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Still Think Democrats Aren't Doing Anything? Introducing Melanie Stansbury [1]

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Date: 2025-03-28

Melanie Stansbury first won election to Congress in 2021, succeeding the incredible Deb Haaland in New Mexico’s First Congressional District. She won a very close primary, by only six votes, before going on to win in this strongly Democratic area.

Prior to entering the House, she worked as an Ecology instructor at the New Mexico Museum of History. She moved on to work on the staff of Senator Maria Cantwell and as a senior advisor to Utton Transboundary Resources Center at the University of Mexico.

In her initial foray into electoral politics, she unseated a Republican incumbent in the New Mexico House of Representatives in 2018 before moving on to the national political stage.

So how is she standing up to Trump? Let’s look.

Most people probably first knew of her on the night of Trump’s address to Congress. She held a sign saying, “This is Not Normal” as Trump walked down the aisle. A Republican member (in every meaning of that word) grabbed the sign from her hand and ripped it up, possibly at Trump’s direction. He later reinforced his fascist character by saying, “No one will disrespect [Trump} in front of me.”

I recall at the time of the speech many on this site were complaining that all Democrats were doing is wearing matching clothes and holding signs. Assertions were made that this simply wasn’t enough. Yet Melanie Stansbury, wearing pink along with many members of the Women’s caucus, held that sign and sent what she called an “SOS to the world” by doing so. It was a moment that went viral.

Melanie Stansbury is a member of the LGBTQ+ Caucus in Congress and has repeatedly spoken about the harm Republicans are doing to Americans, especially those in the trans community. For those, both on the moderate and left wing of the party, suggesting we stop speaking out for trans people and focus instead on “kitchen table” issues, Melanie Stansbury and Democratic members of the House are reinforcing the need to side with civil rights, respect and compassion.

x As we head back to the fray in DC today—we wanted to send a message of hope and solidarity to the Trans and LGBTQ+ community across New Mexico and the country. We know it’s a difficult and frightening time—but we see you, we love you, and are fighting alongside you! ❤️ — Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) (@repstansbury.bsky.social) 2025-03-24T15:38:43.031Z

As Trump and Musk cut programs that provide food for people in need, and put farmers ability to sell their products at risk, Melanie Stansbury spoke up. She frames the choice perfectly, and allowing hunger is a choice, by observing that Musk and Trump are cutting a program that costs $6 a day to feed a child while at the same time they are handing Musk $6,000,000 a day in federal contracts. This is, as she says in the video below, “outrageous, unconscionable and disgusting”

x Hunger is a policy choice. Trump and the GOP are CHOOSING to potentially let millions of Americans go hungry. In NM, 1 in 5 kids experience food insecurity and over 470,000 New Mexicans use SNAP to supplement food and grocery needs. These are real New Mexicans who will suffer. We are fighting back! — Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) (@repstansbury.bsky.social) 2025-03-21T21:01:11.876Z

She is especially strong on social media and in messaging. Here she is laying out the ridiculousness of the Republicans debating refrigerator efficiency standards when the government, and the military, is falling apart.

x The economy is in chaos, the Defense Dept. is trying to cover up leaking war plans in a group chat, and Trump & Musk are dismantling vital programs. What is the GOP using precious Floor time on this week? Repealing refrigerator efficiency standards. You can’t make this up. The GOP is out of touch. — Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) (@repstansbury.bsky.social) 2025-03-26T18:00:53.026Z

Where she is really shining, however, is in her role as ranking Democratic Member on Margorie Taylor Green’s DOGE committee. In each hearing, she is attacking Trump, attacking Musk, and demanding accountability and oversight from this committee.

She and Jamie Raskin, in fact, recently introduced the Nobody Elected Elon Musk Act that requires him to reimburse taxpayers for any costs his incompetent and corrupt group incur.

x Can someone remind me who elected Elon Musk to office? Oh, that’s right. NOBODY DID. That’s why @raskin.house.gov and I introduced the Nobody Elected Elon Musk Act, which would ensure that Elon and DOGE Special Employees are held accountable for their reckless and illegal actions. — Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) (@repstansbury.bsky.social) 2025-02-07T23:51:25.800Z

x ‘King Trump’?! MTG Goes Off youtube.com/shorts/6gisf... Ranking Member on the House Natural Resources Subcommittee, Melanie Stansbury "250 years ago, the people rejected a reckless, abusive king. And we won't go back!" — LDJohns (Former Twitter'er) (@fights4justice.bsky.social) 2025-03-05T03:18:08.960Z

x Let me be clear—the claim that the Administration is not impacting Veterans is a Bold. Face. Lie. They are firing Veterans, gutting programs, erasing history, and threatening our national security. Let’s set the record straight! — Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) (@repstansbury.bsky.social) 2025-03-25T17:03:29.876Z

x How many people out there believe an unelected billionaire who is only willing to discuss looting Social Security on Fox News and not under oath in front of Congress? 🤔 Anyone? K, cool. Me neither. #HandsOffSocialSecurity #ThisIsAScam — Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) (@repstansbury.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T02:34:07.907Z

It says something about Melanie Stansbury that Democrats had the confidence in her to make her the ranking member of the DOGE committee. And she is repaying that confidence through her performance.

The reason I write these diaries, and highlight individual Congressional Democrats, is to focus readers on this site on the incredible work being done. It is easy to tear down. It is easy to give in to anger and despair. But there is a choice. Party supporters can wallow in cynicism and defeatism or they can choose to support and amplify the vast majority of Democrats, largely unheralded and less well known, who are meeting the moment every day.

And if you want more information on what Democrats are doing, go read Janesaunts diaries “Dems Dems and More Dems” and lpeacocks Thursday diaries on the Congression0al Black Caucus. Both are awesome and deserve more support.

Links are here.

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