New Mexico
New Mexico needs semi-open primary elections. Our voters, and our democracy, deserve it
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.
SANTA FE, N.M. — Former New Mexico Public Regulation Commissioner Jim Ellison is running for governor as a Republican, he announced on social media Tuesday.
Ellison is running on affordability, opportunity and trust in government as the key points of his campaign. His experience includes serving on the NMPRC in 2023 and 2024.
“New Mexico deserves leadership that listens, acts, and delivers results. Our state has enormous potential, but too often that potential is held back by policies that don’t serve everyday New Mexicans,” he said on his website. “I’m running to bring practical solutions, honest accountability, and a renewed focus on the public interest.”
A Georgia native, Ellison has lived in New Mexico for 20 years and currently lives in the Albuquerque area with his wife and two children.
Ellison is aiming to get 5,000 signatures by Feb. 2, to appear on the primary ballot with at least three other Republicans who have announced their candidacy.
Ultra Health CEO Duke Rodriguez announced his campaign in December and recently confirmed to KOB 4 that he received enough signatures to appear on the primary ballot. Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull and New Mexico State Sen. Steve Lanier are also running.
Three Democrats are running – Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A successful University of New Mexico Lobo athletics season and the athletics director’s departure has culminated in players and coaches making moves.
The moves follow a successful 2025 season and the departure of athletics director Fernando Lovo.
Running back coach John Johnson, special teams coordinator Daniel Da Prato and wide receiver coach Colin Lockett are all leaving the Lobos after just one season. Johnson is headed to Iowa State while Da Prato is expected to join Minnesota and Lockett is headed to UCLA, all for the same jobs.
Johnson’s Lobo running backs ran for more than 1,400 yards. Da Prato’s special teams finished top-five nationally in kickoff returns.
Running back D.J. McKinney entered the portal, he confirmed on social media the day the portal officially opened. McKinney rushed for 464 yards and seven touchdowns with the Lobos.
Two players who received all-Mountain West Conference recognition also made moves. All-Mountain West tight-end Dorian Thomas, who caught for touchdowns for the Lobos, entered the portal. Meanwhile, all-Mountain West honorable mention punter Daniel Hughes is set to leave.
Others set to leave include:
- Cole Welliver, backup quarterback who played in one game
- Landon Williams, defensive end who graduated from La Cueva High School
- Randolph Kpai, senior linebacker who is at the end of his college football career without a waiver
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