New Mexico's primary ballot is set, after some candidates qualify via signature process

SANTA FE — A three-way Republican showdown in the governor’s race. A Democratic primary challenge for incumbent U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján. And several rematches from 2024 in state House seats.

New Mexico’s primary election ballot was finalized Tuesday after several major party candidates who fell short of automatically qualifying for the June ballot at their preprimary conventions this month used a secondary process to secure a spot on the ballot.

That list of candidates includes gubernatorial hopeful Duke Rodriguez of Albuquerque, who argued this month the GOP convention was just “one room” and not an accurate barometer of electoral success.

Rodriguez, a cannabis entrepreneur who has made financial contributions to Democratic candidates in the past, was qualified Tuesday by Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver.

He will square off in the primary election against two fellow Republicans — Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull and Albuquerque small business owner Doug Turner — who had automatically qualified due to their convention performances.

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 and have already sparred over debates, policy plans and plagiarism allegations.

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.

Meanwhile, most of New Mexico’s all-Democratic congressional delegation avoided drawing primary election opposition.

The exception to that is Luján, who will face off against Democratic Socialist Matt Dodson of Farmington in the June primary.

Dodson did not receive enough support at the state Democratic Party’s preprimary convention to directly qualify for the ballot, but qualified by subsequently submitting more than 7,000 voter signatures.

Under state law, statewide candidates and those running for congressional seats must receive at least 20% of the votes cast at preprimary conventions in order to secure their spot on the primary election ballot. But those who fall short of that figure can still qualify if they submit additional voter signatures.

In a statement last week, Dodson criticized current Democratic Party leaders in Congress and Democrats’ unwillingness to remove them from their posts, saying, “Clearly, we have no one in Washington with a spine.” 

However, Dodson was recently suspended by the Democratic Party of New Mexico’s committee on discipline, a DPNM spokesman confirmed Tuesday. The suspension prohibits Dodson from participating in a county party events, but does not apply to his status as a candidate or voter.

The only Republican who filed in February to run for the U.S. Senate seat was disqualified, GOP candidate Larry Marker of Roswell did qualify for the race as a write-in candidate.

All statewide offices in New Mexico are up for election this year, including governor, secretary of state, land commissioner and attorney general.

In addition, all 70 state House seats are also on the ballot. There will be contested primary races in 17 of the 70 seats statewide, including at least two races in which former legislators who were ousted by challengers two years ago are seeking to return to the Roundhouse.

In House District 69, former legislator Harry Garcia of Grants is running against Rep. Michelle Abeyta of To’Hajiilee, while former state Rep. Ambrose Castellano is challenging current Rep. Anita Gonzales of Las Vegas in House District 70. All four of the candidates are Democrats.

Early voting for the primary election begins May 5, with primary day set for June 2. Primary election winners will then advance to the general election in November. 

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