SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The two major party candidates competing to become the first woman to represent a Democrat-dominated New Mexico district have squared off in their first televised debate. They touched on solutions to poverty, environmental degradation and improving health care. Democratic attorney Teresa Leger Fernandez is competing against Republican engineer Alexis Johnson to succeed U.S. Rep Ben Ray Luján in Congress. Lujàn is running in an open U.S. Senate race as Sen. Tom Udall retires. Democrats have monopolized the northern 3rd Congressional District since its creation in 1983 with the exception of one special election. The winner in November will become the first woman to hold the seat.
Northern New Mexico district to pick its 1st congresswoman
