Rio Rancho pharmacist announces campaign for Congress

RIO RANCHO — A Rio Rancho pharmacist with an eye on prioritizing health care is running for a seat in Congress to represent New Mexico’s First Congressional District.

Ndidiamaka “Didi” Okpareke, founder of Olive Tree Compounding Pharmacy, has never held or been elected to office before she declared as a Republican with hopes of defeating Rep. Melanie Stansbury, a Democrat serving her third term.

Okpareke, a mother of three boys who moved from Albuquerque to Rio Rancho in April, said making the decision to run for Congress was not sporadic; it took a lot of thought and one that motivated her was how New Mexico “came to be.”

“The way that New Mexico came to be today is because of the leaders that we have in office,” Okpareke said. “Thankfully, we have an opportunity to change the leadership and I thought, ‘Who better to be in this seat to determine how New Mexico moves forward than me?’”

She cited her experience as a health care provider for almost 20 years, which she said allowed her to witness vast changes in the industry. Okpareke also said relationships she built “on both sides of the aisle” with community members, patients and colleagues qualify her for a seat in Congress.

“I think I’m strategically positioned to be the voice for the entire health care community,” Okpareke said.

She hopes to make New Mexico’s health care industry “robust” as possible to fulfill the needs of all residents. Asked if there is a piece of legislation she would sponsor, Okpareke said one of her first might focus on both bringing health care workers to New Mexico and keeping them here.

“Those are things I may even have to work with the Legislature on,” Okpareke said. “ (I will) make myself accessible so we can work hand-in-hand to get this done.”

Okpareke continues to work on a full campaign platform. Her campaign’s website highlights just three priorities, including health care, reigning in federal spending and economic prosperity.

When it comes to Stansbury, Okpareke believes the congresswoman focuses more on political rhetoric rather than what New Mexico needs.

Okpareke knows before she can face Stansbury, she must win over Republican voters. So far, her only opponent in the primary is Steve Jones, a certified public accountant who was Stansbury’s opponent in 2024. Jones did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Observer, but he did post “Thanks for stepping up!” on Okpareke’s Facebook page when she announced her run for Congress.

Okpareke acknowledged her opponent’s social media post in an interview with the Observer, adding she hopes to “sit down and discuss what we want for New Mexico.”

“That is the prize — to see (the state) evolve as the true gem of the Southwest,” Okpareke said.

She moved to New Mexico in 1997 after spending her childhood in California, where she was born. Okpareke graduated from Sandia High School before attending University of New Mexico.

Though much of her time in the Land of Enchantment has been spent in the state’s largest city, Okpareke is happy to live in Rio Rancho. She said her choice was a strategic one.

“I love Rio Rancho because it’s a place that prides itself on family values, faith, economic development and health care,” Okpareke said. “I said, ‘What can I contribute to a growing city?’”

The answer: a compound pharmacy that customizes medications for men, women, children and animals.

“All of our medical needs are not the same, and so it’s important to have a place that clients can come to get medication that is specifically tailored to their needs,” Okpareke said.

The daughter of Nigerian immigrants who became successful in the U.S., Okpareke is using her campaign to inform voters how to pronounce her name — as well as its meaning. “Ndidi” means “patient” and “Amaka” means “beautiful.” Together, Okpareke’s name means “it’s beautiful to have patience.”

“Obviously, that is telling of my journey,” she said.