Robert Besser
12 Apr 2025, 07:36 GMT+10
SANTA Fe, New Mexico: More and more voters in New Mexico don't belong to any political party. Until now, they couldn't vote in primary elections unless they joined a party.
But that will change thanks to a new law signed this week by Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Starting in 2026, these nonpartisan voters will be allowed to vote in primaries without changing their status. However, they will still be unable to vote in another party's primary.
This move goes against what many other states have done. Last year, voters in states like Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada rejected plans to open primaries or use ranked choice voting.
The new law comes just in time for the 2026 elections, when voters will choose nominees for three U.S. House seats, one U.S. Senate seat, and many state offices, including governor, as Lujan Grisham finishes her term. Elections for the state House, led by Democrats, will also take place.
Right now, 23 percent of registered voters in New Mexico are unaffiliated with a political party—up from 15 percent in 2004. Before this law, they couldn't take part in primary elections unless they registered with a party.
In some counties, unaffiliated voters even outnumber those in the major parties. For example, they outnumber Democrats in Otero and Curry counties, and Republicans in Los Alamos and Doña Ana counties.
Democrats currently hold all statewide offices and all three congressional seats in New Mexico. Former President Donald Trump has lost the state three times but narrowed the margin in 2024.
Some Republicans opposed the new law, saying it could lead to fully open primaries or ranked choice voting in the future.
Still, Governor Lujan Grisham supports the change, calling it a positive step for a state where "we seem to not be able to govern, in a way," especially after a frustrating legislative session on public safety and education.
Get a daily dose of Illinois Intelligencer news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Illinois Intelligencer.
More InformationWINDSOR, Ontario: Production at Stellantis' Windsor, Ontario assembly plant will pause for two weeks, as mounting trade tensions trigger...
New Delhi [India], April 12 (ANI): BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari on Friday alleged that the Congress party is adopting a 'pro-terror'...
China raises additional tariffs to 125 pct on U.S. imports China will raise the additional tariffs on products imported from the...
New Delhi [India], April 12 (ANI): Amid the tariff announcements and how US President Donald Trump's administration is handling the...
New Delhi [India], April 12 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Jaishankar on Friday expressed appreciation towards US Secretary of State...
Did the President of the United States get what he wanted? Now I've seen it all. I've lost count of how many times I've said that...
SANTA Fe, New Mexico: More and more voters in New Mexico don't belong to any political party. Until now, they couldn't vote in primary...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration is in early talks about holding a large military parade in Washington, D.C., this summer—a...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. President Donald Trump's choice to lead NASA, Jared Isaacman, has told lawmakers that sending astronauts back...
FRANKFORT/JACKSON: It is been about 45 years since a U.S. state last got rid of its income tax on wages and salaries. But now, Mississippi...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: As artificial intelligence drives soaring demand for data processing, electric utilities across the United...
FRANKFORT, Kentucky: Heavy rain over several days caused rivers to overflow across Kentucky, flooding homes and threatening a famous...