Staff Reports
New Mexico could soon take center stage in the national campaign scene. One of the Democratic National Committees proposed to select New Mexico as an early state for the presidential primary July 24.
The DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee voted to make New Mexico one of the first four states to hold its presidential primary.
“This means that New Mexicans will have a say in who can become the president unlike ever before,” Daniel Garcia, Communications Director for the Democratic Party of New Mexico, said.
Typically, New Mexico’s primary lands on the first Tuesday of June, but the proposed new primary day could be on Feb. 15, 2028. The change still needs full DNC approval. If approved, New Mexico would be the fourth state to hold its primary after South Carolina, Nevada, and New Hampshire.
The Democratic Party of New Mexico said the vote comes after New Mexico enacted major programs such as free college tuition and universal childcare.
“The rules and bylaws committee was pretty impressed that New Mexico has been an example of democratic party values for years,” Garcia said.
The DNC said it selects states based off key elements such as diversity and swing voter populations.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham released a statement saying in part, “New Mexico has clearly moved from an afterthought to a state where presidential campaigns will organize from day one.”
The full Democratic National Committee is expected to vote on the new early schedule next month. At this point, there are no plans to change the date for New Mexico’s Republican presidential primary.
