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SANTA FE \u2014 Republican Nicole Chavez \u2014 an advocate for crime victims and their families since the fatal shooting of her son, Jaydon \u2014 has launched a campaign for the state House.<\/p>\n
She is running in District 28, the seat now held by Rep. Pamelya Herndon, an Albuquerque Democrat appointed last year.<\/p>\n
Chavez, who works in health insurance, has been a familiar face at the Legislature since 2016 as an advocate for changes to the criminal justice system. Her son died after a drive-by shooting in 2015. He wasn\u2019t the shooter\u2019s intended target.<\/p>\n
Herndon, an attorney, is president and CEO of the nonprofit KWH Law Center for Social Justice and Change.<\/p>\n
It isn\u2019t clear yet whether Chavez and Herndon will be the only candidates in the race.<\/p>\n
Tuesday is filing day for legislative campaigns. All 70 seats in the House are on the ballot this year.<\/p>\n
District 28 is expected to be a competitive seat in the general election. Republicans have had a 1% edge in elections over the last decade in the precincts that make up the district, according to an analysis by the state\u2019s redistricting contractor, Research & Polling Inc.<\/p>\n
It covers part of the Albuquerque foothills and Northeast Heights. Democrat Melanie Stansbury held the seat for about three years before winning election to Congress last year.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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