As her term nears end, Maggie Toulouse Oliver considering run for lieutenant governor

SANTA FE — Maggie Toulouse Oliver is pondering a possible political encore as she approaches the final year of her tenure as New Mexico’s secretary of state.

While no decision has been made yet, Toulouse Oliver is exploring running next year for lieutenant governor, a spokeswoman said Thursday.

“Secretary Maggie Toulouse Oliver is always focused on how to best serve New Mexico families,” said spokeswoman Jessie Hunt. “She knows firsthand how to fight back against MAGA extremism and Donald Trump’s attacks on our democracy and our voting rights. Maggie’s experience will be invaluable to our state in any role.”

If Toulouse Oliver does decide to run, it could set the stage for a three-way Democratic primary race in 2026 for the state’s second-in-command job.

Outgoing State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard and state Sen. Harold Pope Jr. of Albuquerque have both already announced campaigns. Garcia Richard announced her candidacy for lieutenant governor in March, while Pope did likewise in July.

Under New Mexico’s system, governor and lieutenant governor candidates run independently in the primary election. The winners of those races who share the same party affiliation are then paired on a ticket for the November general election.

Toulouse Oliver, a former Bernalillo County clerk, has served as secretary of state for eight-plus years. She was first elected to the office in 2016, following former Secretary of State Dianna Duran’s resignation after being charged with using campaign funds to fuel a gambling habit.

The Democrat launched a 2019 bid for an open U.S. Senate seat but ultimately suspended her campaign, with then-U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján holding a big fundraising edge in the race.

As secretary of state, Toulouse Oliver has supported proposals to allow same-day voter registration in New Mexico and permit independent voters to participate in primary elections without changing their party affiliation. But she’s also clashed with Republicans over plans to implement “straight-party voting,” among other initiatives.

Like other elections officials nationwide, Toulouse Oliver has in past years dealt with death threats via email and threatening phone calls.

In 2020, the secretary of state went into hiding for a period of time after her personal information was published on a website called “Enemies of the People,” with targets over officials’ photos.

After last year’s presidential election, Toulouse Oliver said she experienced online threats and harassment after attempting to interact with New Mexico voters on social media.

Three Democrats — including two county clerks — have announced campaigns to be New Mexico’s next secretary of state, as all statewide offices will be up for election in 2026