Republicans Steve Jones and Sharon Clahchischilliage are both convinced that a tidal wave of voter discontent can catapult them into Congress in November.

Clahchischilliage and Jones traveled to Roswell last month, where they spoke to an audience of the Chaves County Federated Republican Women. The two candidates used the opportunity to talk about their personal and professional backgrounds, their motivations for launching their campaigns and their impressions of the current political environment.

Jones hopes to oust U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01) from office, and Clahchischilliage wants to oust U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM-03).

The meeting took place a week after the assassination of the party’s nominee, former President Donald Trump, and a few days after a four-day Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where the party rallied around Trump and his vice presidential candidate, Senator JD Vance (R-OH).

It was also days before the political landscape changed dramatically, as President Joe Biden decided to abandon his re-election effort and Vice President Kamala Harris received the Democratic nomination.

“We’re running against a guy who can’t even put two sentences together,” Jones said, referring to Biden, whose poor performance during a televised debate with Trump was still a punch line for Republicans and a cause for concern for Democrats.

In his informal speech, Jones mentioned a New York Times article about how Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) told Biden at a meeting between Biden and Democratic governors that she was concerned about his ability to win a majority in New Mexico in November.

“It’s really good that she (Lujan Grisham) recognizes that we are about to kick Biden’s ass,” Jones said.

He added that he believes such an environment would benefit Republicans in elections for the next three seats on the ballot, even in New Mexico, where Democrats currently hold all congressional and statewide offices and have large majorities in both houses of the legislature.

“What I’m telling you today, folks, is that this is not an illusion. We have a great chance of making Lujan Grisham’s prediction come true. New Mexico could be purple. We could have one, two, three congressmen who are Republicans,” he said.

In June, Jones, a retired energy executive and former accountant, defeated Louie Sanchez for the Republican nomination in the 1st Congressional District, which stretches from eastern Albuquerque to Roswell.

Although he now lives in Ruidoso, Jones grew up in Odessa, Texas. He said he greatly appreciates the oil and gas industry and the budget revenue it brings to New Mexico.

“We know that it was God who gave us this wealth for the state and that it should not be wasted,” he said, noting that the industry does not always enjoy the respect he believes it deserves.

This is not Jones’ first time on the ballot in this race. Although Jones said in a previous interview with the Roswell Daily Record that he has been a registered Republican since the late 1970s, he launched a 2020 campaign as an independent in what was then New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District.

That year, he challenged then-U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM-01) and future U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell (D-NM-02). He later said his attempt that year was a sort of stalking campaign for Herrell, who eventually won that race.

But this year, Jones is the Republican candidate, running against Stansbury, who defeated her Republican challenger in 2022 by 56% to 44%.

Jones also currently trails Stansbury in terms of financial resources. Campaign finance reports filed in July show that Stansbury’s campaign has raised about $990,000 this election cycle. In comparison, Jones’ largely self-funded campaign raised $94,186 during the same period.

Still, Jones said the problems of inflation and security at the southern border, as well as what he said was a palpable sense of alienation among conservative and moderate Democrats from their party’s direction, paved a path to victory.

“There are people now actively reaching out to Republicans in Bernalillo County and saying, ‘We can’t come out and support you, but we’re here for you,'” Jones said.

Jones added that he is focused on winning over disaffected Democrats, moderates and libertarians. He noted that his campaign will air two radio spots aimed at Hispanic voters, one on inflation and another on education. One of the spots will be in English and the other in Spanish.

Clahchischilliage had some advice for people who might have trouble with her long name.

“If that scares you and you can’t pronounce it, just remember to look for the longest name on the ballot,” she said, drawing laughter from the audience.

Clahchischilliage, the current New Mexico Education Commissioner, hopes to defeat Leger Fernandez in the 3rd Congressional District. The district covers much of northern New Mexico and stretches across the eastern part of the state down to northern Hobbs.

The reason for Clahchischilliage’s decision to run for Congress is the lack of a conservative voice in New Mexico’s all-Democratic delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives.

“That’s why I’m running. I’m running because a lot of our concerns aren’t being represented,” she said. Clahchischilliage is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and grew up in Shiprock. She said her family has been involved in tribal government.

“I have a rich background in public service. I have a rich background in politics. I am a politician, but I am a thinking, compassionate politician, even if the other politicians spoil it for me and people like me,” she said.

Clahchischilliage began her education at the Navajo Mission School in Farmington. She briefly attended college in Oklahoma before transferring to the University of New Mexico, where she received a bachelor’s degree in education with a concentration in special education before working in schools in Albuquerque, Bernalillo and Farmington.

Eventually, Clachischilliage earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania before serving in the U.S. Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service. When she returned to New Mexico, Clachischilliage worked as a tribal liaison with the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department.

After a time in Washington DC, Clahchischilliage returned to New Mexico. She ran unsuccessfully for Secretary of State and later served as a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019.

Clahchischilliage told the audience that her rural background, combined with the knowledge she has gained working in tribal, state and federal agencies, will benefit the 3rd Congressional District.

“You get a person who is very experienced, you get a person who cares, you get a person who is really committed because they really care about your safety and what you want for your community,” she said.

Clahchischilliage said she also understands that each of the communities in the 3rd District is different.

“I don’t believe in one size fits all. I don’t believe that if this scheme works here, it will work in all other communities,” she explained.