Gail Armstrong has represented District 49 in the New Mexico Legislature for nearly a decade. Appointed in 2017 by Governor Susana Martinez, Armstrong’s journey into politics began when former Speaker of the House Don Tripp encouraged her to run for office. Initially hesitant, she eventually agreed, driven by her passion for solving problems.
A lifelong New Mexican, Armstrong and her husband have lived on a ranch in Magdalena for years, where they raised four children and now enjoy the company of 13 grandchildren. Her district is rural and widespread, spanning from Los Lunas to Hatch and from Mountainair to Arizona.
“If you do this job correctly, it's a full-time job,” she says, despite the low pay. Her favorite aspect is assisting constituents with issues ranging from obtaining driver’s licenses to accessing veterans’ benefits.
However, she expresses frustration with the evolving political climate. “We used to sit down at the table and have a voice–now, it’s different,” she says. She describes the reality of being a member of the minority party in the legislature. “We play defense a lot.”
As the first woman to lead the House Republican Caucus, Armstrong navigates significant political pressures. Her approach to leadership revolves around negotiation and leveraging support within the legislature. “The pressure is not so much trying to navigate what’s coming to the House floor, but how we can gather all of our caucus together to support something and use that as leverage,” she says.
She frequently meets with the Speaker of the House, working to ensure commitments are honored. “We’re in real game-time right now,” she says, stressing the importance of clear communication in political negotiations.
One of Armstrong’s top priorities is addressing crime, an issue she believes resonates deeply with New Mexicans. “Crime is the number-one issue at the top of everyone’s list,” she says.
However, she is not a fan of the state’s current approach to criminal justice reform. “In New Mexico, it seems like we don’t have the guts to just say, ‘Let’s hold people accountable.’” She is particularly focused on juvenile crime, and advocates for legislative measures to ensure repeat offenders face consequences.
Another key focus for Armstrong is fixing the state’s troubled foster care system. She has worked extensively on reforming the Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD), particularly in strengthening the Care and Reporting Act (CARA). “Since we implemented the CARA Act in 2019, 22 babies have died in New Mexico,” she says, underscoring the failure of current policies.
While she insists that removing children from their parents should not be the first solution, she believes accountability is necessary. “We have programs to help parents, but we’re not mandating participation,” she says.
She also claims to have a fix. “Hopefully, it gets across the finish line and gets signed by the governor,” she says. Her bipartisan efforts on the issue have gained traction, and her legislation passed unanimously out of the health committee after initial resistance.
Despite support for some reforms, Armstrong is critical of recent legislative efforts labeled as crime packages. “The crime package that passed? Well, ultimately, we voted for it. It helps, but it’s not a crime package—it’s more of a behavioral health package,” she says.
While she acknowledges the importance of addressing mental health, she insists that meaningful criminal justice reform requires tougher laws. “We need real legislation that will actually make a difference.”
With over a thousand bills introduced during the 60-day legislative session, Armstrong acknowledges the immense workload but remains steadfast in her commitment. “We probably hear 350 bills each,” she says. While some legislation fails in committees, she continues to push for reforms. “We need a crime package. We need to pass real legislation that actually addresses the issue.”
As the legislative session nears its end, Armstrong looks forward to reuniting with her family. “I’m flying to Montana probably three or four days after I get out of the session,” she says, eager to meet her new granddaughter, Madeline Gail, named in her honor.
