GRANTS, N.M. – With the 2026 election cycle underway, New Mexico voters are getting their first look at who is positioning to run for the state’s top offices this year, including U.S. Senate, Governor and several statewide executive seats.
The list below reflects filings reported on Feb. 3, 2026, the first major filing day for candidates seeking pre-primary convention designation for certain federal and statewide contests. It is an early snapshot, not the final ballot.
The stakes are especially high in the governor’s race. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is serving the final year of her term, and New Mexico will choose its next governor in 2026. The Primary Election is scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 2026, and the General Election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.
In the race for United States senator, two Democrats are listed as qualified: incumbent Ben Ray Luján and challenger Matt Dodson. On the Republican side, Christopher J. Vanden Heuvel is listed as disqualified in the filing record.
In New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes parts of Cibola County, Democratic incumbent Gabe Vasquez is listed as qualified. Thomas John Wakely is listed as disqualified. On the Republican side, Gregory G. Cunningham and Jose Orozco are both listed as qualified.
For governor, two Democrats are listed as qualified: Deb Haaland of Laguna Pueblo and Sam Bregman, the District Attorney for Bernalillo County .
A larger field is listed on the Republican side. The candidates shown as qualified are Greggory D. Hull, Mayor of Rio Rancho; Duke Rodriguez, cannabis CEO; Steve D. Lanier, NM Senator for San Juan County; James F. Ellison, former public regulatory commissioner; and Doug W. Turner, international strategist.
Belinda Robertson is listed as disqualified for the Republican ticket.
In the lieutenant governor’s contest, Democrats Harold Pope Jr. and Maggie Toulouse Oliver are listed as qualified.
On the Republican side, Aubrey Blair Dunn, Manuel “Manny” Lardizabal and David M. Gallegos are listed as qualified.
In the Secretary of State race, three Democrats are listed as qualified: Amanda López Askin, Sonya Lee Smith and Katharine E. Clark.
Republican Ramona L. Goolsby is also listed as qualified.
In the attorney general’s race, Democratic incumbent Raul Torrez is listed as qualified, Republican Samuel Isaiah Kane Sr.
In the State Auditor race, Joseph M. Maestas is listed as qualified as a Democrat State Treasurer Laura M. Montoya is listed as qualified as a Democrat.
The Commissioner of Public Lands Race has a multi-candidate Democratic field: Juan De Jesus Sanchez III, Matthew McQueen and Jonas Moya are listed as qualified.
Republican Michael Jack Perry is also listed as qualified.
A judicial contest also appears in the early filings: Kris Houghton, listed as a Democrat, is shown as qualified for Court of Appeals Position 1.
Voters should keep in mind that this is not yet the complete 2026 ballot picture, particularly for county and legislative races that file later in the cycle, on March 10.
Candidates listed as “disqualified” in the filing record typically did not meet one or more ballotqualification requirements at the time of filing, such as petition, paperwork, or eligibility issues, and those determinations can sometimes be challenged under election law.