New Mexico Primary Election 2022: Candidates, Results, and Analysis
Candidates for governor and other top state and federal offices in New Mexico will compete for their parties' nominations in a state primary on Tuesday. The election comes at a time when gas prices are soaring due to the ongoing war in Iran, benefiting the nation's No. 2 oil-producing state. Outgoing Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is term-limited. The Democratic candidates vying to replace her include former congresswoman and former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman. On the Republican side, former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, medical cannabis entrepreneur Duke Rodriguez, and small business owner Doug Turner are running for the nomination.
In the U.S. Senate race, Democratic incumbent Ben Ray Luján seeks a second term and faces a challenge from business owner Matt Dodson. The Republican primary for the U.S. Senate does not have any names on the ballot, but Larry Marker is running as a certified write-in candidate. In New Mexico, certified write-in candidates must reach a specific vote threshold to win the nomination. The state's most populous county, Bernalillo County, plays a crucial role in both primaries and general elections, along with other key counties like Doña Ana, Santa Fe, Sandoval, San Juan, and Valencia.
The Associated Press will provide vote results and declare winners in contested primaries for various offices, including U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, and state House. Registered party members can only vote in their party's primary, while independent or unaffiliated voters can participate in either primary. As of April 30, there were approximately 1.4 million registered voters in New Mexico, with a significant number affiliated with the Democratic Party. In the 2022 gubernatorial primaries, about 125,000 Democratic primary votes and 118,000 Republican primary votes were cast.
New Mexico's 33 counties release vote results at different times, with some counties providing all or most of their mail and early in-person voting results in the first update of the night. In the 2022 gubernatorial primary, the AP reported results shortly after polls closed and continued to update throughout the night. The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when it's clear that a trailing candidate cannot close the gap. Recounts are automatic in New Mexico if the vote margin is below certain thresholds based on the type of office.
As of Tuesday, there are 154 days until the 2026 midterm elections. Stay updated on the AP's coverage of the 2026 election at their website.