State senator misses key deadline for GOP gubernatorial bid

State Sen. Steve Lanier, a retired high school teacher, missed his deadline to file a declaration for his Republican candidacy for governor.

The mistake could narrow Republicans voters’ choices for governor on the June 2 primary ballot.

Lanier, a Republican from Aztec, did not receive 20% of support from delegates at the Republican preprimary convention on March 7. That means his name would not appear on the Republican primary ballot — unless he refiled a declaration of candidacy with at least 4,702 signatures from voters with the secretary of state. The deadline was March 17.

“We initially filed nearly 6,000 petition signatures, which is more than enough to qualify for the ballot,” Lanier said in a statement, referring to his initial declaration of candidacy. “Because of a paperwork mix-up, our campaign didn’t refile on Tuesday. I own that.”

A campaign spokesperson did not grant an interview with Lanier.

Lanier’s statement said, “I believe we qualify to be on the ballot.”

“We are looking at legal options and may file a challenge, given that we filed with all the necessary signatures from the start,” Lanier said. “I am committed to helping New Mexico thrive, and to building our Republican Party in every corner of the state.”

Brian Sanderoff, president of Albuquerque-based Research & Polling Inc., said he does not believe Lanier’s departure will affect the campaigns of the remaining three candidates in any major way.

For one, Sanderoff said, Lanier’s poor showing at the Republican pre-primary convention indicates lack of support from party insiders. Secondly, Sanderoff noted, Lanier did not have significant name recognition beyond San Juan County.

Lanier does have name recognition in San Juan County — “one of the more conservative counties in the Republican primary,” Sanderoff said. His departure from the race frees up other candidates to shore up support in northwest New Mexico, Sanderoff said.

“I think there are a lot of Republicans who are still undecided in the Republican gubernatorial primary,” Sanderoff said.

At the convention, nearly 450 delegates from county Republican parties voted by paper ballot for various races, including governor. Lanier received 41 votes.

Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull received the most votes at the convention, 239. Doug Turner came in second with 104. Both candidates qualified for the ballot. Duke Rodriguez earned 39 votes and did not qualify for the ballot, meaning he also had to refile a declaration of candidacy with nominating petitions. An employee of the Secretary of State’s Office confirmed that Rodriquez’s campaign made the filing by deadline.

Lanier, a retired Aztec High School teacher who coached football and track and field, has been a state senator since 2025, representing Senate District 2. In the 2024 election, Lanier beat Democratic opponent Songtree Pioche with 78% of 21,449 votes. His term in the Senate runs through 2028.

Justin Horwath covers tech and energy for the Journal. You can reach him at jhorwath@abqjournal.com.