SFR’s 2022
primary endorsements for Santa Fe voters BY JULIE ANN GRIMM e d i t o r @ s f r e p o r t e r. c o m
D
emocracy awaits, Santa Fe. While midterm elections often appeal more to the party faithful than the broader electorate, New Mexico’s June 7 primary has enough variables to draw in new participants. Let’s hope that’s the case. Early voting begins May 10 with the kickoff of mail balloting and in-person convenience centers across the state. To start, although New Mexico continues to be one of just nine states with a closed primary system—meaning only voters registered with one of the state’s three major parties can vote in the primary—a new law makes participation easier this year. Voters who are unaffiliated or registered with a minor party can now register on the same day they cast ballots and, if they register as a Democrat, Republican or Libertarian, vote in the primary. At last report, Santa Fe County’s 109,174 registered voters included 63.1% Democrats, 15% Republicans, 0.9% Libertarians and 20.1% unaffiliated. (Those not registered also can participate in same-day registration, but voters registered with a major party can’t change their affiliations on Election Day.) Then there’s the ballot itself. In one of the most contested races, Republican voters will choose among five gubernatorial candidates to take on Democratic incumbent Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in November’s general election. Whoever wins that race will be the face of what Brian Sanderoff, the well-known New Mexico pollster and president of Research and Polling Inc., forecasts as a lively general election season. 12
MAY 4-10, 2022
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SFREPORTER.COM
“It’s a midterm cycle, with a Democrat in the White House and low approval ratings for President Biden,” Sanderoff tells SFR. “In a midterm election the party not in the White House will pick up seats in the general election because they are energized and maybe they will be more likely to participate in the primary.” At the top of the Democratic ticket, the primary contests for state attorney general and auditor have been relatively quiet, while the typically low-interest race for treasurer has featured mudslinging and complaints over conduct from both sides. All are the staging grounds for contested races come November. As for local races, the primary will decide many. In Santa Fe County the sheriff, two county commissioners and a magistrate judge seat are all up for grabs with no competition in the general election. In the state Legislature, only District 46 has a contest for Santa Fe voters, with two candidates challenging incumbent Rep. Andrea Romero. Since the plurality of Santa Fe County voters registered as Democrats, many local races comprise only candidates from that party (and races that have another party candidate don’t have competition within the party), SFR’s endorsements below are for contested Democratic primaries in which Santa Fe-area voters may cast a ballot. To reach our decisions, we conducted endorsement interviews with candidates via video and reviewed their campaign materials, financial disclosures, backgrounds and qualifications; plus their public appearances and other news accounts. However, and whenever you vote, please do.
