The numbers are alarming.

In 2024, only 17% of registered voters in New Mexico cast their ballots in the state’s primary elections. More than 300,000 registered New Mexican voters—roughly a quarter of the state’s registered voting population—are currently blocked outright from participating in primaries.

Those are not a pair of percentages that indicate significant levels of voter participation in New Mexico.  And they certainly do not point to a democracy that is representative of the residents of our state. 

Opening up primary elections by allowing voters registered as independent or unaffiliated—about 25% of New Mexico’s voting populous—to participate in primaries is one meaningful measure the state should take to improve its voter participation rates and, in turn, its democracy.

More specifically, New Mexico should adopt semi-open primaries. In closed primaries, only folks registered with one of the two major parties in the state, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, can vote in primaries. Semi-open primary elections allow voters registered as independent, minor party voters, or those without a party altogether, to vote in primaries by selecting a ballot from one of the two major parties.

New Mexico certainly would not be alone in partially opening up its primary elections. In fact, 38 states have some form of open primary elections, meaning only 12 states—including New Mexico—currently run totally closed primaries.  

New Mexico should add its name to the long list of other states that let all registered voters participate in consequential elections. 

Studies have shown the democratic benefits of open primaries are numerous. Fundamentally, closed elections restrict large portions of eligible voting populations from taking part in taxpayer-funded elections they pay for.

This disenfranchisement means that the vast majority of general elections are left unrepresentative. Politicians become comfortable pandering directly to the top 3% of major party voters, instead of truly representing all segments of their constituents.

Downstream from that disenfranchisement and political stagnation is voter apathy. Because partisan activists and special interest groups are given disproportionate electoral power, folks not associated with major parties or who classify themselves independent have little motivation to make their voices heard in closed primary systems.

New Mexico has seen these effects. The state has the highest number of uncompetitive districts in the U.S, meaning the winners of the general election are decided in the primaries, where over 300,000 people can’t vote without added barriers.

Lack of electoral competition and low voter participation all make meaningful change difficult in New Mexico. Minimal voter participation means many of the people most affected by various issues aren’t making their voices heard at the ballot box.

Thankfully, there is a national movement to open up primary elections—a movement that extends into the Land of Enchantment. You can join the movement for open primaries and, in turn, a better democracy in New Mexico by calling your elected officials and urging them to support legislation for semi-open primaries during the 2025 legislative session. You can also champion democracy in your communities by sharing the benefits of semi-open primary elections with your friends, acquaintances, colleagues, neighbors, and loved ones. Everyone is better off when more people are empowered to vote.

You can learn more about this issue and other ways to participate in opening up primary elections in New Mexico at NMVotersFirst.org.

Sen. Carrie Hamblen represents District 38 and Doña Ana County in the New Mexico Senate.

The good vibes from Boise State’s 41-point victory over Wyoming quickly abated during a Mountain West Conference men’s basketball game at The Pit. 

New Mexico (15-4, 7-1) opened Friday’s showdown with eight straight points and closed the opening half on a 23-2 run in an 84-65 dismantling of the Broncos (13-6, 5-3). 

Here are five takeaways from Boise State’s second straight MWC road loss. 

Head coach Leon Rice has tinkered with Boise State’s starting lineup throughout the 2024-25 season.  

Rice went with a new fivesome of Alvaro Cardenas, Chris Lockett Jr., Tyson Degenhart, Emmanuel Ugbo and Andrew Meadow Tuesday night against Wyoming, and the group staked the Broncos to an early lead in a runaway 96-55 victory.

The Broncos trotted out the same starting lineup against New Mexico with much different results. 

Coming off a surprising loss to San Jose State, the Lobos jumped out to a 10-2 lead by the first TV timeout while Boise State started 1 of 7 from the floor with two turnovers. The Broncos found a brief rhythm when O’Mar Stanley, Javan Buchanan and Julian Bowie checked in to play with Cardenas and Degenhart, but the poor start was too much for Boise State to overcome in front of a capacity crowd. 

Trailing just 25-19 after a Meadow layup, Boise State appeared to have settled in at The Pit. 

New Mexico proceeded to close the first half on a 23-2 run, capped by a last-second Donovan Dent jumper that put the Lobos up 48-21. 

It was an all-around disaster of a half for the Broncos, who shot 1 of 12 from 3-point range with nine turnovers. New Mexico went 21 of 34 from the field and shredded Boise State’s transition defense for 20 fast-break points. 

Rice did all he could to stop the bleeding by burning three first-half timeouts, but nothing worked. Coming out of a timeout late in the period, Dent intercepted a lazy Cardenas pass and finished a transition and-one for a 44-21 lead. 

It was that kind of night for the Broncos. 

Boise State was the worst 3-point shooting team in the MWC until making a combined 27 of 52 attempts (51.9 percent) over its last two games. 

The Broncos reverted to the mean Friday with a 5 of 24 (20.8 percent) performance from long range. Boise State started 1 of 19 before hitting four late triples.

At 32.1 percent for the season, the Broncos remain an inconsistent-at-best 3-point shooting team. 

The officials whistled just two total fouls in the first 15-plus minutes of action — both on Boise State.

New Mexico was finally called for its first foul with 4:55 remaining in the half. 

Boise State, a strong free throw shooting team at 77.6 percent entering Friday, would’ve preferred a tighter whistle at The Pit. But the officials allowed plenty of contact at both ends of the court, and New Mexico took advantage to seize first place in the MWC standings. 

Boise State began the day on the wrong side of the NCAA Tournament bubble at No. 43 in the NCAA Net Rankings.

Friday’s result drops the Broncos to 2-5 overall against Quad 1 and 2 opponents, including losses to the MWC’s top three teams in New Mexico, San Diego State (11-4, 4-2) and No. 22 Utah State (16-2, 6-1). 

Boise State will need some magic down the stretch to qualify for a fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament.