ALBUQUERQUE — Chaparral small business owner and journeyman electrician Ben Luna is running for New Mexico House District 53, citing his experience in business, concerns about state policy, and a desire to better represent his community in Santa Fe.
In an interview on The Chile Wire podcast, hosted by Abe Baldonado, Luna discussed his background, campaign motivations and policy priorities as he seeks to represent parts of Doña Ana County, including Chaparral and Las Cruces.
Luna, who has worked as an electrician for nearly two decades, said his decision to run for office was shaped by his experiences operating multiple family businesses and navigating economic challenges. He described starting a business with his father that provided cleaning services, eventually expanding and hiring employees, many of them family members.
“We have the work ethic,” Luna said. “But we had to break that poverty mindset. And so we broke it. We became business owners.”
Luna said those experiences gave him insight into how state policies affect small businesses, particularly when it comes to taxes, regulations and economic uncertainty. He pointed to the loss of contracts and financial pressures, such as tax obligations, as examples of challenges business owners face.
“If you run out of money, you don’t have money to move forward,” he said, contrasting that with what he described as government spending decisions made without similar constraints.
A central theme of Luna’s campaign is increasing accountability among elected officials. He argued that policymakers should be more responsive to constituents and more transparent about legislative decisions.
“Why would you give them more time if they’re not making the right decisions?” Luna said, referring to elected officials.
During the conversation, Luna and Baldonado also discussed a range of policy issues, including medical malpractice laws, business regulations and the legislative process. Luna criticized what he described as a lack of transparency in committee hearings and expressed concern about decisions being made along party lines.
Luna said his involvement in political advocacy began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he used social media to highlight issues affecting local businesses and communities. He described documenting events and producing content to bring attention to concerns he believed were underreported.
“I saw the power of the media,” Luna said. “We had to become the media.”
In addition to business and economic issues, Luna said he has engaged with concerns raised by ranchers and others in rural industries, including disputes involving federal land management and water access. He also referenced broader concerns about government overreach and its impact on families and local communities.
Luna emphasized the importance of grassroots engagement in his campaign, including meeting voters directly and encouraging civic participation.
“Getting people informed and getting people out to vote—that’s step one,” he said.
Baldonado noted that Luna is among a number of candidates entering races ahead of the 2026 election cycle and said platforms like The Chile Wire aim to provide voters with more information about candidates and policy discussions.
House District 53 covers portions of southern New Mexico, including Chaparral and areas near Las Cruces. The seat is expected to be contested in the upcoming election.
Luna said voters can learn more about his campaign through his website and social media platforms, where he shares information about his background, policy positions and ongoing outreach efforts.
