ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Political leaders across New Mexico are remembering labor organizer and civil rights icon Dolores Huerta as a transformational advocate whose work reshaped the lives of farmworkers and inspired generations of activists.
Huerta died Wednesday at the age of 96, according to her family. Born on April 10, 1930, in Dawson, New Mexico, Huerta became one of the nation’s most influential labor leaders and civil rights advocates, known for co-founding the farmworker movement alongside Cesar Chavez and helping popularize the rallying cry, “Sí, se puede.”
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham reflected on Huerta’s decades of advocacy and leadership, calling her a “force of nature” who devoted her life to standing up for people who were underserved and unheard.
“Dolores was a force of nature. She gave farm workers a voice and she gave all of us ‘Sí, se puede,’” Lujan Grisham said in a statement. “She showed up for people who were at risk, taken advantage of, underserved and unheard until the day she died.”
In 2023, Lujan Grisham signed legislation establishing April 10 as Dolores Huerta Day in New Mexico, honoring the labor leader’s contributions and ensuring future generations would recognize her impact on the state and the nation.
A Lasting Legacy in New Mexico
Although Huerta’s activism took her across the country, New Mexico remained an important part of her story. She frequently returned to the state for community events and public appearances.
One of her most recent appearances in New Mexico came during a celebration at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, where she spoke about current social and political issues alongside elected officials and community leaders.
U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez remembered Huerta as a towering figure whose influence extended far beyond the labor movement.
“She marched for justice, dignity and people who were too often ignored,” Leger Fernandez said. “Today, we mourn a giant. But her footsteps will echo in every march, her spirit will live in every movement, and her words will carry us forward.”
Tributes Cross Political Lines
Huerta’s death prompted tributes from leaders across the political spectrum.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland described Huerta as a “true servant of humanity” whose lifelong fight for civil rights and workers’ rights inspired generations.
“Dolores Huerta leaves a mark on this world and on me that will never be forgotten or erased,” Haaland said.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Gregg Hull also praised Huerta’s legacy.
“New Mexico has lost one of its own,” Hull said. “Few New Mexicans have left a mark on our nation like she did.”
Members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation also paid tribute.
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury called Huerta a “friend, mentor and real-life superhero,” while U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez described her as one of the most formidable champions of civil rights and workers’ rights in American history.
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján remembered Huerta as “a bright, shining beacon in the darkness,” while U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich said New Mexico had lost “one of our own” and America had lost “a giant.”
Remembering a Movement
Huerta spent more than six decades organizing workers, advocating for voting rights, women’s rights and immigrant communities, and challenging policies she believed harmed working families.
Her influence continues to be felt through the labor movement, civil rights organizations and generations of activists who cite her as an inspiration.
As tributes continue to pour in from across the country, many leaders say Huerta’s legacy is likely to endure far beyond her lifetime, in both the movements she helped build and the people she inspired.
