Four New Mexico candidates disqualified after failing to meet ballot requirements

SANTA FE — If he rebuffs a primary challenge, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján is set to avoid a Republican opponent in his bid for a second term, after a potential GOP opponent was disqualified Tuesday for failing to meet ballot requirements.

The disqualification of Republican candidate Christopher Vanden Heuvel of Rio Rancho means that for the first time in modern state history the state's general election ballot for a U.S. Senate race will have only one major party candidate.

In all, Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver ruled four candidates did not turn in enough qualified voter signatures to appear on the June primary election ballot.

In addition to Vanden Heuvel, other disqualified candidates include Republican Carlton Pennington of Moriarty in the 1st Congressional District race and Republican gubernatorial hopeful Belinda Robertson of Las Cruces.

In addition, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., will avoid a primary election challenge from fellow Democrat Thomas Wakely of Columbus after Wakely was disqualified from the ballot. Vasquez would face the winner of a GOP primary contest between Gregory Cunningham of Las Cruces and Jose Orozco of Albuquerque in the November general election.

Luján, who defeated Republican Mark Ronchetti to win election to the U.S. Senate in 2020, could face a primary challenge from Matt Dodson of Farmington, depending on the outcome of a Democratic pre-primary convention next month. He could also draw a minor party or independent opponent this summer.

Dodson, a community organizer and business owner, describes himself on his campaign website as a "Democratic Socialist" who has been fighting with "establishment Democrats" for more than 15 years.

As for Luján, a campaign spokesman said Tuesday the former U.S. House member, who has fully recovered from a January 2022 stroke, has never taken the trust of New Mexicans for granted.

"He'll continue earning their support on the campaign trail while doing the job they elected him to do by lowering costs and delivering results for New Mexico," said campaign spokesman Adán Serna. "That commitment does not change based on who else is the ballot." 

All statewide offices in New Mexico are up for election this year, along with the state's three U.S. House seats. Democrats have swept all statewide races in recent years, as the last Republican to win a statewide contest was former state Supreme Court Justice Judith Nakamura in 2016. 

Meanwhile, the certification of candidates by the Secretary of State's Office is just the first step for candidates to qualify for the ballot, as lawsuits challenging candidates' eligibility to appear on the ballot can be filed through Friday.

One candidate who could face such a legal challenge is Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez, who has faced scrutiny over whether he meets a constitutional requirement that candidates for statewide office must have "resided continually" in the state for at least five years before being elected.

Rodriguez, whose candidacy was certified Tuesday by the Secretary of State's Office, has expressed confidence the residency requirement will be a non-issue, even though he voted in both the 2022 and 2024 general elections in Arizona, where he first registered to vote in 2001.

In all, five GOP candidates for governor met the initial requirements to appear on the ballot, according to the Secretary of State's office.

In addition to Rodriguez, the other Republican candidates are Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, state Sen. Steve Lanier of Aztec, former Public Regulation Commissioner Jim Ellison of Cedar Crest and business owner Doug Turner of Albuquerque.

On the Democratic side, former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman are vying for their party's nomination in a high-profile primary showdown. Former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima had also been running for governor as a Democrat, but said last week he would run instead as an independent.

This year's race for governor is open since incumbent Michelle Lujan Grisham is barred under state Constitution from seeking a third consecutive term. The two-term Democratic governor will step down at the end of this year.

Dan Boyd covers state government and politics for the Journal in Santa Fe. Follow him on X at @DanBoydNM or reach him via email at dboyd@abqjournal.com