PRIMARY ELECTION 2026
Maggie Toulouse Oliver wins Democratic primary for lieutenant governor
Juan De Jesus Sanchez leads three-way race to face Republican challenger for state land commissioner
New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver appeared on track to become the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in Tuesday鈥檚 primary election.
With her second term as secretary of state expiring this year, Toulouse Oliver held a commanding lead over her sole challenger in the primary, state Sen. Harold Pope Jr., who has represented District 23 since 2021.
鈥淭onight, New Mexicans voted to nominate a fighter,鈥� she said in a statement. 鈥淚 will tirelessly work to lower costs, protect people鈥檚 sacred rights, and defend our state from Trump鈥檚 attacks.鈥�
On the Republican side, state Sen. David Gallegos won a three-way race for lieutenant governor.
Democrat Amanda Askin had the edge over Katharine Clark to fill Toulouse Oliver鈥檚 role as the state鈥檚 chief election official. The winner of that race will face Ramona Goolsby, a Republican who ran unchallenged in the primary.
For state land commissioner, Juan De Jesus Sanchez remained out in front in early results against challengers Matthew McQueen, a state representative for the 50th district, and Jonas Moya.
The state land commissioner manages millions of acres of state trust land and mineral rights. They are also responsible for leasing portions of the state鈥檚 land trust to generate revenue for public schools, hospitals and universities.
Whoever emerges victorious in the battle for the democratic nomination in that race will face the only Republican entrant in the field come November: former game warden and current county commissioner Michael Perry.
Speaking to the Journal on Tuesday, Perry said fears he may align himself with newly installed Bureau of Land Management Director Steve Pearce and President Donald Trump are unfounded.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter who you are 鈥� if it鈥檚 a governor from the Democratic Party or the president from the Republican Party 鈥� if you get in the way of me doing my job as a state land official, then I鈥檓 against you.鈥�
The winner of the general election race will succeed New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard, who was elected in 2018 but bowed out of the race for lieutenant governor due to concerns over her husband鈥檚 health.
For attorney general, Democratic incumbent Ra煤l Torrez and his Republican challenger, Sam Kane, both ran unopposed in the primary.
The race for state auditor also saw no action on Tuesday, with Democratic State Auditor Joseph Maestas set to face sole GOP opponent Joshua Laurence in November.
State Treasurer Laura Montoya and Republican James Ellison will likewise meet again in the general election after seeing no challengers from their respective parties.
John Miller is the sa国际传媒官网网页入口鈥檚 northern New Mexico correspondent. He can be reached at jmiller@abqjournal.com.
