ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — According to the October report, candidates for office in New Mexico have now taken $15,750 in contributions from Big Tobacco between Aug. 1, 2018, and Oct. 1, 2018. Twenty-four candidates have taken the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) up on its challenge to “just say no” to Big Tobacco campaign money.
"We’re obviously disappointed that more local candidates have aligned themselves with an industry bringing addiction and disease to New Mexico,” said ACS CAN New Mexico Government Relations Director Sandra Adondakis. “ACS CAN and our volunteers ask all candidates to reject and return Big Tobacco’s dirty money and instead ensure that if elected, they will support legislative efforts to help people quit smoking, prevent youth from starting and protect people from secondhand smoke.”
The following candidates for the state House of Representatives accepted tobacco money in August, September and early October, according to campaign finance reports available online. New additions to this list are marked with an asterisk.
As part of its national Cancer Votes campaign — the nation’s leading voter education program informing the public and candidates about the actions lawmakers should take to make fighting cancer a national priority — ACS CAN New Mexico sent letters in July to every gubernatorial and state house candidate urging them to reject contributions from tobacco companies and their subsidiaries, and asking a simple question: "Will you reject the deception, pain and suffering that fund campaign contributions from tobacco companies and will you stand with ACS CAN and help us snuff tobacco money out of New Mexico politics?"
Candidates who have accepted ACS CAN’s challenge may be found here.
ACS CAN has tracked contributions since Aug. 1, 2018. Additional updates will be issued detailing Big Tobacco’s campaign contributions. If candidates have taken tobacco money, ACS CAN will ask them to return the contribution. Should a candidate fail to return the funds, ACS CAN will list them as rejecting the challenge.
For more information and to view which candidates have accepted the challenge to snuff Big Tobacco out of New Mexico’s politics, visit fightcancer.org/NoTobaccoMoneyNM.
About ACS CAN
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is making cancer a top priority for public officials and candidates at the federal, state and local levels. ACS CAN empowers advocates across the country to make their voices heard and influence evidence-based public policy change as well as legislative and regulatory solutions that will reduce the cancer burden. As the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN is critical to the fight for a world without cancer. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org. 8500 Menaul Blvd NE Ste. A500, Albuquerque, NM 87112
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