NM POLITICAL SCENE: THE BASICS
Piaray Sadh Sangat, here is an overview of New Mexico’s political scene as of late 2010.

Sikh Community in NM Politics
Hacienda de Guru Ram Das Ashram as a non-profit religious organization is officially neutral in all partisan politics. That said, the Siri Singh Sahib Yogi Bhajan was well-known, loved and respected in Federal, State and local political circles, and he supported community participation in political events large and small, from local to presidential. During any election cycle, he usually reminded us to vote! For many years, a member of our Ashram has served as the Reader in the House on the days during the session. Additionally, our community annually hosts a Legislative luncheon at the start of the session. So we do not have to be shy about political participation.

U.S. Congressional Delegation
If you live in Northern NM (Española Valley, Santa Fe, Taos, Rio Arriba, Los Alamos) in Congressional District 3, your current U.S. Congressman is Ben Ray Luján (D). If you live in the Albuquerque area in Congressional District 1, Martin Heinrich (D) is your Representative. All U.S. Representatives are up for re-election every two years.
Our U.S. Senators are Jeff Bingaman (D) and Tom Udall (D). Udall used to hold the post currently occupied by Rep. Ben Ray Luján, and has been a friend to our community for many years. Senator Bingaman knows us as well, but his hometown is Silver City, which is one of the State’s southernmost cities. U.S. Senators serve six-year terms.
Links for each can be found via the NM Democratic Party link below.

NM Governor, State Legislature
For the four-year term beginning 2011, Republican Susana Martinez is Governor; she is the first woman to be elected governor in New Mexico. The Lieutenant Governor is John Sanchez. Click on the NM State Government site below and look for the link to the Governor.
Democrats are still the majority in the NM State Legislature. The Senators and Representatives for most of our Sangat are Democratic. To find your State Senator or Representative, see the NM Legislature link below.

The Legislature meets at the State Capitol in Santa Fe from mid-January to mid-March in odd years; these are general session. In even years, the Legislature meets from mid-January to mid-February for budget bills only.

Legislative sessions offer a chance to meet New Mexicans from every corner of the State, and our presence is welcomed there, whether as staff or constituents. During the Legislative sessions, tours of the State Capitol complex are offered throughout the day. If you like modern, Western, or Native American art, the Capitol has fantastic original artwork by New Mexicans hanging throughout and for that alone is worth a visit!

Sangat Counties, Voter Registration
We have Sangat in four counties: Santa Fe (includes our Ashram in Sombrillo), Rio Arriba, Taos, and Bernalillo (includes Albuquerque). The Secretary of State's office link below has a wealth of information on voter registration, State positions in contention, and more. You'll also find your County Clerk's contact information. If you are not already registered to vote, or have moved your residence since the last election and need to update your registration, start at the County Clerk's office for your county.
Española is in two counties, Santa Fe and Rio Arriba. If you do not know your County, start at the Secretary of State's office, and they'll let you know what County you are in, based on your physical address.
For Española residents, the Rio Arriba County Clerk's office is on Industrial Park Road past the Española Post Office. The closest Santa Fe County Clerk's office is in Pojoaque.

Northern NM is Still Blue
FYI: Northern NM is heavily Democratic. So in an election year in Rio Arriba, Taos, and even Santa Fe Counties, there is often no Republican candidate on a ballot for local slots such as State representative, Probate Judge, County Commissioner and the like. Like most of the country, more Republicans voted and got elected in 2010, so this appears to be shifting.

LINKS:
NM State Government: http://www.newmexico.gov/
NM State Legislature: http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/
NM Democratic Party: http://www.nmdemocrats.org/
County-level Democratic Party leaders: http://www.nmdemocrats.org/counties
NM Republican Party: http://gopnm.com/default.aspx  
County-level Republican Party leaders: http://gopnm.com/counties/
NM Green Party: http://www.greenpartynm.org/.
NM Secretary of State's office: http://www.sos.state.nm.us/sos-elections.html (starting point for any voter questions).
Contact info for your County Clerk: http://www.sos.state.nm.us/sos-CClerk.html (to register/update your voter's registration and learn your in-person voting location).

Exercise your democratic rights. Sat Nam.