Joshua Neal

Joshua Neal was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He earned a bachelor's degree from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in 2019. His career experience includes working as a civil engineer.[1]

Joshua Neal did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2025 Candidate Connection survey.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised in the Albuquerque metro. I graduated from Los Lunas High School and and received my Civil Engineering degree from New Mexico Tech. After graduating from college, I worked short term as a Humanitarian Relief worker with the International Mission Board (IMB) in Bucaramanga, Colombia. As someone who has witnessed the hardships of Venezuelan refugees fleeing economic devastation, I have a deep compassion for those in need. While serving with the IMB, I provided food, clothing, and shelter to these displaced individuals. This experience strengthened my resolve to advocate for compassionate policies that uplift and support the most vulnerable in our communities. Now, I work as a Civil Engineer in Albuquerque. As an engineer, my job requires strong critical thinking and problem solving skills to manage budgets, timelines, and resources, ensure compliance with local and federal codes and regulations, and collaborate with various stakeholders to find design solutions to complex problems. These skills are exactly what our Legislature needs. New Mexico is my home, and I am passionate about making it a better place.

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?

I am running for office because I want New Mexico to be a place where I can settle down and raise a family. Young people like me are fleeing from New Mexico to find jobs and raise families in other places. Young families want to live in a place that is safe, that has good education, and that has an affordable housing market. My goal is to make New Mexico a place where young families thrive.Crime is out of control. We've got to address the Crime Crisis head on. We need to stop fentanyl and illegal goods coming across our border. We need to hold criminals accountable and enforce the laws we already have on the books. We need bail reform to stop the revolving door and keep violent and dangerous criminals off of our streets. We need to support our law enforcement with new tools, training, and resources. And we need to fund community-based programs to address mental health.The way forward is through Development. As a Civil Engineer, I work with developers and investors. There are two main reasons why New Mexico is not an attractive place to do business: 1) GRT is expensive and extremely complex; and 2) New Mexico does not have a skilled workforce sufficient to support large industries. New Mexico needs to reform GRT to make it more attractive for developers and investors to do business here. And we need strong workforce development programs to transform our unskilled workforce into a skilled workforce. This will not only raise people out of poverty, but will encourage industries to come to New Mexico and create jobs.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about making New Mexico a place where young families thrive; where its easy to do business; and where innovation happens.

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

America has a long history of young people rising up to do extraordinary things. George Washington was 21 years old when he was sworn in as a major in the Virginia militia in February 1753. At the age of 21, Alexander Hamilton became an aide-de-camp to General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War. He was trusted with key responsibilities and was later instrumental in shaping the new nation's financial system as the first Secretary of the Treasury. In her 20s, Clara Barton began her career as a teacher and later became a prominent nurse during the American Civil War. She went on to found the American Red Cross, greatly impacting humanitarian aid and disaster relief. Thomas Jefferson was 33 when he drafted the Declaration of Independence in 1776, marking one of the most important contributions to American democracy and the fight for freedom. Like these young people before me, I hope to have a positive impact on my County for my People.

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

Elected leaders should model Lincoln's honesty and graciousness, Eisenhower's smile and wise leadership, and Reagan's optimistic belief in America.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

By nature, I am inquisitive, even-tempered, and passionate about making my home a better place. I think those qualities are unique for someone running for office and will give me opportunities to work across the aisle and do good work for my constituents.

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

It's in the name: a Representative represents his/her constituents. Representatives advocate for the needs and concerns of the people in their district. As such, Representatives should regularly meet with constituents, attend town hall meetings, and seek input on important matters to ensure they are accurately representing the will of the people in their district. Representatives propose new laws or amendments to existing laws. They can introduce bills on various topics like healthcare, education, infrastructure, and taxation. Once a bill is introduced, Representatives participate in debates, discussing the merits and drawbacks of proposed laws. Representatives vote on whether to pass or reject bills. These votes directly impact state policy. Representatives review, amend, and approve the state budget, determining how tax dollars are spent across various departments like education, public safety, and transportation. Through hearings and inquiries, Representatives can investigate how state agencies and officials are implementing the laws, ensuring accountability and transparency. While focusing on their district's needs, Representatives also work on issues that affect the entire state, like economic development, environmental regulations, or education reform. Representatives often coordinate with local governments to address regional problems like infrastructure needs, zoning laws, or emergency response plans.

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

As a teenager, I did yard work for my neighbors for a little extra spending money. I did that all throughout high school. In college, I worked as a server at a local Chinese restaurant and stayed there for several years until I got my internship with an Engineering firm.

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

The governor and state legislators should be mature enough to work together, regardless of party affiliation. That means coming together in healthy, productive debate to write good laws that help the people and preserve their constitutional rights.

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

New Mexico needs to transform its workforce into a skilled workforce, revise its tax codes, and fight crime. These steps will encourage economic development into our state. Additionally, the fight for clean drinking water will become a greater and greater problem over the next decades. NM is not prepared for mega-droughts. We need to invest in water capture, water harvesting, aquifer recharge, and water reuse technologies to ensure that - in an emergency - New Mexicans will have clean drinking water.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

America is an amazing place. In America, you can run for office - even if you or your family have never participated in government or politics before. In America, we can fight for the future of our community, our State, and our Nation.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Absolutely. I'm looking forward to working with Democrats who are willing to do what's best for my people. After all, I'm not only representing the Republicans in my district; I'm representing the whole district. It's my responsibility to make my best effort to achieve the best solutions possible through compromise and cooperation with my fellow legislators. I understand that I don't know everything and that my way may not always be the best way. But I think we can come close if we work together to do what's right and what's best for the people.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I hope that I can become like former US Senator Joe Lieberman - a Centrist who famously worked across the aisle to draft good legislation.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Right now my focus is helping my people in my local community. We've got serious issues that cannot go unaddressed for much longer without serious consequences.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Last week, while I was knocking doors and talking with voters, a gentleman waved me over and showed me his car. Bullet holes dotted the back of his vehicle. This gentleman told me that he and his wife were at home when gang affiliates sped down their road with the windows down and sprayed his home with gunfire. "We've already fixed the damage to our building exterior and garage doors" (which was several thousand dollars worth of damage), "but the car is more expensive to fix." And this isn't in an area you would expect violent crime or gangs to exist. It's on the West Side in a neighborhood probably very similar to the one you live in. "I could have died," he told me. We've got to stop this. We've got to vote differently.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

The governor should have the ability to act quickly in emergency situations to save/protect innocent life. But the Legislature should be able to check that power and hold the governor accountable. The Legislature needs to be able to overturn or stop an emergency action if it persists for more than 30 days.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

Bill #1 - a 75% reduction in GRT for developers who agree to include affordable housing as part of their development project. I think this would do two things: 1) it would encourage more housing for low income families in new residential development projects; and 2) it would encourage more mixed use development with commercial and residential use. We need more housing. It's time the Legislature incentivized housing - and not just for the wealthy.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

The New Mexico Business Coalition, the Affordable Energy PAC of New Mexico

What committees interest you?

I am most interested in the Taxation, Economic Development, and Transportation committees.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Citizens have a right to know where their tax dollars are going, and they should be assured that their tax dollars are being used efficiently.

Joshua Neal did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.