FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 28, 2026

Media contact: Deb Michel, Friends of Abby Foster Deputy Campaign Manager friendsofabbyfoster@gmail.com | 505-492-9004

VOTER FILES CAMPAIGN FINANCE COMPLAINT AGAINST JAHNELLE GARCIA

Albuquerque, NM - Today, an HD27 voter filed a complaint with the State Ethics Commission alleging Republican nominee for HD27, Jahnelle Garcia, violated New Mexico campaign finance law by placing signs throughout the district without the legally required disclaimer identifying who authorized and paid for them.

New Mexico campaign finance law requires qualifying campaign advertising to disclose who authorized and paid for it. According to the complaint, Garcia's campaign signs failed to include that basic disclosure.

"Jahnelle can't have it both ways. She wants to manufacture controversy around donors that I have publicly, legally disclosed, while she doesn't follow fundamental election law." Foster said, "If she wants to make this race about transparency, she should start with her own campaign. This is incredibly disappointing, but unfortunately it is a pattern," Foster added.

The complaint comes just weeks after controversy over Garcia's candidate filing address. Garcia repeatedly listed an HD27 home as her residence in various campaign finance documents, even though the home's current owner told Source New Mexico's Patrick Lohmann that he had lived there for more than a year. This is corroborated by property records listing Garcia's home in Los Lunas.

"Transparency isn't optional when you're asking the public to trust you." Foster continued, "Voters shouldn't have to investigate where a candidate actually lives. They shouldn't have to wonder who paid for campaign ads. And they shouldn't have to repeatedly ask whether a candidate followed basic election laws.'

Foster said the recurring issues are particularly concerning because Garcia is seeking to be the next HD27 State Representative, where her job would be to understand and write state law.

"I've worked for the legislature and know firsthand that you must understand the law and be accountable to the people you want to represent. Jahnelle keeps giving voters reasons to question her ability to do so." Foster continued, "At this point, I genuinely don't know which is worse: that Jahnelle doesn't understand basic laws or that she may understand them, but doesn't think they apply to her."

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