Bernie Sanders endorses Daisy Maldonado in Doña Ana County commission race
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed Daisy Maldonado in the Democratic primary race for Doña Ana County Commission District 1, citing her opposition to Project Jupiter.
Campaign says endorsement stems from Maldonado’s opposition to the proposed Project Jupiter AI data center development in Santa Teresa
Organ Mountain News report
LAS CRUCES - U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has endorsed Daisy Maldonado in the Democratic primary race for Doña Ana County Commission District 1, adding national political attention to a local contest increasingly shaped by debate over Project Jupiter, the proposed AI data center development in Santa Teresa.
Maldonado’s campaign announced the endorsement Monday, saying Sanders supported her candidacy because of her opposition to the project and her criticism of how the proposal moved through county government.
Project Jupiter involves a proposed artificial intelligence hyperscale data center campus tied to a controversial $165 billion industrial revenue bond package approved by the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners.
According to the campaign, Maldonado organized opposition to the project over concerns related to water use, environmental impacts and community input.
“I am deeply honored by Senator Sanders' endorsement and humbled by the trust placed in this campaign by so many organizations that fight every day for the people of New Mexico,” Maldonado said in a statement.
Organ Mountain News
The campaign framed Sanders’ endorsement as part of a broader national debate surrounding artificial intelligence infrastructure, corporate influence and environmental accountability.
In addition to Sanders, the campaign announced endorsements from several organizations and elected officials, including Conservation Voters New Mexico, OLÉ, Semilla Action, New Mexico Native Vote, New Mexico Young Democrats, state Rep. Angélica Rubio and Las Cruces City Councilor Johana Bencomo.
According to the campaign, as executive director of Empowerment Congress of Doña Ana County, she grew the organization from a $90,000 budget and one staff member to a nearly million dollar budget and a team of twelve. She has also served on the state’s Sustainable Economy Advisory Council.
Maldonado is running against Angela Garcia in the June 2 Democratic primary for the District 1 seat on the Doña Ana County Commission. Early voting is currently underway.
More information about the campaign is available at Daisy Maldonado's campaign website.
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