Make it three in a row. That appears to be the case with the five statewide executive offices on the November ballot which went to Democrats in 2018 and 2022 and are set for a three-peat.

That expectation is grounded in ABQ Journal polling showing races for Attorney General, Secretary of State, Land Commissioner, State Auditor and State Treasurer as easy lay ups for the Democrats who hold 40 percent of the registered voters compared to the GOP's 31 percent. Party identification is vital. Down-ballot races see many voters revert to party loyalty when unfamiliar with individual candidates. While this edge has grown more pronounced this century, it has been a fixture since New Mexico turned away from the GOP in the Great Depression of the 30's.  

In the races for Auditor and Treasurer this year, Republicans are resorting to write-in candidates--hardly a sign of a party ready to compete or rebuild. 

LAND COMMISSIONER 

The Land Commissioner race remains a sore spot for Republicans with party insiders fretting that the position was their best hope to break the Dems executive office monopoly. 

Chaves County Commissioner Michael Perry has a strong resume but Trump's unpopularity and the Dems fund-raising advantage has made the race seem out of reach. The August 21-28 Journal poll of likely voters had former Sen. Heinrich political aide Juan Sanchez III at 48 percent and Perry at only 35.

It was Aubrey Dunn, Jr. who was one of the two last Republicans to prevail in the executive offices by capturing the land commission post in 2014. (The other was Dianna Duran for Sec. of State.) 

New Mexicans have welcomed Republican ranchers like Dunn and before him Pat Lyons. Their backgrounds created an emotional connection with voters over the state's prized natural environment. 

Perry is a former assistant land commissioner with a degree in wildlife management. While not a rancher he told me he is sensitive to the office's environmental responsibilities. His platform emphasizes wildfire prevention and water management.

Sanchez lays claim to a generations-long ranching heritage in Valencia and Cibola counties, donning a traditional cowboy hat in media ads to reinforce that link. During the June primary, an oil-industry-backed PAC—an enemy of the Democratic left—bought significant TV advertising for Sanchez. While his progressive opponents attacked the involvement, Sanchez noted his individual campaign did not solicit oil and gas contributions but would accept them, hinting at a pragmatist, run-up-the-middle approach if elected.

ATTORNEY GENERAL  

No Republican has won the Attorney General seat since 1986, and Las Cruces nominee Sam Kane is unlikely to disrupt that streak. Incumbent Raul Torrez leads Kane 51% to 34% in Journal polling—the largest margin on the executive ticket—and is set to become the fifth consecutive Democratic AG to complete two terms.

Like his predecessors, Torrez has sought high-visiblity cases. However, his lawsuit against Meta regarding child endangerment has broken new ground, significantly boosting his profile. Pollster Brian Sanderoff said he expects the AG to lead the Dem ticket. Kane counters that Torrez prioritizes national litigation against tech giants and federal agencies for public relations at the expense of core, state-level enforcement priorities.

SECRETARY OF STATE  

Maggie Toulouse Oliver is wrapping up a 10-year tenure, the longest in state history, which began in 2016 when she filled the final two years of the term vacated by Republican Dianna Duran. Her tenure was highlighted by the 2023 New Mexico Voting Rights Act and strong pushback against federal election interference. However, critics note her administration fell behind on web infrastructure and modernization.
Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda Lopez Askin leads Republican Ramona Goolsby 47% to 35% to succeed her. Askin pledges closer coordination with county clerks and improved data accessibility. Goolsby echoes claims regarding election integrity, despite New Mexico receiving national praise for running secure, sound elections.

STATE AUDITOR 

Political veteran Joseph Maestas holds a 47% to 34% lead over Republican Joshua Lawrence. No Republican has won the office since 1966, though Republican Wayne Johnson was appointed to fill out Tim Keller’s term when Keller was elected Albuquerque mayor. But Lawrence is running as a write-in candidate whose name will not appear on the ballot. Getting near 34 percent of the vote would be a minor miracle.

Maestas, a former mayor of Española, points to tighter internal controls following statewide financial audits and high-profile special investigations into CYFD, Western New Mexico University and executive travel. Lawrence and critics argue local governments still face severe audit backlogs, which Maestas attributes to a widespread CPA shortage. He says the most significant audit of his term was of Dona Ana county which he said uncovered widespread financial "dysfunction."

STATE TREASURER 

Incumbent Laura Montoya leads Republican James Ellison 47% to 35%. Ellison is also a write-in candidate with little chance of competing. Montoya is known for her feisty style. She drew GOP ire by opposing a high-profile pay hike for Tesla CEO Elon Musk and has raised eyebrows by pushing social achievement goals for state permanent fund investments as a member of the State Investment Council. She took a hit when the State Ethics Commission found she violated campaign laws by accepting an improperly disclosed $10,000 donation in 2022. Montoya says her achievements include high school financial literacy programs, "Baby Bonds" legislation for newborns, and university partnerships to recruit future public accountants. 

ONE PARTY RULE

One-party dominance has not led to blatant public corruption in recent years, but that wasn't always the case. Twenty years ago, back-to-back state treasurers were convicted in pay-to-play schemes and sent to federal prison. In 2005, the Richardson administration and the legislature enacted reforms that stripped political appointees of direct investment authority and established competitive bidding to eliminate the old "corruption stew." While these executive offices carry prestige and serve as launching pads for higher political office, the pay remains modest: The Attorney General makes $154,714; Commissioner of Public Lands $149,714; State Treasurer $144,714; State Auditor $144,714; Secretary of State $144,714. 

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