Democrat · New Mexico's 1st District · 2026
Melanie Stansbury
Stansbury began her career helping New Mexico children learn science through the Museum of Natural History.
Biography
Melanie Stansbury began her working life in science education, including a job at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science.1 Born in Farmington and raised in Albuquerque, she went to Cibola High School before college and graduate study took her to California and New York.1
She earned a bachelor's degree at Saint Mary's College of California and a master's at Cornell University, then built a career studying land, water and communities.12 Her work included the White House Office of Management and Budget and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee before she entered New Mexico's Legislature.2
Stansbury won a 2021 special election for the First District's House seat and now serves on Natural Resources and Oversight.32 Her congressional office emphasizes food and water security, conservation, economic development and climate issues, building on subjects she worked on before holding elected office.2
She faces Republican pharmacist Didi Okpareke for reelection, with both candidates identifying household affordability as a central issue.3 Stansbury argues for protecting health care and food assistance, and identifies public safety facilities, behavioral health services and water infrastructure as priorities in her district work.3
Record and controversies
Police donation statement
The Palm Beach Post reported that Stansbury's May 2026 Epstein hearing statement named West Palm Beach police as a donation recipient, confusing that agency with the separate Palm Beach department.4 The report said Palm Beach police returned the $90,000 after Epstein's arrest and had pursued his prosecution; former Chief Michael Reiter disputed her characterization.4 Her office had not answered the newspaper's request for comment by its May 13 report.4