New Mexico may return to a competitive two party state someday but looking at this week's filings for the statewide offices for the June 2 primary that day seems as distant as Cuba is from Carlsbad. 

All congressional and statewide office filings here.

Take the US Senate race, a dismal nonstarter if there ever was one. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, seeking a second term, is getting his ticket punched early. Democratic socialist Matt Dodson is making a symbolic play in the primary. Republicans have fielded unknown Christopher Vanden Heuvel who previously ran unsuccessfully for the Rio Rancho city council.

Luján's FEC filing for the final quarter of 2025 shows $778.9K raised, $368K spent, and $3.7M cash on hand. His only challenge is to make sure he stays healthy. As for all that moolah, he might consider helping Dems more in need. 

We'll skip the Governor's race which has been blogged ad infinitum for another day as well as the contests for Lt. Gov. and jump to the US House action--or inaction.  

DISTRICT 2 

The state's three US House seats also appear to be a bust for the R's--and that includes District 2-- the onetime swing southern seat held by Dem Rep. Gabe Vasquez now seeking a third term. 

Vasquez drew a Dem challenger, Tom Wakely, who ran for Congress in Texas and now lives in Columbus, NM and calls himself an "economic populist." This too is a symbolic run albeit one with a message that has appeal. 

On the GOP side Greg Cunningham, a Marine veteran and tough-on-crime former APD cop faces ABQ's Jose Orozco. Cunningham has run unsuccessfully for the state House on the westside. Orozco is a former DEA contractor. He has raised $212,000. Cunnigham reports donations of $171,000 in the early going. 

Will the national GOP again commit to this race after losing it by 10,000 votes in '24? If they do, will it matter? Everyone and their uncle is now calling the seat lean Democrat. It only isn't if Vasquez, who has struggled to fully nail the territory down, makes a major screw-up.

STANSBURY SEAT 

Rep. Stansbury

In District 1 based in ABQ, Dem Rep. Melanie Stansbury has drawn three below-the radar Republicans seeking to oppose here. Her base loer often ultra-liberal views  drive the GOP and others up the wall but looks impregnable.

The problem for the R's is that Stansbury knows her material, really likes the job and in turn is well-liked here and in DC. She's also the only member of the delegation to frequently engage the national media carrying an anti-Trump banner. Those base voters can't get enough. 

The 46 year old is running for a third elected term and already is outgrowing the seat. But no senate opportunity is on the horizon. A climb further up the House ladder is the order of the day.

LEGER FERNANDEZ

A quiet performer but well-regarded in much of the sprawling northern 3rd District, Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez is getting what should be a respectable challenge from GOP Rep. Martin Zamora, who is giving up his Santa Rosa area state House seat to make the run. The district looks more enticing to the GOP since redistricting. 

Leger Fernandez, 66, a liberal voice who leans heavily into the districts large Native and Hispanic communities, is going for a fourth term. With Trump's immigration policies costing him inroads he made in this area in 2024, the Dems are positioned for the win.

LAND COMMISSION CLASH 

Perry

There is justifiable excitement on both sides of the aisle for one down ballot race--the contest for state land commissioner. Three Dem candidates and one R--all solid--have filed with the SOS.

The Dems are former Sen. Heinrich aide Juan Sanchez, Santa Fe county state Rep. Matt McQueen and Tucumcari rancher Jonas Moya who lives in ABQ. There's an ethnic vote split developing with McQueen hoping to benefit. Fund-raising could be the deciding factor

Hopes run high within the GOP for Michael Perry, a Chaves county commissioner and a former assistant state land commissioner, who is their sole candidate. He is indeed a strong contender and if Republicans are finally going to break their long statewide drought for elective office, look to this race.

NASTY SOS RACE 

Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver is termed out and is running for the Dem nod for lt. governor. She is a tough act to follow. First elected in 2016, she has delivered with well-run elections. Three Dems and one R are running to replace her. Two of them are heavyweight county clerks, Santa Fe's Katharine Clark and Dona Ana's Amanda López Askin. They are joined by Sonya Smith, a former Veterans Services cabinet secretary.

López-Askin

Clark and López-Askin are hyper-ambitious and both come to the main ring of La Politica prepared. It took no time for the race to get nasty among their supporters, setting the stage for later jousting between the pair. Maybe Sonya can raise some money and run it up the middle but it's a long shot. 

The two county clerks will demonstrate in the June primary campaign what insiders already know--that if either is elected they are likely to follow in the steps of MTO as a statewide player. But first the winner will have to prove their mettle on the trail and later by administering the multi-layered SOS office. 

As for the GOP, no R's need apply for this one but Ramon Goolsby of Rio Rancho is doing her party a favor and taking one for the team as their '26 nominee.

SLEEPY AG RACE 

As for the attorney general's race, when has an incumbent Dem not been re-elected? Raul Torrez is seeking a second four year term with GOP ABQ attorney Sam Kane Sr. filing for the Republican slot. Like his predecessors there is no singular achievement that Torrez will run on but he hasn't done anything to offend. That and history puts him comfortably in the driver's  seat. 

THE FINAL TWO 

State Auditor Joseph Maestas and State Treasurer Laura Montoya drew no Dem primary or GOP general election opposition. Both credit clean living, prayer and yoga. 

WHITMAN (CONT.)

In a first draft Wednesday we identified Meg Whitman as a Republican. She ran for the California GOP gubernatorial nomination in 2010 under the GOP banner. But she is now a Democrat, reports a longtime reader who heard Whitman state her Dem party affiliation at a recent meeting of the ABQ Economic Forum. Whitman's registration is not yet reflected in the NM voter file, according to a Dem consultant. 

Whitman was named ambassador to Kenya in 2022 by President Biden. We wrote about her in reference to her apparent interest in being appointed the next UNM President. We also added to that blog that her husband, Griffith Harsh, became chair of Neurosurgery at UNM in Jan. 2025.

BOB MCNEILL 

Bob McNeill

Finally, we're sad to report the passing of longtime friend and state politico Bob McNeill. 

A stalwart Dem, Bob served as Chief of Staff to US Senator Joseph Montoya and as a cabinet secretary under Gov. Toney Anaya. He served as a board member for NM Voices for Children among many other public affairs activities. 

An attorney originally from PA, Bob badly wanted to be elected to political office in his own right but various runs, including a try for AG in '86 that ended in a cliff-hanger, did not pan out. 

Away from politics, Bob, who died at 87, was an ace race car driver and car collector often seen at events with Charlie Daniels, the late state Supreme Court Justice who shared his passion. 

During a last visit with him recently, his craving for La Politica was undiminished as he handicapped the Dem Guv primary race and other contests. 

Hasta la vista, Bob. 

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