WASHINGTON (AP) — Candidates for New Mexico governor and other top state and federal offices will compete for their parties’ nominations in a state primary on Tuesday.The election takes place as the war in Iran continues to send gas prices soaring, creating an unanticipated windfall in the nation’s No. 2 oil-producing state that the new governor will play a key role in managing. Outgoing Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is term-limited.Running for the Democratic nomination to replace Lujan Grisham are former congresswoman and former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman. Haaland was the first Native American cabinet secretary and, if elected, would be the first Native American woman to serve as governor of any state.The candidates in the Republican primary are former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, medical cannabis entrepreneur and former state cabinet secretary Duke Rodriguez and small business owner Doug Turner.
At the top of the ballot, Democratic U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján seeks a second term. He faces a challenge from business owner and community organizer Matt Dodson.
5 MIN READ
No names will appear on the Republican primary ballot for the U.S. Senate, but 2024 state Senate candidate Larry Marker is running for the nomination as a certified write-in candidate. He previously ran as a write-in candidate for land commissioner in 2022.
