Marianna Anaya

Marianna Anaya was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her career experience includes working in communications.[1]

Marianna Anaya has not yet completed [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Send a message to Marianna Anaya asking her to fill out the survey.

If you are Marianna Anaya, click here to fill out [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out the candidate survey?

Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete [the profile publisher]'s Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's [the profile publisher] profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for.  More than 32,000 candidates have taken [the profile publisher]'s candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.

You can ask Marianna Anaya to fill out this survey by using the button below or emailing info@mariannafornm.com.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Marianna Anaya is an organizer, policy advocate and queer woman of color running for New Mexico’s House District 18. She’s led legislative efforts to repeal New Mexico’s 1969 abortion ban, pass the Voting Rights Act, expand the Human Rights Act and led the coalition for Paid Family and Medical Leave. Marianna has taken on some of the biggest fights in the roundhouse and her fearlessness has earned the endorsements of outgoing Representative and Majority Leader Gail Chasey, Planned Parenthood Votes NM, many local social justice and environmental groups, Labor Unions, and 25 of her Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate.

Born and raised in Albuquerque, Marianna brings lived experience to the table, and is from a family that has faced poverty in her state for generations. As the first in her family to attend college (UT Austin and UCLA) she helped her family navigate a variety of systems- from homelessness and substance use to medical care and the mass incarceration system.

Marianna is running to give back to the community that raised her and advocate for compassionate solutions to homelessness, affordable housing, increased benefits for workers, fundamental shifts in education funding and moving our state's budget away from reliance on oil and gas. After leading efforts to pass a variety of legislation over the years, she’s ready to continue her work— this time as a legislator.

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?

Housing & Homelessness- Our current state of housing, including the high costs of rent and purchasing a home, is perpetuating the crisis of homelessness. Additionally, our homeless population cannot find a safe place to take refuge. I will work on the following to provide more opportunities for housing:

1. Repeal the ban on rent control and institute future guardrails so landlords and renters can plan ahead financially.

2. Provide robust down payment assistance to buyers and deposit assistance to renters.

3. Ensure housing-first models for the unhoused are funded and include wrap around services.

4. Ensure there is support for Albuquerque shelters and accountability mechanisms when safety standards aren't met.Poverty & Economic Stability- I grew up in a family that faced generational poverty here in New Mexico, so I have an ambitious plan to reduce poverty in our state and support families.

1. Raise the minimum wage so that working people can support their families.

2. Pass Paid Family and Medical Leave so people don’t have to choose between their job and their health or the health of a loved one.

3. Join current efforts from House colleagues to push for universal basic income. Although it’s currently a pilot project with a select population in Albuquerque, we know that providing UBI helps families with economic stability.Education- New Mexico must fundamentally change the way it budgets for education. The State Equalization Guarantee (SEG) was a ground-breaking concept for funding public education when it was introduced in 1974, however, many children attending our schools face more hardships than they did when the formula was created. Keeping equity central, shifts must be made to:

1. Attract & retain more highly-qualified teachers to reduce class size.

2. Provide students & families more wrap-around services and support staff.

3. Offer students more programming in subjects we know keep students engaged, like art, culturally relevant studies and the trades.

4. Reduce redundancy in paperwork for educators and districts to comply with reporting.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am personally passionate about digging into the budget and tax policies. In order to see plans come to fruition -whether they be for housing, education, the environment or otherwise- being knowledgeable about the budget and tax process is key to delivering for New Mexico families. Additionally, it is critical to transition the budget from reliance on extractive industries to a more diversified base to help the health and wellness of our people, land and wildlife, in addition to the health and stability of our state's budget and revenue.

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

Throughout my years of work, I have always centered communities most impacted by policies to help us get to the answers we need to craft legislation. My rootedness in the community, combined with my ability to organize individuals and colleagues around important issues is a quality that is essential to being a successful legislator. Without the ability to build support and consensus within a body, the effectiveness of elected officials and their ability to pass good legislation declines. I'm excited to bring my organizing skills to the table as a legislator.

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?

There have been several meaningful stories shared while I'm out knocking doors. One in particular stands out as we talk about the interconnectedness with housing costs and the crisis of homelessness in our state.

I spoke with a veteran who, several years ago, was on the path toward buying a home, using his VA loan as the support he needed to purchase. At that time, the interest rates and cost of housing rose exponentially and suddenly, he found himself no longer able to buy, as he lives on a fixed income. Now, as a renter, the price of rent has also risen exponentially and he is on the brink of being homeless.

This is an example of the ways in which people are systematically forced into desperate situations regarding housing in our state. Electeds who are serious about addressing safety issues in our community must include support for people on the brink of homelessness.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Organizations:

Animal Protection Voters NM

Conservation Voters NM Action Fund

Equality New Mexico

Mom’s Demand Action for Gun Sense

NM Working Families Party

NM Native Vote

OLÉ (Organizers in the Land of Enchantment)

Planned Parenthood Votes New Mexico

Voices for NM Children Action Fund

Unions:

AFSCME Local 18

Carpenters Local 1319

Communication Workers of America Local 7076

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 611

LiUNA Local 16

National Education Association NM

New Mexico Building and Construction Trades Council

Teamsters Local 492

Western States Regional Council of Carpenters

Albuquerque Elected Leaders:

Gail Chasey, Majority Floor Leader, Representative District 18

+ 24 Democrats in the House and Senate