Heather Berghmans is a Democratic member of the New Mexico Senate representing District 15 , assuming office on January 1, 2025, after defeating incumbent Daniel Ivey-Soto in the 2024 primary. Born on February 16, 1988, she is a native New Mexican who briefly lived abroad before returning in 2018 to focus on public service. As a policy analyst and finance consultant, she previously served as Finance Director for the New Mexico House Democratic Campaign Committee , Director of Special Projects/Floor Assistant to Speaker Javier Martínez , Policy Analyst in Speaker Brian Egolf's office , and Lead Policy/Committee Analyst in the NM House .

Notable achievements include instrumental roles in passing bills on abortion access, gun violence prevention, climate action, affordable healthcare, criminal justice reform, voting rights, education funding, government transparency, ethics, and labor rights. In the Senate, she has supported statewide zoning for more housing, renter protections, health and behavioral health funding, UNM medical school rebuilds, highway bonds, no-cost birth control/abortion/gender-affirming care, tighter gun laws, and immigrant/voter privacy protections.

Education and Political Experience

Education

• Moriarty High School, Moriarty, NM
• B.A. in Political Science, University of New Mexico
• Exchange Student, Political Science, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom
• Master’s in Public Administration, University of New Mexico School of Public Administration

Political Experience

• U.S. Country Director, Gourmesso.com , Berlin, Germany and Miami, FL
• Various roles in New Mexico House of Representatives , as noted above
• Volunteer, City of Albuquerque 2022 Redistricting Committee
• Elected New Mexico State Senator, District 15