Printer-friendlyAbout Us
New Mexico First was co-founded two decades ago by the state’s two U.S. senators, Pete Domenici (R) and Jeff Bingaman (D). We are a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that engages New Mexicans in public policy, primarily by holding consensus-driven town halls on topics of public interest. Typically, these town halls focus on one particular policy issue – such as water, energy, education, or healthcare – and they produce a list of concrete, actionable recommendations for policymakers.
Our Founders
U.S. Senators Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman
New Mexico First events bring together people from all walks of life to identify practical solutions to the state’s toughest problems. In our 20-year history, we have engaged over 6,000 people in the democratic process. We are governed by a large, statewide board of business and civic leaders from all corners of the state.
We conduct three major types of activities:
- An annual statewide town hall convened for the people and policymakers of New Mexico, on a critical issue facing the state (with 12-18 months of extensive implementation follow-up)
- Specialized town halls for communities and government clients that need consensus-based feedback on a particular topic
- Smaller consensus facilitations, such as strategic planning sessions or staff retreats, for groups that do not need a full town hall
New Mexico First is funded by foundation grants, membership dues, corporate and private contributions, and contracts.