I didn't come from privilege — I came from the projects of Alamogordo.
There are my roots; I was raised in Silver City and Alamogordo. I know what it means to stretch a dollar, rely on food stamps, and find hope in the toughest of circumstances. Those humble beginnings didn't hold me back — they built the foundation for everything I would become.
Through hard work, grit, and determination, I climbed the ladder and lived the true New Mexico experience — proving that where you start doesn't determine where you finish.
On the track field, a young me learned discipline, perseverance, and what it means to push through when things get hard. Those same lessons drive me today.
"Remember where you come from" — because it never leaves you. It shapes you. It fuels you. And for me, it is the very heart of why I fight for every New Mexican who is still running their race. I lived the New Mexico experience and as Governor, I promise I will make this example clear to many upcoming generations.
People first. Period.