homestate new mexico
By Ben Everidge for Thomas
Photo Credit: New Mexico Tourism
new mexico at the Crossroads: 10 Issues That Define the land of enchantment state’s Future
“New Mexico glows where others glare. A place of ancient light and modern need, still trying to prove that beauty and hardship can build the same home.”
- Ben Everidge
New Mexico is a state of extraordinary contrasts. Breathtaking beauty beside deep poverty, ancient culture beside cutting-edge science, and untapped potential shadowed by persistent inequity. Its story has always been one of endurance and imagination. Now, as energy markets shift, population diversity, and water grow scarce, the Land of Enchantment must decide whether to remain defined by its challenges or rise through its possibilities.
1. Economic Diversification and Innovation
For decades, New Mexico has depended on federal spending, oil, and gas. Expanding into aerospace, film, technology, and renewable energy is crucial to creating a broader, more resilient economy that keeps young workers home.
2. Education and Workforce Development
Chronic underperformance in K-12 education and low graduation rates continue to limit opportunity. Meaningful reform, focused on early literacy, teacher pay, and vocational pathways, will determine whether the next generation can compete nationally.
3. Energy Transition and Environmental Balance
New Mexico is rich in both fossil fuels and renewable potential. Balancing oil and gas production in the Permian Basin with aggressive investment in solar and wind energy will shape both its economy and its environmental legacy.
4. Water Scarcity and Climate Resilience
Decades of drought and overuse threaten New Mexico’s water security. River systems are shrinking, aquifers are declining, and disputes with neighboring states are intensifying. Conservation, reuse, and more intelligent management will define the state’s survival.
5. Poverty and Economic Inequality
Nearly one in five New Mexicans lives below the poverty line – one of the highest rates in the nation. Expanding access to affordable housing, healthcare, and job opportunities will be central to reversing cycles of economic hardship.
6. Indigenous Sovereignty and Cultural Preservation
Home to 23 sovereign tribal nations, New Mexico remains a leader in Native representation and cultural recognition. Building stronger partnerships in education, governance, and resource management will determine how equitably that legacy grows.
7. Healthcare Access and Public Health
Rural hospital closures, shortages of medical professionals, and high rates of chronic illness continue to plague the state. Expanding telemedicine and public health infrastructure could narrow the gap between rural and urban care.
8. Border, Immigration, and Regional Identity
As a border state, New Mexico sits at the intersection of federal policy and local reality. Managing immigration humanely while ensuring public safety and economic vitality will require both compassion and competence.
9. Infrastructure and Connectivity
Aging infrastructure, limited public transit, and insufficient broadband access hinder growth. Modernizing these systems is essential for attracting investment and connecting communities across the state’s vast geography.
10. Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy
New Mexico’s artistic heritage, from Santa Fe’s galleries to Albuquerque’s film studios, remains one of its greatest assets. Investing in creative industries can not only diversify the economy but also strengthen the state’s cultural soul.
The Thomas Take
New Mexico’s future depends on whether it can transform beauty into prosperity and heritage into progress. Its story has always been written by survivors and dreamers, people who find light in the desert. If the Land of Enchantment can harness that imagination toward shared purpose, it may yet become not just a state of wonder, but a model for renewal for the American Southwest.
To learn more about New Mexico’s issues, read: