News & Upcoming Events
The Rural Caucus has begun its "2024" outreach visits to rural counties in NM.
The DPNM Veterans Caucus, several other DPNM Caucuses and especially the campaigns of our 3 US Representatives are all a part of this ongoing effort.
The next Executive Committee meeting is scheduled for after the holidays.
Please refer back to this page for next meeting date in January.
All caucus members are welcome to attend any caucus meeting.
NEWS UPDATES:
According to our bylaws, dues of $25/year are encouraged but not absolutely required of our membership. If members are willing and able to support the work of the Rural Caucus to a greater extent, recurring donations are appreciated.
NEW LINK: DONATE TO THE DPNM RURAL CAUCUS
Past Events
On October 14, 2023 a combined group of DPNM Caucuses meet at an East Mountain Celebration/Eclipse Watching gathering in Tijeras. It was a great opportunity for the caucus representatives to meet with voters in the East Mountain area.
The DPNM Fuerzas Unidas & Rural Caucuses attended a meeting of the Grant County Democratic Party on Oct 11, 2023. The caucus chairs (Vickie Estrada-Bustillo & Evelyn Vinogradov) presented information about their caucuses to an enthusiastic and welcoming group of active Democrats in Silver City.
On Oct 6, 2023 Chair Vinogradov presented updates about the Rural Caucus to the San Juan Federation of Democratic Women in Farmington, NM. It was a pleasure having a public forum together with Congresswoman Leger-Fernandez and State Auditor Joseph Maestas at that meeting. The next day several DPNM Caucuses combined their efforts to attend the Northern Navajo Nation's Fair Parade.
On Oct 2-3, 2023 the Caucus, in coordination with the campaign staff of Congresswoman Teresa Leger-Fernandez, attended the Eastern New Mexico State Fair held in Roswell.
The Fall DPNM SCC meeting was held virtually on Sept 30, 2023. A report about this caucus' activity during the past 6 months was given by Rural Caucus Chair Vinogradov.
On Sept 29, 2023 several DPNM Caucus Chairs attended The "Women's Summit" organized by the Governor's Commission on the status of women. We participated in several sessions dealing with issues women face in the workplace, in rural communities, and in the development of legislation
On Sept 22-23, 2023 representatives of the Rural and Veterans Caucuses combined their "Rural Road Trip" efforts to support Democrats in Alamogordo. A great time was had tabling with friends at the Otero County Fair.
The Rural Caucus spent Santa Fe Fiestas weekend (Sept 8-10, 2023) tabling and attending the Fiestas Parade with the Santa Fe Democratic Party and the Teresa Leger Fernandez team.
Socorro County Dems were visited in Socorro on Sept 2, 2023. Chair Evelyn V. and Chair Vickie Estrada-Bustillo of the Fuerzas Unidas Caucus attended the County Fair Parade and then tabled with the Dems at the fair that day.
The Valencia County Fair in Belen was a stop on the Road Trip Tour on Sat & Sun, Aug 26-27, 2023
The Rural Outreach Road Trip (in conjunction with The Teresa Leger Fernandez Campaign) continued with a visit to the Roosevelt County Fair in Portales on Aug 24-25
Caucus Chair Evelyn V. and members of the DPNM Vets Caucus attended a meeting of the Hidalgo Co Dems in Lordsburg on Mon Aug 21, 2023
The Rural Caucus helped out at the Annual DPSFC Golf Tournament at Towa on Fri, Aug 18, 2023
Mona Trempe, Rural Caucus CD2 Rep At Large, and Chair, Evelyn Vinogradov, attended a meeting of the Sierra County Dems in Truth or Consequences on Wed, Aug 16. Evelyn presented news and info about the Rural Caucus. It was a pleasure meeting the TorC Dems and discussing outreach opportunities in Sierra County.
On Sat Aug 12 Rural Caucus Treasurer, Amy Aguilar Noriega attended a meeting of the Torrance County Democratic Party. The meeting was held in Willard and was well attended. Amy spoke of the caucus road trips and elaborated on the plans the caucus has to visit rural communities.
The DPNM Rural Caucus, DPNM Veterans Caucus, Union County Democrats, and the CD3 Teresa Leger Fernandez Campaign "Combined Road Trip" teamed up to table at the Union County Fair in Clayton on Aug 11-12, 2023. Our combined group of Dems had a great opportunity to chat with local residents. Conversations were held with the Mayor of Clayton, Superintendent and High School Principal of the Clayton School District, the local newspaper, the HR Director of the hospital in Clayton, and several area ranchers. This is what our ROAD TRIPS are all about!
The Rural Caucus tabled at the Colfax County Fair on July 28-29, 2023 in Springer, NM. This was the Caucus' first opportunity to mingle with the rural residents in the Springer/Raton area. The RC combined effort with the Teresa Leger Fernandez campaign, the Colfax Co Dems, and several other DPNM Caucuses. Materials and conversation were shared between the groups and among the public.
On June 20, 2023 Rural Caucus member Tami Bryant filled in for Chair Vinogradov to introduce the Rural Caucus and recruit members at the June meeting of the Valencia County Democratic Party in Bosque Farms.
At the Spring DPNM SCC meeting, Chair Vinogradov introduced the goal of visitations to as many Rural County Democratic Party organizations as possible. These visits are being coordinated with the DPNM Vets' Caucus.
Beginning in April, 2023 the Rural Caucus has been aiding Edgewood activists in the response to a municipal ordinance interfering with Abortion Health Care. The DPNM and DPSFC have been instrumental in this effort.
On Sun, Mar 19, 2023, the Rural Caucus Membership elected the new slate of officers and appointees as indicated on the "About" page of this website.
On Dec 14 two Rural Caucus Exec Comm members met with leaders of the National Infrastructure Bank Initiative and national level Bureau of Reclamation officials to discuss the benefits of NIB to the Rural NM community and economy. In this Zoom we learned that the Bureau is a single rung on the step up to the influential Dept of the Interior. Sec Deb Haaland will hopefully become involved in examining this initiative.
On Sat, Dec 3 members of the Rural Caucus joined a networking effort lead by Otero County Democrats. We met in Alamogordo for a strategy session to discuss networking with Dems in all of CD2. The discussion revolved around development of a plan to spread the Democratic "word" all around CD2. The Rural and Veterans Caucuses will be instrumental.
On Wed, Nov 16, 2022 a Zoom with US Senator Ben Ray Lujan was held to discuss his possible lead sponsorship on a Senate Bill regarding the National Infrastructure Bank. It was a great success. The Senator had scheduled us for a 30 minute chat which extended to 45 very productive minutes. Evelyn Vinogradov, Chair of the DPNM Rural Caucus, was invited to attend. All of the participants on the Zoom got to say a few words before the true lobbying by the subject matter experts began. Of course, our DPNM Rural Caucus was mentioned as a grassroots outreach/networking organization that is looking for solutions to support infrastructure project funding that would invigorate our rural communities. Several NM State elected officials were on the call including Sen Bill Tallman, Rep Joy Garrett, Sen Antoinette Sedillo Lopez and Sen Jerry Ortiz y Pino. We will update with further developments as they occur.
During Oct 2022 representatives of the Caucus attended Dem County Party meetings (via Zoom) in Colfax, Socorro, and Otero counties. Our chair attended a "rural grants" workshop sponsored by Rep Melanie Stansbury in Edgewood & caucus members participated in the Trinity Downwinders protest for justice at the Trinity nuclear blast site.
Several activities occurred in early September 2022! Caucus representatives attended the NM State Fair and manned the DPNM booth for several hours, attended the Valencia County Dems Office Grand Opening and the Sandoval County Dems event with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Midterms are almost upon us and Caucus representatives are happy to chat with candidates and voters at various events around the state. Evelyn, our Caucus Chair is also reaching out via Zoom to various rural county parties by attending their meetings. Especially significant is outreach to Otero County to support efforts there which included the removal of Couy Griffin from the Otero Co Commission and the protest against Alamogordo's "Sanctuary City for the Unborn" status.
Even with a rainy start our All Blue event on Sat, Aug 20, 2022 was wonderful! 50 people came to the Nuckolls Taproom in beautiful Lamy to hear State Senators Wirth & Stefanics, State Rep Matthew McQueen, County Commissioner Hughes, AG Candidate Raúl Torrez, SFe County Clerk Kat Clark & several other speakers. The event was co-hosted by The Eldorado Dems, DPNM Rural Caucus, and DPNM Veterans & Military Families Caucus.
The Caucus was busy during the month of July, 2022. It made a presence, chatted with folks, and distributed informational literature at a rodeo event in Moriarty, Augie Montoya's Campaign event in Tijeras.
On Sat July 2 the RC attended the Mountainair Jubilee: Walked in parade and had a voter registration and information table together with the DPNM Veterans Caucus
On Fri, June 24, 2022 the Rural Caucus had an informational table and voter registration at the Solar Fiesta in ABQ
During May, 2022 three online forums were held. They were co-hosted with the Veterans Caucus. The forums focused on the Primary Candidates running for Judge, Commissioner, and State Representative in our rural areas.
On Wed, April 20, 2022 the Veteran's Caucus and the Rural Caucus sponsored a Forum for the 2 primary candidates running to replace Yvette Herrell in Congressional District 2. Gabe Vasquez and Darshan Patel introduced themselves, discussed their platforms and took questions pertinent to the rural community and specifically the veteran's living in that community.
On Saturday, April 9, 2022, the Rural Caucus in coordination with several other organizations presented a very successful "in person" Meet and Greet in beautiful Galisteo. The audience numbered about 100 attendees. The candidates who will run in the June primary for the statewide positions of Treasurer, Attorney General and Auditor introduced themselves to the audience and took a series of questions from the audience.
On Thursday, Jan 6, 2022, the Rural Caucus held a "Rural Legislation Town Hall" to discuss rural bills to be introduced for consideration in the 30 Day Regular Session of the 2022 New Mexico Legislature. Our thanks go out to Senator Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez, Representatives Micaela Lara Cadena, Marian Matthews, & Matthew McQueen for their participation in this discussion of upcoming rural legislation.
The First Annual Rural Summit was held in Dec, 2021. Attendees heard from 25 speakers, including elected officials, community advocates and industry workers who addressed a variety of topics affecting rural New Mexico. Thank you from, Kianna Holian DPNM Organizing Director, Mayor Peter Nieto, Former DPNM Rural Caucus Chair, And the Rural Summit Organizing Committee