New Mexico
NM Democratic delegates rally behind Harris
‘She will get the job done,’ congresswoman says
Harris thanks Biden for endorsement, sets sights on winning nomination
Vice President Kamala Harris thanks President Joe Biden for his endorsement during a campaign press conference in Delaware.
President Joe Biden handily won New Mexico’s primary election earlier this year, and most of the state’s delegates who were pledged to him are starting to coalesce around Vice President Kamala Harris to take the top of the ticket.
New Mexico’s presidential delegates will represent the state at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month.
They will elect the next Democratic nominee for U.S. president and vice president, and determine the national party’s platform when the DNC takes place Aug. 19 through 22.
New Mexico has 45 delegates, and three alternates.
In the 24 hours following Biden’s announcement that he won’t seek reelection, high-ranking elected officials in the Democratic Party of New Mexico released statements backing his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for president.
New Mexico’s 11 automatic delegates, according to party rules, include DNC members who live in the state, and any Democrats elected to be U.S. president, vice president, governor, members of Congress, and other distinguished party leaders.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham joined every Democratic governor in the U.S. and endorsed Harris on Monday morning, calling her the “party’s most effective voice in the fight to restore reproductive health care rights.”
“A former prosecutor, Vice President Harris is best equipped to make the case against convicted felon Donald Trump,” Lujan Grisham said.
New Mexico’s entire Congressional delegation endorsed Harris on Sunday afternoon.
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez said Harris “will bring renewed energy, unity and vibrancy to this race.”
“She will get the job done,” Fernandez said of Harris.
DPNM Chair Jessica Velasquez and Vice Chair Manny Crespin endorsed Harris on Sunday evening.
“From Attorney General of California, U.S. Senator, and Vice President, Kamala Harris’ resume speaks volumes to her qualifications,” they wrote in a news release. “New Mexico Democrats believe our Party’s best days are ahead of us and are thrilled to do our part to make Kamala Harris the first woman and Asian-American President of the United States.”
With Biden watching, Harris on Monday gave a speech from Wilmington, Delaware to staff to kick off the run, setting the tone she will take on against Trump.
“They lead to inequality and economic injustice, we are not going back,” Harris said.
She also said she wants to pass gun safety measures like red-flag laws and mandatory background checks for new gun purchases. Reproductive health measures in her speech offered a stark contrast to Trump.
“The government should not be telling a woman what to do with her body,” Harris said.
“In the next 106 days we have work to do, we have doors to knock on, we have phone calls to make, and we have an election to win,” she said.
Harris’ running mate not yet known
Twenty-three of New Mexico’s delegates were elected at three district-level party conventions in June.
John Dyrcz, of Albuquerque, is a delegate for Congressional District 1. He is supporting Harris. He said he doesn’t have a preference for a vice presidential running mate but said, “we need somebody who can blunt the things that J.D. Vance might bring to the Republican ticket.”
He suggested someone from a Rust Belt or Appalachian state, like North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper or Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, for example.
Augustine Montoya, of Torrance County, is a delegate for the same congressional district. He is supporting Harris. He said he has no opinion on a vice presidential nominee, but he trusts Harris to pick one.
Montoya said LGBTQ+ rights are essential to any platform, and he wants to bring that message to the DNC in Chicago and back to rural New Mexico.
CD3 delegate Isaac Dakota Casados, of Santa Fe, is also the New Mexico Democratic Party secretary. He endorsed Harris along with the party’s other executive officers.
New Mexico’s seven at-large delegates, along with the three alternates, are determined by the results of the statewide primary vote and were elected by county-level delegates at the DPNM post-primary state convention in June.
At-large delegate Rayellen Smith, of Albuquerque, is also the state party’s treasurer, and she endorsed Harris along with the party’s other officers.
New Mexico’s four pledged party leaders and elected official delegates, according to party rules, include big city mayors and statewide elected officials, state legislative leaders, state lawmakers, and other elected officials and party leaders at the state and local levels.
One of them is Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, a former state senator.
“I look forward to the opportunity to play a role in this historic and important process,” he said. “With so much on the line for our families, I’m grateful for the opportunity to help shape the direction of our country at this critical moment.”
Editor Shaun Griswold contributed reporting to this story.
Austin Fisher is a journalist based in Santa Fe. He has worked for newspapers in New Mexico and his home state of Kansas, including the Topeka Capital-Journal, the Garden City Telegram, the Rio Grande SUN and the Santa Fe Reporter. Since starting a full-time career in reporting in 2015, he’s aimed to use journalism to lift up voices that typically go unheard in public debates around economic inequality, policing and environmental racism.
The professional rodeo season continues to heat up as we head into the spring and summer runs. Rodeos across the country drew top athletes over the recent weekend, as they vie for positions at the 2026 National Finals Rodeo (NFR).
Every dollar counts, especially as we enter the last five months of the 2026 season.
Riverdale Rodeo – Riverdale, Calif.
Bareback rider Jacob Lees earned two California victories on the weekend, scoring 81.5 points on Four Star Rodeo’s Sweet Annie in Riverdale. His 83.5-point ride on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Socket claimed the win in Stonyford.
Reigning Circuit Champion, Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, topped the barrel racing by two-tenths of a second with her time of 17.04 sconds.
Stonyford Rodeo – Stonyford, Calif.
California cowboy Bailey Small put together a solid weekend in his circuit, winning Stonyford with an 82.5-point ride on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Classy Clark. He also finished second in Riverdale.
Barrel racer Kathy Petska continues to dominate the circuit, claiming yet another spring win with a 17.50-second run.
American Royal Rodeo – Kansas City, Mo.
There are now two “Popes” to watch out for in the bareback riding — three-time NFR Average Champion and World Champion, Jess Pope, and his brother, Ty. Ty made a huge ride in Kansas City, scoring 87 points on Smith Pro Rodeos’ Broadway Boots for the win.
In 2025, Kansas cowboy Weston Patterson made his first NFR appearance and has carried that momentum into his 2026 season. Scoring 88 points on Korkow Rodeos’ Joker Poker, he claimed the saddle bronc riding win.
Pioneer Days Rodeo – Clovis, N.M.
Tie-down roper Buck Tate earned the win by over two full seconds, taking home $1,404.
Reigning Breakaway Roping World Champion Taylor Munsell claimed the $2,054 victory with a time of 1.8 seconds.
Helotes Festival Association Rodeo – Helotes, Texas
In bareback riding, Taylor Broussard matched up with Andrews Rodeo’s Empty Promises for a score of 85.5 points to earn the win.
Seven-time NFR qualifier, Isaac Diaz, topped the leaderboard with a score of 89 points on Diamond G Rodeo’s To The Limit. He earned the win in saddle bronc riding and $1,855.
PPCLA PRCA Rodeo – Mineral Wells, Texas
Sissy Winn put together a solid weekend in her circuit, topping the barrel racing in Mineral Wells and finishing fourth in Helotes.
Hailing from Winnie, Texas, Ethan Winckler made the only qualified ride in bull riding, scoring 87.5 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Mr. Blue Sky and taking home a whopping $4,863.
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Early voting for the 2026 New Mexico Primary Election begins Tuesday, May 5.
Residents can vote at county clerks’ offices until May 16, at which point more early voting locations open.
The Primary Election is on June 2.
Key races in New Mexico Primary Election?
Several state races have a crowded primary field including Democrat candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, governor and the state Legislature. Local races in Doña Ana and Otero County for sheriff and the Board of County Commissioners.
Who can vote in New Mexico Primary Election?
New Mexico has semi-open primary elections, which means voters who are not registered with a qualified political party may participate in the election by selecting which major party’s ballot they want to vote on without changing their voter registration.
Voters who have not registered with a qualified party can participate by selecting a major party’s ballot and vote.
Registration status, voting locations and sample ballots can be viewed at the New Mexico Secretary of State website.
Where to vote in Doña Ana County
Early voting at the Doña Ana County Government Center, 845 N Motel Blvd., Las Cruces, will begin from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. Monday through Friday on May 5 until May 29, and from 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 30.
Alternate site early voting locations will begin at 11 a.m. on May 16 and run through May 30 from Tuesday through Saturday.
The alternate site locations in Doña Ana County are:• Anthony Library (750 Landers Road, Anthony)• HVPS Student Services (350 Main Street, Hatch)• Doña Ana County Community College (755 Prescott Anthony Drive, Chapparal)• Doña Ana County Community College (800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd., Las Cruces)• Doña Ana County Community College (3365 McNutt Road, Sunland Park)• Las Cruces City Hall (700 N. Main Street, Las Cruces)• Mesilla Town Hall (2231 Avenida de Mesilla, Mesilla)• Corbett Center Student Union (1600 International Mall, Las Cruces)
Same day registration will be available at the Doña Ana County Government Center during early voting and all absentee ballots may be returned to the County Clerk’s Office or any Election Day polling location no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Where to vote in Otero County
Early voting at the Otero County Clerk’s sub-office, 1101 New York Avenue, Room 101, will begin from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m., Monday through Friday on May 5 until May 29, and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 30.
Alternate site early voting locations will be staggered beginning on May 16 at 11 a.m. and run through May 30.
The alternate site locations in Otero County are:10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 16 through May 30Otero County Fairgrounds (401 Fairgrounds Road, Alamogordo)
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., May 27 through May 29Inn of The Mountain Gods (287 Carrizo Canyon Road, Mescalero)
8:00 am to 5:00 p.m., May 28 through May 30 Chaparral Far South Fire Station (827 Luna Street, Chaparral)
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