NEWS
As 'new kid in town,' New Mexico Forward Party hopes to offer alternative to two-party system
Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang attends party's launch, cites disillusionment among young voters
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SANTA FE 鈥� Standing outside a state Capitol building that has come to represent New Mexico鈥檚 one-party dominance in recent years, Andrew Yang made the case Friday for a shakeup of the current political status quo.
A Democratic presidential candidate in 2020, Yang subsequently co-founded the Forward Party as an alternative to the Democratic and Republican hegemony and traveled to New Mexico this week for the new party鈥檚 official launch in the state.
鈥淢ost Americans think we need something different, but they don鈥檛 think it can be done,鈥� Yang said in a news conference outside the Roundhouse, referring to disillusionment with the current two-party system.
While the Forward Party faces structural and logistical hurdles in its quest to remake American politics, Yang cited its emergence in Utah as a promising sign.
A Utah state senator in 2025 and joined the Forward Party, which is expecting to have more than 20 legislative candidates on the Utah general election ballot this fall, Yang said.
In New Mexico, such a ballot presence seems unlikely 鈥� at least this year.
Former Democratic state Rep. Bob Perls of Corrales, who is the Forward Party of New Mexico鈥檚 state chairman, said recruiting between two to five 鈥渜uality鈥� candidates in state House races this fall is a reasonable target.
He also told reporters the Forward Party has turned down interest from at least three potential gubernatorial candidates, saying party leaders do not want to run 鈥渟poiler鈥� candidates in contested statewide races in its first year in existence.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want to run fringe candidates,鈥� Perls added.
Instead, the Forward Party hopes to recruit candidates to run against unopposed House members who voted against a new law allowing independent voters to cast a ballot in New Mexico primary elections without having to change their party affiliation. The semi-open primary law will be in effect for the first time in this year鈥檚 June 2 primary election.
While the Forward Party of New Mexico celebrated its formal launch on Friday after about a year of behind-the-scenes organizing, it has not qualified as a minor political party in the state yet.
In order to qualify, the party must adopt and submit rules to the Secretary of State鈥檚 Office. Any new party must also submit valid signatures of more than 3,500 registered voters in the state.
While Perls said that legwork has been done, he said filing the necessary paperwork will trigger a 30-day initial period to recruit candidates. Filing day for all independent and minor party candidates is then set for June 25.
Going forward, Perls said the Forward Party of New Mexico also plans to endorse some Republicans and Democrats who match the party鈥檚 core principles of data-driven, fair government that鈥檚 responsive to voters. The party has already endorsed one incumbent Democratic state lawmaker 鈥� Rep. Kathleen Cates of Rio Rancho.
If it鈥檚 qualified, the Forward Party would become in New Mexico, joining the Libertarian Party and the Green Party. But those parties have not had significant impacts on state politics in recent years 鈥� at least since former Gov. Gary Johnson ran for U.S. Senate as a Libertarian in 2018.
Both Perls and Yang predicted the Forward Party will have a greater influence, despite state election code requirements that independent and minor party candidates must submit more voter signatures than major party candidates.
鈥淭here is a new kid in town and we鈥檙e going to win some races in November,鈥� Perls said Friday.
Yang, who did not rule out a possible future presidential run, cited polling showing for both the national Democratic and Republican parties.
He said younger voters are especially disillusioned with the current political system. In New Mexico, the number of independent voters, who tend to skew younger than Republicans or Democrats, has steadily increased in recent years and as of last month 鈥� or roughly 26% of all registered voters.
He said the Forward Party could make inroads with some of those voters, especially in a state in which Democrats have held all statewide office since 2019.
鈥淭his movement is growing every single day,鈥� said Yang.
Dan Boyd covers state government and politics for the Journal in Santa Fe. Follow him on X at @DanBoydNM or reach him via email at dboyd@abqjournal.com.
