Former New Mexico state Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-Albuquerque) recently won the seat to serve as the U.S. Rep. for New Mexico's 1st Congressional District.

Stansbury was sworn in on Monday, June 14 and replaces former Rep. Deb Haaland (D-Albuquerque), who went on to serve as U.S. Interior Secretary last March, according to Politico.

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-Santa Fe) took to social media to welcome the new representative.

"Incredibly proud to welcome my friend @MelanieForNM to Congress," Sen. Luján wrote in a June 14 Twitter post. "She’s a fearless leader with an empathetic heart, and I know she’s ready to continue fighting for New Mexicans here in the nation’s capital."

Stansbury rolled to victory in the special election, taking 79,622 votes compared to 47,070 for GOP candidate Mark Moores, according to Politico. Two Independent candidates, Aubrey Dunn and Christopher Manning, also ran in the race. 

"Making New Mexico proud!" Jessica Velasquez, chair of the New Mexico Democratic Party, wrote in a June 14 Twitter post. "@Rep_Stansbury ran a strong campaign which focused on the issues most important to New Mexicans: rebuilding our economy, strengthening our infrastructure, tackling the climate crisis. She has the experience to make sure our voices are heard in DC."

Stansbury's victory is the first time in over 100 years that a special election has been won by a larger margin than the candidate's party received in the previous general election, according to a video Stansbury posted to Twitter on June 3.

"I am so proud and humbled to represent New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District because I believe we are called to build a world that is more just, equitable and resilient," Stansbury wrote in a June 14 Twitter post. "Ready to get to work."

According to Stansbury's campaign site, her legislative focuses have included food insecurity, climate change and economic issues.