ALBUQUERQUE — Independent voters may hold the key to New Mexico’s statewide elections, but candidates hoping to earn their support will need to do more than rely on party labels, according to former independent U.S. Senate candidate Mira O’Connell.
Speaking on The Chile Wire podcast with host Abe Baldonado, O’Connell said New Mexico’s growing number of independent voters are seeking candidates who engage directly with communities, focus on practical issues and avoid treating politics as a purely partisan contest.
“The key is conversion versus collaboration,” O’Connell said. “Let’s work to try to get the vote… not worry about whether we’re going to become a Republican or not, but worrying more about the vote.”
O’Connell, a Torrance County business owner and former Albuquerque police sergeant, launched an independent campaign for the U.S. Senate earlier this year after learning there initially appeared unlikely to be a Republican candidate challenging Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Luján. Although she ultimately fell short of the signatures required to qualify for the ballot, she said the campaign gave her firsthand insight into what motivates New Mexico voters outside the two major parties.
She said her campaign took her through 11 counties, where she knocked on doors, attended community events and spoke with thousands of residents.
Rather than finding voters consumed by partisan politics, O’Connell said many conversations centered on concerns shared across party lines.
“We’re just people,” she said. “We want the best for New Mexico. We want jobs. We want security. We want safe communities.”
O’Connell said many independents — along with moderate Democrats and Republicans — feel increasingly disconnected from both political parties, arguing that elected officials often prioritize party interests over constituent concerns.
“I think people are tired of being pulled in two different directions,” she said. “They often vote not necessarily because they support that platform, but they feel like they don’t have any other choice.”
Abe argued Republicans cannot win statewide elections without broadening their coalition beyond registered Republicans. He said candidates must appeal not only to independents but also to conservative and moderate Democrats dissatisfied with the state’s Democratic leadership.
“The math just doesn’t math for Republicans for a statewide election,” O’Connell agreed. “There’s just not enough Republicans to win any statewide election.”
Instead of focusing campaign messaging primarily on criticizing Democrats, O’Connell encouraged Republican candidates to spend more time listening to voters in traditionally Democratic communities and discussing issues affecting daily life.
She said many voters care less about national political flashpoints than about education, public safety, healthcare access, water infrastructure and economic opportunity.
“When people asked me questions, they were always the hot-button topics,” O’Connell said. “But when I asked them what issues were important to them, then we could get into the deeper ones.”
Baldonado said campaigns often underestimate the value of direct voter engagement, arguing candidates should regularly explain legislative decisions and remain accountable after taking office.
“If I ran for office tomorrow, I would make a commitment that I would meet with my constituents and tell them why I voted a particular way on a bill,” he said. “The people that elect me are my bosses.”
O’Connell also urged Republican leaders to invest more heavily in recruiting women and younger candidates while expanding outreach beyond traditional party events.
“We don’t need to convince Republicans to vote for Republicans,” she said. “We need to convince independents and conservative Democrats.”
She added that many independent voters are not necessarily looking to join a political party but want candidates willing to earn their support through genuine engagement rather than assuming their loyalty.
“People really don’t like the name-calling,” O’Connell said. “They want to be heard.”
Despite ending her Senate campaign after collecting approximately 1,350 petition signatures — short of the number required to qualify for the ballot — O’Connell said she believes New Mexico will continue seeing growth in independent voter registration and candidacies.
She pointed to an increasing number of independent candidates filing for office this election cycle as evidence that more New Mexicans are seeking alternatives to the state’s traditional partisan divide.
Baldonado said that trend presents both a challenge and an opportunity for Republican candidates heading into the 2026 election.
“Republicans can’t win without appealing to independents,” he said. “That’s just the reality.”
The discussion concluded with both agreeing that candidates, regardless of party affiliation, should focus on earning votes through transparency, community engagement and a willingness to represent all constituents after Election Day rather than only those within their political base.
