Political New Mexico

New Mexico produces more oil and gas than all states except Texas. So how does its Democratic governor and state legislature plan to address the climate change crisis? Our team of student reporters went in search of answers.

More than half of the registered voters in New Mexico cast ballots in Tuesday’s general election. The turnout rate was lower than the previous midterm election.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham will serve another 4-year term as governor of New Mexico after defeating republican challenger Mark Ronchetti on Tuesday, taking home 52% of votes. 

Buu Nygren, half Navajo-half Vietnamese, becomes the youngest president of the Navajo Nation. His running mate becomes the first woman to be vice-president. They defeated incumbent Jonathan Nez.

Democrat Gabriel Vasquez narrowly defeated Republican incumbent Yvette Herrell by 1224 votes to take a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of New Mexico.

John Allen becomes the first Black Sheriff of Bernalillo County, defeating Republican Paul Pacheco by a 12-point margin.

By Junko Featherston Two very different candidates are competing to represent the newly redrawn 1st Congressional District: One is a liberal, Cornell-educated former Obama administration bureaucrat, the other a former Albuquerque Police detective with 30 years on the force.  Republican Michelle Garcia Holmes is challenging Democratic incumbent Melanie Stansbury in a district that formerly encompassed… Continue reading Crime and Abortion Dominate CD1 Race

By Gavin Moughan The state treasurer is New Mexico’s chief banker, managing and investing the money used to run state government. It’s an essential job with a history of problems: In the early 2000s, two state treasurers served prison time on corruption charges. Former treasurer Michael Montoya pled guilty to extortion in 2005, and racketeering… Continue reading Treasurer candidates compete to manage NM’s money

By Jack Boggs New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District was dramatically re-drawn during redistricting in 2021, putting the formerly solid-Republican seat within Democrats’ reach. The race was still a virtual tie in the final days before the election, with Democrat Gabriel Vasquez leading incumbent Republican Yvette Herrelll 48% to 47%, according to a recent poll conducted… Continue reading Herrell and Vasquez in a “Barnburner” Battle for NM’s Southern Congressional District

After pulling through August’s primary elections, incumbent Jonathan Nez and newcomer Buu Nygren, remain in the race to be the next president of one of the biggest indigenous tribes in the United States.