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New Mexico voters choose party nominees for governor as revenue soars from oil boom
Independent voters can join the contest for the first time as candidates raise more than $20 million and debate how to use an oil-fueled budget windfall.
- On Tuesday, New Mexicans are casting ballots in the state's gubernatorial primary, featuring a semi-open system that allows roughly 23% of unaffiliated voters to participate in Democratic or Republican contests.
- Persistent challenges including high violent crime rates and chronically underperforming schools frame the election, which occurs as a global oil revenue windfall funds the state budget and critical social programs.
- Competing for the Democratic nomination, Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Albuquerque-based district attorney Sam Bregman seek to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, with Haaland maintaining a significant fundraising lead.
- Three Republicans—Duke Rodriguez, Gregg Hull, and Doug Turner—vie for the nomination, though the party faces an uphill battle given Democrats have won every statewide office since 2017.
- Campaigns have grown contentious, with President Donald Trump's legal team issuing a cease-and-desist to Rodriguez for "deceptive use" of his image, while Haaland faced criticism after her name appeared in the Jeffrey Epstein files.
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New Mexico voters weigh who their next governor should be
Teresa Vigil fills out her ballot on June 2, 2026, at the Doña Ana County Government Center. (Leah Romero for Source NM)Voters across New Mexico started casting ballots early on Tuesday, with many saying the gubernatorial contests — both the Democratic and Republican parties have contested primaries — stood out as the most important race as term-limited Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham finishes up her second term. By 10 a.m., 23,605 voters…
New Mexico Primary 2026: Democratic and GOP primary campaigns for governor rake in nearly $20 million
Nearly $20 million has flowed into the campaigns of the five contenders vying for the Democratic and Republican nominations for governor this election season, with more than $12 million of that sum going into the campaign of Democrat Deb Haaland.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources23
Leaning Left9Leaning Right5Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution45% Left
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources lean Left
45% Left
L 45%
C 30%
R 25%
Factuality
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