The district covers much of southeastern Doña Ana and includes part of Otero County. It includes a variety of rural colonias, including Chaparral, and parts of Las Cruces. The replacement candidate will face Republican Elizabeth Winterrowd in the general election.

Seven members of the Democratic Party Central Committee who live in the district will review and approve the replacement later this month. Daniel Garcia, a spokesman for the New Mexico Democratic Party, said the Aug. 22 selection meeting will not be open to the public.

Peña, 36, is the third candidate to succeed the Democratic Party candidate.

Health concerns overturn bid for House seat, southern New Mexico district opens for Democrats

Last week, Rep. Willie Madrid (D-Chaparral), who lost to Hill in the June primary, filed for election. Also running is Sarah Silva, a community organizer from Las Cruces and a first-time candidate.

Peña lives in Las Cruces but said she is working to build connections with the rural colonias communities in the county.

“New Mexico has always been a safe place for me, full of hope and opportunity, and it has created the potential for positive futures,” she said. “So when I drive through Chaparral and see the reality of a neglected community, it really touched me.”

The election campaign for the 53rd House District is Peña’s first.

Her experience in civil engineering would help improve the outdated or neglected infrastructure of rural communities, she said.

She supports paid family leave and says that because she is on unpaid parental leave for her three children, she has now tried to balance her children’s needs with her own.

“I have deeply experienced the reality of staying at home, raising a family, bonding with your newborn and the financial reality,” she said.

On Monday, Peña announced the endorsement of prominent Democratic women from Las Cruces.