacy that honors God and puts the people of New Mexico first.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was mowing lawns for two years as a teenager. It taught me the value of hard work, reliability, and entrepreneurship.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

One of the biggest struggles in my life was undiagnosed dyslexia.

I struggled with reading and learning throughout school but didn’t know why. I worked extremely hard and developed strong coping mechanisms, but it was frustrating and discouraging at times. I wasn’t officially tested and diagnosed with dyslexia until I was 24 years old while attending Central New Mexico Community College (CNM).

That diagnosis was life-changing. It helped me understand myself better and gave me the tools and strategies I needed to succeed. It also fueled my passion for education reform and parental rights, because every child deserves to be properly supported and taught in ways that match how their brain works.

This challenge taught me perseverance, humility, and empathy. It reinforced my belief that with the right support and determination, people can overcome significant obstacles.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

The ideal relationship between the Governor and the State Legislature is one of cooperation when possible, but checks and balances always.

As a State Representative, I believe:

The Legislature and Governor should work together on issues that truly benefit New Mexicans, such as improving education, reducing crime, and growing the economy.

However, the Legislature must serve as an independent check on executive power. It should not simply rubber-stamp the Governor’s agenda.

When we disagree on core principles (life, taxes, spending, parental rights, etc.), I will stand firmly for conservative values even if it means pushing back against the Governor.

My role is to represent the people of District 26 and New Mexico with integrity, not to be a loyal extension of any governor’s office. I believe in collaboration, but never at the cost of principle. New Mexico needs a strong, independent Legislature that puts citizens first.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

New Mexico’s biggest challenges are failing schools, crime, economic stagnation, healthcare shortages, and government overspending. We need conservative reforms focused on education choice, public safety, tax relief, and limited government.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes, principled compromise can be necessary and desirable — but never at the expense of core values or non-negotiable principles.

As a conservative Republican candidate for NM House District 26, I believe effective policy making requires the ability to work across the aisle and find common ground on issues that improve the lives of New Mexicans. However, compromise must be principled, not a surrender of conservative values.

I will always: Compromise on how we achieve shared goals (e.g., the best way to lower taxes or improve education). Never compromise on core principles such as the sanctity of life, parental rights, religious liberty, fiscal responsibility, or public safety.

Good governance is about results, not rigid ideology. I am willing to work with anyone who wants to advance freedom, opportunity, and common-sense solutions for District 26 and New Mexico, but I will never trade away fundamental beliefs for political expediency.

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

The first historical event I clearly remember was the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986.

I was 8 years old and in elementary school. Our teacher rolled in a TV so the class could watch the launch live. I’ll never forget the shock and sadness when the shuttle exploded just 73 seconds after liftoff. It was a moment that taught me about tragedy, bravery, and the risks of pushing the boundaries of exploration. It left a deep impression on me as a young boy.

This event, along with others like the fall of the Berlin Wall a few years later, helped spark my early interest in history, leadership, and what makes a nation strong.