SANTA FE — Early voting is underway for New Mexico’s June 2 Democratic primary — the first semi-open primary in state history, meaning registered Democrats and unaffiliated voters can both participate. Democrats are fielding contested races from the U.S. Senate down to Commissioner of Public Lands, and several incumbents are running in the party’s most crowded cycles in years. Below is a guide to every Democratic race on the statewide and federal primary ballot.

Federal Races

U.S. SENATE

Ben Ray Luján  |  Incumbent U.S. Senator — seeking second term

Ben Ray Luján, born in Nambé, has served in the U.S. Senate since 2021 after representing New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District for six terms. He held the assistant speakership of the U.S. House in 2019 and is the son of former state House Speaker Ben Luján Sr., who served in the Legislature for 37 years. In the Senate, Luján sits on the committees covering commerce, finance, agriculture, Indian affairs, and the budget. He recovered from a stroke in 2022 and has cited expanding compensation for New Mexicans exposed to nuclear radiation as among his top legislative achievements.

Campaign website: benraylujan.com

Matt Dodson  |  Air Force veteran, landlord — Farmington

Matt Dodson, 62, is a U.S. Air Force veteran and self-described democratic socialist who has lived in Farmington for 35 years. He holds a history degree from the University of Nebraska and works as a landlord. Dodson has run unsuccessfully for Farmington mayor, the San Juan College Board of Trustees, and the state Legislature, and has been suspended from the state Democratic Party after accusing a county party official of financial misconduct. He is challenging Luján from the left, focusing on wealth inequality, climate policy, and opposition to U.S. military engagements. His campaign is largely self-funded with minimal staff. Polling shows Luján holding a commanding lead.

Note: The winner of this primary will face Republican write-in candidate Larry Marker in November. No Republican qualified for a printed ballot line.

U.S. HOUSE — CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1 (Albuquerque Area)

Melanie Stansbury  |  Incumbent U.S. Representative — uncontested

Melanie Stansbury has represented CD1 since winning a 2021 special election and has been re-elected twice, each time with approximately 56% of the vote. The district covers most of Bernalillo County, Torrance County, and portions of Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Valencia counties. Stansbury is running unopposed in the Democratic primary and will face Republican Didi Okpareke in the November general election.

Campaign website: melaniefornewmexico.com

U.S. HOUSE — CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 2 (Southern New Mexico)

Gabe Vasquez  |  Incumbent U.S. Representative — uncontested

Gabe Vasquez is seeking a third term in CD2 and is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. He narrowly held the seat in 2024 against former Rep. Yvette Herrell. The Cook Political Report rates CD2 a toss-up, making it the most competitive congressional race in New Mexico. Vasquez will face Republican Greg Cunningham in November.

Campaign website: gabeforcongress.com

U.S. HOUSE — CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 3 (Northern New Mexico)

Teresa Leger Fernández  |  Incumbent U.S. Representative — uncontested

Teresa Leger Fernández is seeking her fourth term representing CD3, which covers most of northern and northeastern New Mexico. She is running unopposed in the Democratic primary and will face Republican state Rep. Martin Zamora in November.

Campaign website: teresaforall.com

Statewide Races

GOVERNOR

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is term-limited and cannot seek a third consecutive term, making this an open-seat race. Two Democrats are on the primary ballot.

Deb Haaland  |  Former U.S. Secretary of the Interior; former U.S. Representative, CD1

Deb Haaland, 65, is an enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo and identifies herself as a 35th-generation New Mexican. She served two terms in the U.S. House representing CD1, then became the first Native American to serve as a U.S. cabinet secretary when President Joe Biden named her Interior Secretary in 2021 — a position she held until January 2025. Her campaign centers on an “affordability agenda” focused on housing costs, minimum wage, clean energy, and child welfare, as well as opposing what she characterizes as federal overreach under the Trump administration. She has held a double-digit polling lead throughout the primary cycle and a significant fundraising advantage. A win in November would make her the first Native woman elected governor in U.S. history.

Campaign website: debhaaland.com

Sam Bregman  |  Bernalillo County District Attorney

Sam Bregman is the Bernalillo County District Attorney, appointed to the post in 2023 by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to replace Raúl Torrez when Torrez was elected attorney general. Bregman won a full term in 2024 and launched his gubernatorial campaign five months later. He served on the Albuquerque City Council from 1995 to 1999, where he introduced the state’s first hate crime ordinance, and has also worked as a private attorney, deputy state auditor, chair of the New Mexico Racing Commission, and chair of the state Democratic Party. He describes himself as a “common-sense Democrat” and has released a 189-page policy platform covering crime, healthcare, education, and child welfare.

Campaign website: bregmanfornm.com

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

New Mexico holds separate primary elections for governor and lieutenant governor, but the two nominees run together as a ticket in the general election. Two Democrats are in the race. Incumbent Lt. Gov. Howie Morales is term-limited.

Maggie Toulouse Oliver  |  New Mexico Secretary of State — term-limited in current office

Maggie Toulouse Oliver is completing her second term as New Mexico Secretary of State, a position she is term-limited from seeking again. She previously served as Bernalillo County Clerk. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from the University of New Mexico and is pursuing a doctorate. Her campaign emphasizes her 20 years of government executive experience, relationships in the Legislature, and her record of modernizing elections in New Mexico. She earned strong delegate support at the Democratic convention.

Harold Pope Jr.  |  State Senator, Albuquerque (D-Albuquerque)

Harold Pope Jr. is an Albuquerque state senator in the middle of his second term in the New Mexico Legislature. He is seeking the lieutenant governor nomination as a step toward a broader executive role, citing his legislative experience and desire to do more at the statewide level. Pope said he sees the Senate presidency role — a constitutional duty of the lieutenant governor — as an area where he can bring direct value.

SECRETARY OF STATE

Incumbent Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver is term-limited and running for lieutenant governor instead. Two county clerks are competing for the Democratic nomination.

Katharine Clark  |  Santa Fe County Clerk

Katharine Clark has served as Santa Fe County Clerk since 2021 and was re-elected in 2024. Her professional background includes work as a union organizer, technologist, policy advocate, and small business owner. She holds an MBA from UNM and a dual B.A. from UC Berkeley. Clark has touted modernization efforts, including real-time wait-time polling site maps, GPS-secured ballot transport, and some of the highest voter turnout rates in the state. She finished first at the Democratic convention with 46% of delegate votes.

Campaign website: katharineclark.com

Amanda López Askin  |  Doña Ana County Clerk

Amanda López Askin was appointed Doña Ana County Clerk in 2018 and has been re-elected twice, in 2020 and 2024. She holds a Ph.D. in educational leadership from New Mexico State University and a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy. She has cited her tenure leading elections through high-pressure circumstances, including a death threat from a defeated Republican candidate, as evidence of her ability to withstand political pressure. López Askin outraised Clark in the most recent fundraising period.

Campaign website: amandafornm.com

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Raúl Torrez  |  Incumbent Attorney General — uncontested

Raúl Torrez was elected attorney general in 2022 with 55% of the vote and is seeking a second term, running unopposed in the Democratic primary. He previously served as Bernalillo County District Attorney. Torrez will face Republican Sam Kane in November.

Campaign website: raultorrez.com

STATE AUDITOR

Joseph Maestas  |  Incumbent State Auditor — uncontested

Joseph Maestas is a native of Santa Cruz, N.M., and a registered professional engineer licensed in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. He was first elected state auditor in 2022 with 62% of the vote after previously serving on the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. He has also worked for the Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and a private engineering firm. Maestas is seeking a second term, running unopposed in the primary. He will face Republican write-in candidate Joshua James Lawrence in November.

Campaign website: maestas4nm.net

STATE TREASURER

Laura Montoya  |  Incumbent State Treasurer — uncontested

Laura Montoya was first elected state treasurer in 2022 with 53% of the vote and is seeking a second term, running unopposed in both the primary and, so far, the general election. The Republican primary has only a write-in candidate, James Ellison.

Campaign website: lauramontoya4nm.com

COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC LANDS

This is an open-seat race — incumbent Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard is term-limited and is seeking the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor instead. Three Democrats are competing for the nomination.

Matthew McQueen  |  State Representative and attorney, Santa Fe

Matthew McQueen is a state representative from Santa Fe currently serving in the New Mexico House of Representatives. He is also an attorney. McQueen is vacating his House District 50 seat to run for land commissioner. He has been regarded as the field’s frontrunner given his legislative background on land and energy issues.

Jonas Moya  |  Former USDA Farm Service Agency State Director

Jonas Moya previously served as New Mexico state director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency, a Biden administration appointment overseeing agricultural lending and support programs for the state’s farming and ranching communities. He is a Tucumcari-area rancher.

Juan Sánchez III  |  Environmental consultant; Democratic Party vice chair

Juan Sánchez III is a former natural resource specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who has worked as an environmental consultant. He serves as vice chair of the state Democratic Party.

Voting Information

Early voting for the June 2, 2026, primary runs through May 30. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on primary day. Registered Democrats and unaffiliated voters may participate in the Democratic primary — this is the first semi-open primary in New Mexico history. Voters can find their polling location and sample ballot at nmvote.org.