2018 NM Governor's race: on Education


Michelle Lujan-Grisham: Supports universal pre-K; opposes school vouchers

Q: Increase funding for K-12 education?

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes. Supports passing constitutional amendment to allow distributions from NM Permanent Fund. Also supports universal pre-K & shifting funding from administrators to classroom teachers.

Steve Pearce (R): Unclear. Reluctant to dip into Permanent Fund, for pre-K or in general. "Far more complex than just throwing more money at the situation." Support better management, mental health support & apprenticeship programs.

Q: Provide publicly funded vouchers to help pay for private schools?

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): No. Strongly opposes school vouchers.

Steve Pearce (R): Yes. "Vouchers break link of low-income & low-quality schools."

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Mexico Governor race Oct 9, 2018

Michelle Lujan-Grisham: Expand Pell Grants; lower student loan interest

Q: Increase funding for higher education?

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes. Find sources of money to replace lottery. In Congress opposed budget that would have lowered Pell Grants.

Steve Pearce (R): No. "Right now we don't have the money." Must first grow the economy. so that we have the money.

Q: Increase federal or state student financial aid?

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes. Backed Elizabeth Warren proposal to lower student interest rates by taxing the wealthy. Also backed Pell Grant support & financial aid for people not pursuing 4-year degree.

Steve Pearce (R): Unclear. Voted for a 2015 Federal budget that significantly cut Pell Grants. Also 2006 budget that cut student loan support in favor of deficit reduction.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Mexico Governor race Oct 9, 2018

Steve Pearce: Vouchers break link of low-income & low-quality schools

Q: Increase funding for K-12 education?

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes. Supports passing constitutional amendment to allow distributions from NM Permanent Fund. Also supports universal pre-K & shifting funding from administrators to classroom teachers.

Steve Pearce (R): Unclear. Reluctant to dip into Permanent Fund, for pre-K or in general. "Far more complex than just throwing more money at the situation." Support better management, mental health support & apprenticeship programs.

Q: Provide publicly funded vouchers to help pay for private schools?

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): No. Strongly opposes school vouchers.

Steve Pearce (R): Yes. "Vouchers break link of low-income & low-quality schools."

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Mexico Governor race Oct 9, 2018

Steve Pearce: Cut Pell Grants; no more tax money for colleges

Q: Increase funding for higher education?

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes. Find sources of money to replace lottery. In Congress opposed budget that would have lowered Pell Grants.

Steve Pearce (R): No. "Right now we don't have the money." Must first grow the economy. so that we have the money.

Q: Increase federal or state student financial aid?

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes. Backed Elizabeth Warren proposal to lower student interest rates by taxing the wealthy. Also backed Pell Grant support & financial aid for people not pursuing 4-year degree.

Steve Pearce (R): Unclear. Voted for a 2015 Federal budget that significantly cut Pell Grants. Also 2006 budget that cut student loan support in favor of deficit reduction.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Mexico Governor race Oct 9, 2018

Steve Pearce: Competition through choice helps schools

I strongly believe every school must face tough scrutiny and challenge itself to raise standards and push for the best in each of its students. Competition through choice would be a catalyst for vast improvements in underperforming public school systems, including those serving large numbers of low-income students.
Source: 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial website pearce.house.gov Aug 22, 2017

Jeff Apodaca: Make state's Pre-K a year-round program

Apodaca said he wants to expand the state's pre-kindergarten program to make it available all year instead of while school is in session. He pledged to help small businesses and local economies by tapping money from the state's permanent land fund to invest it in early childhood education and economic growth.
Source: USA Today on 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial race Jul 17, 2017

Joe Cervantes: Emphasis on testing misguided

This administration relied on Florida policies that failed there and predictably failed here. It emphasized testing in the classrooms. As a parent with three daughters who came from public schools, I have a good understanding with what that testing involved [and it's] unreliability. It's an overly simplistic way of thinking about managing education, no student gets educated by taking a test. Of course we need testing, but the idea in putting a principle on testing was misplaced.
Source: NM Political Report on 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial race Jul 7, 2017

Joe Cervantes: Expand pre-K to all students

Cervantes said he supports using the permanent land fund to expand pre-K to all students in the state
Source: Las Cruces Sun-News on 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial race Jul 5, 2017

  • The above quotations are from 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Education.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Susana Martinez on Education.
  • Click here for more quotes by Michelle Lujan Grisham on Education.
Candidates and political leaders on Education:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Mar 08, 2019