On June 4, New Mexico will hold its primary elections during which voters will be able to choose their preferred party candidate for United States president and New Mexico U.S. representative, as well as state Senate and representative seats. New Mexico has a closed primary, meaning voters can only vote within the party they are registered as.
Voters who are not affiliated with the major parties – the Democratic Party, Republican Party and Libertarian Party – will not be able to vote in the primary election.
To change party affiliation, a voter must complete a new voter registration form and submit it to the county clerk, Secretary of State’s Office or online.
Same-day voter registration is available on Election Day at polling locations. Those who wish to change their party affiliation during this time can update their registration at polling locations through same-day voter registration, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
Voters may also choose to vote uncommitted, through which they can exercise their right to vote without committing to any candidate listed on the ballot. A growing campaign called Vote Uncommitted New Mexico has urged pro-Palestine voters to do so to critique President Joe Biden’s response to the war in Gaza, according to a Source New Mexico article.
New Mexico is one of 21 states that allows voting uncommitted during primaries, according to Mass Live.
Incumbent Biden will be facing Marianne Williamson in the Democratic primaries for president of the United States.
Donald Trump is running unopposed in the Republican primaries, though candidates Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy and Chris Christie – who have all dropped out of the race – will still appear on the ballot, according to the Associated Press.
Libertarian Party candidate Lars Mapstead is also running for U.S. president.
Republican candidates Louie Sanchez and Steve Jones will compete to determine who will face District 1 U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D) in November.
Below is information about the candidates participating in the contested races.
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Joe Biden
Biden is the current U.S. president seeking reelection, and the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party. Prior to becoming president, Biden represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate for 36 years and served as former President Barack Obama’s vice president.
Biden signed into law the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. He seeks to “unify the nation” through passing bipartisan legislation – including drug reform and healthcare reform – according to a White House fact sheet.
Biden plans to “cut taxes for working families and the middle class” and increase taxes for households making over $400,000 a year, according to another White House fact sheet.
He has been criticized for being the oldest president to assume office, according to Reuters. These criticisms include concerns over his cognitive abilities to serve his role as president.
Biden has faced backlash from both pro-Palestine and pro-Israel Americans over the U.S. approach to the war in Gaza. The Biden administration has delivered billions in aid to Israel, contrary to some progressive calls to restrict aid to the country, according to Al Jazeera.
On May 31, the Biden administration announced a ceasefire plan between Hamas and Israel.
Marianne Williamson
Marianne Williamson is an author, spiritual leader and Democrat running for president. She previously ran for president in 2020, but later dropped out and endorsed Bernie Sanders. She is running on a progressive platform similar to Biden but says she, not Biden, will be able to defeat Donald Trump in his bid for president, according to her campaign website.
Williamson supports a Universal Basic Income plan that would provide all Americans with a monthly check with the goal of alleviating poverty, according to her campaign website. She seeks to align economic policy with humanitarian goals in what she calls the Economic Bill of Rights.
Williamson plans to create a “clean economy,” which includes eliminating reliance on fossil fuels and implementing measures to reduce food waste, according to her campaign website.
Williamson has been criticized for promoting theories aligned with the anti-vaccine position and has called clinical depression a “scam,” according to The New York Times.
She has also been criticized for “emotionally and verbally abusive” treatment of staffers, according to Politico.
Louie Sanchez
Louie Sanchez is a Republican running for the U.S. House of Representatives District 1 in New Mexico. Sanchez is the owner of Calibers, an indoor firing range and firearms store, and works as a sales representative for Medtronic, a medical device company. He previously ran for House District 1 but lost to Michelle Garcia Holmes during the Republican primaries.
Sanchez seeks to acquire federal grants to increase training and acquire modern technology for law enforcement, according to his campaign website. He plans to reduce government spending and “burdensome regulations” to grow the U.S. economy, according to the website.
He believes freedoms to practice faith, to self defense and to speech are threatened by partisanship and seeks to protect these freedoms, according to his campaign website.
Steve Jones
Steve Jones is a Republican running for the U.S House of Representatives District 1 in New Mexico. Jones is a retired accountant and previously served as a combat medic for the United States Army, according to his Facebook page. He previously ran as an Independent for House District 2 in 2020 but lost to Republican Yvette Herrell during the general election, according to Ballotpedia.
Jones advocates for tax reductions and lower government spending, and investment in education and skills training, according to his campaign website. He seeks to increase border security – specifically with border surveillance and the construction of physical barriers, according to the website.
He aims to promote responsible gun ownership through training programs that dispel misconceptions about gun ownership, according to his campaign website.
Nate Bernard is a beat reporter with the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @DailyLobo
