The longtime Las Cruces-area lawmaker announced her retirement on social media after a decade in the Legislature

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

LAS CRUCES - Joanne Ferrary, who has represented New Mexico House District 37 for the past decade, announced she will not seek re-election and will retire at the end of her current term.

Ferrary shared the decision in a Facebook post earlier this month, calling her time in office “the honor of a lifetime” and confirming that the current 30-day legislative session will be her final session in the House.

“I have decided not to file for re-election, and will be retiring by the end of my term,” Ferrary wrote. “I am excited to serve in the upcoming 30-day session, which will be my last as Representative of District 37.”

First elected in 2012, Ferrary said her tenure included work on protecting reproductive rights, investing in public education, expanding access to health care, and supporting workers and labor unions.

“We have accomplished a lot in the last 9 years including protecting reproductive rights, investing in public education, expanding healthcare and finding new innovative ways to help our economy and workers while protecting labor unions,” she wrote.

Ferrary also thanked campaign staff, volunteers, and legislative aides who supported her work in Las Cruces and Santa Fe, describing her campaign team as “like family” and expressing confidence in the next generation of leaders.

“I am excited to continue this work as a citizen and pass the baton off to new leadership,” she wrote.

House District 37 includes portions of Las Cruces and surrounding areas of Doña Ana County and has leaned Democratic in recent election cycles. Ferrary most recently ran unopposed in the 2024 general election after winning her primary. In 2022, she defeated her Republican challenger by a 57–43 percent margin. While Democrats have consistently held the seat in recent years, Ferrary’s decision not to seek re-election removes the advantages of incumbency and opens the door to a contested race as the 2026 election cycle approaches.

Ferrary said she plans to remain civically engaged after leaving office.

Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. If you have a personal story to share or a lead we should follow up on, reach out at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or connect with him on X at @damienwillis.