With the stroke of a pen, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham enfranchised almost 350,000 independent voters recently by signing a bill for open primaries. Just a few years ago, bills to open the primaries were languishing in the state legislature,

Given that backdrop, four candidates are vying to be the next leader of the state Democratic Party. The chairman election will take place during a state central committee meeting on Saturday in Albuquerque that will be attended by an estimated 500 delegates from around the state.

SANTA FE — The contest to determine New Mexico’s next top elections official is starting to come into focus. Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin this week announced her 2026 campaign for secretary of state, becoming the first candidate in the race.

Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin will seek the open New Mexico Secretary of State seat in 2026. López Askin launched her campaign on April 16, 2025 as she looks to replace Maggie Toulouse Oliver, who was elected to a second and final term in 2022.