Melanie Stansbury

Melanie Stansbury
Born	Melanie Ann Stansbury 31 1, 1979
Birthplace	Farmington, New Mexico, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, former ecology instructor
Known for	U.S. Representative for New Mexico's 1st congressional district
Education	Saint Mary's College of California (BA) Cornell University (MS)
Website	[Official House website Official site]

Melanie Ann Stansbury (born January 31, 1979) is an American politician and former ecology instructor serving as the U.S. representative for New Mexico's 1st congressional district since June 2021. The district encompasses the majority of Albuquerque and most of its surrounding suburbs. A member of the Democratic Party, Stansbury won a special election to succeed Deb Haaland, who vacated the seat upon her confirmation as U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Before entering Congress, Stansbury served in the New Mexico House of Representatives, representing the 28th district from January 2019 to June 2021. Her legislative career has focused on issues including climate policy, water resources, and social safety net programs. In 2025, Stansbury drew national attention for her outspoken role in pressing for the full release of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, accusing federal officials of obstructing transparency and pledging to hold those implicated accountable.

Early Life

Melanie Ann Stansbury was born on January 31, 1979, in Farmington, New Mexico, a city in the northwestern part of the state near the Four Corners region. She grew up in New Mexico, where the state's arid landscapes, complex water politics, and diverse cultural heritage would later inform her policy priorities. Stansbury's background in the rural and semi-arid environment of the American Southwest contributed to her interest in ecology, natural resource management, and environmental policy.

Details of her family background and upbringing in Farmington remain limited in publicly available sources. However, her trajectory from a small city in northwestern New Mexico to a career in environmental science and eventually politics reflects a path shaped by the region's close relationship with land, water, and energy development issues that dominate public life in the state.

Education

Stansbury earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Mary's College of California, a liberal arts institution located in Moraga, California. She continued her academic training at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where she completed a Master of Science degree. Her graduate studies focused on ecology and natural resource management, providing her with a scientific foundation that she would later apply in both her professional career as an instructor and in her legislative work on environmental and water policy in New Mexico.

Prior to entering politics, Stansbury worked as an ecology instructor and in various roles related to environmental policy and natural resource management. Her academic credentials positioned her as one of the more scientifically trained members of the New Mexico legislature when she first won elected office in 2018.

Career

New Mexico House of Representatives (2019–2021)

Stansbury was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives in 2018, representing the 28th district, which encompasses a portion of Albuquerque. She succeeded Jimmie C. Hall in the seat and began serving on January 15, 2019.

During her tenure in the state legislature, Stansbury focused on environmental and sustainability issues. In February 2019, shortly after taking office, she joined Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham in announcing climate and sustainability legislation designed to bolster the state's plans for addressing climate change, as laid out in an earlier executive order by the governor. This early initiative signaled Stansbury's intent to prioritize environmental policy in her legislative work and established her as a key ally of the governor on climate-related matters.

Stansbury also introduced legislation focused on water policy, an issue of central importance in the arid Southwest. She announced critical water legislation during her time in the state house, addressing the management and conservation of New Mexico's limited water resources.

Her work in the state legislature was cut short when the opportunity arose to run for New Mexico's 1st congressional district following Deb Haaland's departure. Stansbury was succeeded in the 28th district by Pamelya Herndon.

2021 Special Election

When Representative Deb Haaland was confirmed as U.S. Secretary of the Interior in March 2021, her seat in New Mexico's 1st congressional district became vacant, triggering a special election. Stansbury quickly emerged as an early contender for the Democratic nomination.

The Democratic Party of New Mexico held an internal selection process to determine its nominee for the special election. The process involved a vote by the party's State Central Committee (SCC), which narrowed the field to a runoff between Stansbury and state Senator Antoinette Sedillo Lopez.

In what observers described as a come-from-behind effort, Stansbury secured the Democratic nomination. Roll Call reported that the former Senate aide narrowly won the Democratic nod. The Albuquerque Journal characterized Stansbury's nomination as a "come-from-behind victory" in the CD-1 race. The Santa Fe New Mexican ran an analysis of Stansbury's nomination win under the headline "What a rally: Inside Stansbury's improbable victory."

Stansbury went on to win the June 1, 2021, special election decisively in the heavily Democratic district. She was sworn into office on June 14, 2021, succeeding Haaland as the representative for New Mexico's 1st congressional district.

U.S. House of Representatives (2021–present)

Legislative Priorities

Upon entering Congress, Stansbury continued to pursue the environmental and resource policy interests that had defined her state legislative career. Her background in ecology and natural resource management informed her approach to federal legislation addressing water, climate, and sustainability issues relevant to New Mexico and the broader Southwest.

In July 2025, Stansbury partnered with fellow Democratic representatives to introduce legislation aimed at protecting Social Security benefits. She joined Representatives John B. Larson, Joe Neguse, and Hank Johnson in introducing a bill to restore trust in the Social Security Administration and protect benefits for recipients. This legislative effort reflected Stansbury's expansion beyond environmental policy into broader social safety net and governance issues during her time in Congress.

Subsequent Elections

Stansbury won the Democratic nomination for the full term in the 2022 election cycle. KRQE News reported that she won the Democratic nomination for the CD-1 seat, and she went on to win the general election in the solidly Democratic district.

Jeffrey Epstein Transparency Campaign

Beginning in 2025, Stansbury became one of the most prominent congressional voices calling for the full release of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case and accountability for individuals implicated in Epstein's activities. Her advocacy on this issue brought her significant national media attention and established her as a leading figure in the push for transparency.

In September 2025, Stansbury accused government officials of orchestrating what she described as a cover-up in the Epstein case. Speaking after meetings with officials, she stated that the cover-up extended "all the way to the top," according to the New Mexico Political Report.

In December 2025, following a partial release of Epstein-related files by the Department of Justice, Stansbury appeared on CNN to argue that the DOJ's partial disclosure violated the law requiring full transparency. She accused the White House of involvement in a cover-up and called for complete accountability.

In early 2026, Stansbury pledged to "name names" from the Epstein files, intensifying her campaign for full disclosure of individuals connected to Epstein's activities. Following reports of the arrest of former Prince Andrew, Stansbury commented publicly, stating: "If a Prince can be held accountable, so can a President," as reported by The Hill.

In February 2026, Stansbury invited New Mexico State Representative Andrea Romero, the leader of a newly formed Epstein Truth Commission, to attend the State of the Union address as her guest. Romero was reported to be attending alongside Epstein survivors.

In July 2025, amid her high-profile Epstein advocacy, a conservative news outlet published a report alleging financial ties between Stansbury and Ghislaine Maxwell. Stansbury's office denied the report, with a spokeswoman stating that it was "100% false" and that the outlet had referenced a financial disclosure form that contained an error.

Personal Life

Stansbury resides in the Albuquerque area, which she represents in Congress. Before entering politics, she worked as an ecology instructor, drawing on her graduate training from Cornell University. Her professional background in environmental science and natural resource management has been a recurring element of her public identity and legislative focus.

Details about Stansbury's family and private life are limited in publicly available sources. She has maintained a focus on her professional and political work in public communications.

Recognition

Stansbury's 2021 special election victory drew significant media attention as a closely watched contest that would test Democratic strength in the post-Trump political landscape. Her come-from-behind win in the Democratic nominating process was covered extensively by New Mexico media outlets and national political press, including Roll Call, the Albuquerque Journal, and the Santa Fe New Mexican.

By 2025 and into 2026, Stansbury gained national prominence for her role as one of the most outspoken members of Congress on the issue of Epstein-related transparency and accountability. Her appearances on CNN and other national outlets, as well as her public statements covered by The Hill and other Washington-focused publications, elevated her profile beyond New Mexico politics.

Stansbury has been affiliated with the Adelante Caucus, a group focused on issues affecting Latino and Hispanic communities, and has responded to the caucus's candidate questionnaire during her campaigns.