WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump criticized New Mexico’s election system this week, renewing claims that voting in the state is “corrupt” and should be tightened, as a federal lawsuit places election practices under heightened scrutiny.
Trump made the remarks during a public discussion on health care access in rural communities, where he briefly shifted to election administration and called for stricter safeguards.
The comments come as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is suing New Mexico and Democratic Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, alleging the state failed to provide the agency with access to the statewide voter registration list as required under federal law. The lawsuit, filed in December 2025, argues federal statutes mandate that states make voter registration lists available for inspection and claims New Mexico did not provide the complete records requested by federal officials.
Democratic voting-rights groups have sought to intervene in the case, warning that broad disclosure of voter-file data could expose sensitive identifiers, including driver’s license numbers and partial Social Security numbers. Republican leaders in New Mexico have used the dispute to press for tighter election rules and more transparency.
Amy Barela, chairwoman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, said the lawsuit underscored longstanding concerns about election administration. “We are not going to have free, fair, or accurate elections if we cannot maintain accurate voter rolls,” Barela said.
Toulouse Oliver has publicly rejected Trump’s fraud claims. Responding on social media, she wrote on X that New Mexico’s elections remain secure, stating: “New Mexico’s elections are nationally recognized as some of the most secure and accessible in the country, and we will continue to defend them from misinformation.”
The DOJ lawsuit remains pending.
