Debbie Rodella was born in Española and raised in Chimayó, where she learned the values of hard work, integrity, and community. She is a proud mother of two grown children and a devoted grandmother to two boys, with deep roots in the traditions and culture of Northern New Mexico. She graduated from Española Valley High School and continued her education at Northern New Mexico College and the College of Santa Fe, where she first showed her leadership as a student advocating to expand Northern New Mexico College into a four-year institution—a goal she later helped achieve through legislation. Debbie also spent over 20 years working at Los Alamos National Laboratory and was a proud union member, standing with working families.

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Elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives in 1992, Debbie served for 26 years, becoming the first woman to chair the House Business and Industry Committee and the longest-serving Hispanic woman in the House. She built a reputation as a proven leader who delivers results, securing funding for infrastructure, investing in education, strengthening public safety, and supporting economic growth. A strong advocate for land grant communities, she sponsored key legislation to strengthen governance and worked to return lands to local heirs. Rooted in the traditions of her community, Debbie remains a steady leader committed to delivering for the people she serves.