John McDivitt

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

John McDivitt

Libertarian Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 4, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Michigan State University, 1972

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Navy

Years of service

1970 - 2003

Personal

Birthplace

Owosso, Mich.

Religion

Christian

Profession

Government contractor

John McDivitt (Libertarian Party) ran for election to the New Mexico House of Representatives to represent District 20. He lost as a write-in in the Libertarian Party primary on June 4, 2024.

Biography

John McDivitt was born in Owosso, Michigan. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1970 to 2003. McDivitt earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in 1972. His career experience includes working as a government contractor.

Elections

2024

See also: New Mexico House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for New Mexico House of Representatives District 20

Incumbent Meredith Dixon defeated Tracy Major in the general election for New Mexico House of Representatives District 20 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Meredith Dixon (D)	55.9	8,227
		Tracy Major (R)	44.1	6,498

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 14,725
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 20

Incumbent Meredith Dixon advanced from the Democratic primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 20 on June 4, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Meredith Dixon	100.0	1,880

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,880
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 20

Tracy Major advanced from the Republican primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 20 on June 4, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tracy Major	100.0	1,186

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,186
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 20

No candidate advanced from the primary.

		Candidate	%	Votes
		John McDivitt (Write-in)	100.0	3

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Vote totals may be incomplete for this race.
	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for McDivitt in this election.

2020

See also: New Mexico State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for New Mexico State Senate District 19

Gregg Schmedes defeated Claudia Risner and John McDivitt in the general election for New Mexico State Senate District 19 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Gregg Schmedes (R)	53.7	15,585
		Claudia Risner (D)	42.0	12,196
		John McDivitt (L)	4.3	1,250

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 29,031
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for New Mexico State Senate District 19

Claudia Risner advanced from the Democratic primary for New Mexico State Senate District 19 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Claudia Risner	100.0	5,140

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 5,140
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for New Mexico State Senate District 19

Gregg Schmedes defeated incumbent James White in the Republican primary for New Mexico State Senate District 19 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Gregg Schmedes	54.3	3,733
		James White	45.7	3,148

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,881
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for New Mexico State Senate District 19

John McDivitt advanced from the Libertarian primary for New Mexico State Senate District 19 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John McDivitt	100.0	87

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 87
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

John McDivitt did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

John McDivitt completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by McDivitt's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a retired Navy Supply Corps officer and financial consultant. I was born and raised in Michigan and graduated from Michigan State University with a BA cum laude in 1972. I met my wife in college and we have two children and two grandchildren. We are celebrating 49 years of marriage this year. I became interested in politics at an early age (the 1960 presidential election fascinated me) and I have been an avid follower of political and economic affairs since. I first joined the Libertarian Party in 1974 because I never identified politically with either the Democrats or the Republicans and I found elements of truth in both liberalism and conservatism. Since the libertarian philosophy is neither left nor right but at the same time both left and right it really appealed to me. I am liberal on matters of personal freedom and conservative on matters of economic liberty. I truly believe as is often attributed to Thomas Jefferson "that government which governs least governs best."

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Our current extreme political polarization must end. We must focus on what unites us not what divides us.
• People must be free to make their own choices not limited by government mandates and edicts.
• New Mexico can be far better than it is currently. Democrats and Republicans have had their chance. It's time for a new direction.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am very passionate about returning to the private sector anything and everything possible. When government gets involved in just about anything the results are suboptimal at best. Competition and free enterprise have made America great and yet we turn to government as a first resort to solve our problems. We have lost our way. I simply cannot imagine what cell phones would look like if government had a monopoly on their development. A government with a "one size fits all" mind set will always disappoint. I believe we need competition in education, health care and virtually every other area of human endeavor. I am a huge believer in voluntary cooperation not government coercion. In the marketplace of ideas there can never be enough innovation and yet government regulations stifle creativity and retard economic growth. It's time we get out of our own way and allow the free market to make New Mexico the jewel it can and should be. Legalize freedom!

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Honesty, integrity, open-mindedness, focus, diligence, fidelity and loyalty.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

I believe the core responsibilities for a State Senator are to understand the system of government under which we operate. One must be clear on the responsibilities of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government and their responsibilities to the citizenry they serve. Clearly the COVID-19 situation has created a crisis in this understanding. The legislature must never give up their authority to the executive branch to make laws. This has been a major failing in the COVID crisis. The New Mexico legislature has simply been absent while the governor makes laws, assess fines and penalties and acts in a most totalitarian way. While the governor is picking the winners and losers in our economy by deciding who is essential and who is not the legislature has been passive, submissive and irrelevant. This must change.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was working in my Great Uncle's hardware store. I began at age 15 and worked until I went to college 3 years later.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Good News Week by the Hedgehoppers Anonymous (1964)

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

Since our governor has assumed near dictatorial powers as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, I would have to say the relationship must be strictly constitutional. The three branches of government each have their specific roles and responsibilities. Our governor has taken it upon herself to issue edicts (the legislature is supposed to be the law making branch) and assess fines and penalties (again a function of the legislature) but the judicial branch has disappointed by declaring her actions legal. Since we have a part time legislature (and I would never wish to change that) I would propose an amendment to the state constitution which would allow for a special legislative session to convene for the duration of the crisis or declared emergency to allow our constitutional system to work. Checks and balances and division of powers must be respected.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

I strongly favor a computer generated redistricting plan which strives for districts that are as close to equal in population as possible and as close to square as possible. I would desire minimal human involvement and no regard given to voter registration or any other factors that lead to gerrymandering for political gain.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

With the possible exception of Secretary of State... no.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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John McDivitt campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	New Mexico House of Representatives District 20	Lost primary	$0	$0
Grand total			$0	$0
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

See also

2024 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. President U.S. Congress U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

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Newsletters

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External links

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Footnotes

[show]

Current members of the New Mexico House of Representatives

Leadership

Speaker of the House:Javier Martínez

Majority Leader:Reena Szczepanski

Minority Leader:Gail Armstrong

Representatives

District 1

Rodney Montoya (R)

District 2

Mark Duncan (R)

District 3

Bill Hall (R)

District 4

Joseph Hernandez (D)

District 5

Doreen Johnson (D)

District 6

Martha Garcia (D)

District 7

Tanya Mirabal Moya (R)

District 8

Brian Baca (R)

District 9

Patricia Lundstrom (D)

District 10

G. Romero (D)

District 11

Javier Martínez (D)

District 12

Art De La Cruz (D)

District 13

Patricia Caballero (D)

District 14

Miguel Garcia (D)

District 15

Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D)

District 16

Yanira Gurrola Valenzuela (D)

District 17

Cynthia Borrego (D)

District 18

Marianna Anaya (D)

District 19

Janelle Anyanonu (D)

District 20

Meredith Dixon (D)

District 21

Debra Sariñana (D)

District 22

Stefani Lord (R)

District 23

Alan Martinez (R)

District 24

Elizabeth Thomson (D)

District 25

Cristina Parajón (D)

District 26

Eleanor Chavez (D)

District 27

Marian Matthews (D)

District 28

Pamelya Herndon (D)

District 29

Joy Garratt (D)

District 30

Elizabeth Torres-Velasquez (D)

District 31

Nicole Chavez (R)

District 32

Jenifer Jones (R)

District 33

Micaela Lara Cadena (D)

District 34

Raymundo Lara (D)

District 35

Angelica Rubio (D)

District 36

Nathan Small (D)

District 37

Joanne Ferrary (D)

District 38

Rebecca Dow (R)

District 39

Luis Terrazas (R)

District 40

Joseph Sanchez (D)

District 41

Susan Herrera (D)

District 42

Kristina Ortez (D)

District 43

Christine Chandler (D)

District 44

Kathleen Cates (D)

District 45

Linda Serrato (D)

District 46

Andrea Romero (D)

District 47

Reena Szczepanski (D)

District 48

Tara Lujan (D)

District 49

Gail Armstrong (R)

District 50

Matthew McQueen (D)

District 51

John Block (R)

District 52

Doreen Gallegos (D)

District 53

Sarah Silva (D)

District 54

Jonathan Henry (R)

District 55

Cathrynn Brown (R)

District 56

Harlan Vincent (R)

District 57

Catherine Cullen (R)

District 58

Angelita Mejia (R)

District 59

Mark Murphy (R)

District 60

Joshua Hernandez (R)

District 61

Randall Pettigrew (R)

District 62

Elaine Sena Cortez (R)

District 63

Martin Ruben Zamora (R)

District 64

Andrea Reeb (R)

District 65

Derrick Lente (D)

District 66

Jimmy Mason (R)

District 67

Jack Chatfield (R)

District 68

Charlotte Little (D)

District 69

Michelle Abeyta (D)

District 70

Anita Gonzales (D)

Democratic Party (44)

Republican Party (26)