New Mexico activists, parents, communities, and policymakers have fought fiercely for years to improve opportunities for young children and families. In November 2022, they overwhelmingly passed a voter measure that changed the state’s constitution and substantially increased annual spending for early childhood care and education from the state’s land grant permanent fund — boosting funds by more than $140 million in 2023 alone.
Helping achieve this victory and others is James Jimenez. As executive director of NMVC Action Fund, he oversees 501(c)(4) legislative and electoral activities that help ensure early childhood issues are always on the mind of state-level candidates and officeholders. New Mexico’s governor, long a champion for early childhood issues, won reelection with NMVC Action Fund’s endorsement last November, and so did 28 of 33 legislative candidates they backed. We talked with Jimenez about the differences that 501(c)(4) political action can make for young children and families.
