Joseph Maestas
Joseph Maestas (Democratic Party) is the New Mexico State Auditor. He assumed office on January 1, 2023. His current term ends on January 1, 2027.
Maestas (Democratic Party) is running for re-election for New Mexico State Auditor. He is on the ballot in the Democratic primary on June 2, 2026.[source]
Biography
In addition to his political career, Maestas worked for the Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and as a business development manager with Souder, Miller & Associates, a private engineering company. He is a registered professional engineer in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. He has been the president of the New Mexico Municipal League; vice-chair of the board for the Conservation Voters of New Mexico; chair of the New Mexico Voices for Children; and a board member at the National League of Cities.[1][2][3]
Maestas is a native of New Mexico, born in Santa Fe and raised in Santa Cruz on a family farm. His father was a science teacher, his mother a homemaker. The family also owned a liquor store. Maestas graduated from Española Valley High School in 1978. He then attended the University of New Mexico-Albuquerque, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, and Arizona State University, where he graduated with a master’s degree in civil engineering. He was previously married to Martha Vazquez, a judge on the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico.[4][5][6]
Political career
Public Regulation Commission (2021-present)
Maestas was elected to the commission in November 2020 and assumed office in January 2021.
Elections
2026
See also: New Mexico Auditor election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on June 2, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for New Mexico State Auditor
Incumbent Joseph Maestas (D) is running in the Democratic primary for New Mexico State Auditor on June 2, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Joseph Maestas | |
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Republican primary
Republican primary for New Mexico State Auditor
Joshua Lawrence (R) is running in the Republican primary for New Mexico State Auditor on June 2, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Joshua Lawrence (Write-in) | ||
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Endorsements
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2022
See also: New Mexico Auditor election, 2022
General election
General election for New Mexico State Auditor
Joseph Maestas defeated Travis Sanchez in the general election for New Mexico State Auditor on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joseph Maestas (D) | 61.9 | 399,810 |
 | Travis Sanchez (L) | 38.1 | 245,725 | |
| Total votes: 645,535 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New Mexico State Auditor
Joseph Maestas defeated Zackary Quintero in the Democratic primary for New Mexico State Auditor on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joseph Maestas | 57.3 | 74,701 |
 | Zackary Quintero | 42.7 | 55,732 | |
| Total votes: 130,433 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Libertarian primary election
Libertarian primary for New Mexico State Auditor
Robert Vaillancourt advanced from the Libertarian primary for New Mexico State Auditor on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Robert Vaillancourt (Write-in) | 100.0 | 284 | |
| Total votes: 284 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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2020
See also: New Mexico Public Regulation Commission election, 2020
General election
General election for New Mexico Public Regulation Commission District 3
Joseph Maestas defeated Chris Luchini in the general election for New Mexico Public Regulation Commission District 3 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joseph Maestas (D) | 71.7 | 148,993 |
| Chris Luchini (L) | 28.3 | 58,767 | ||
| Total votes: 207,760 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New Mexico Public Regulation Commission District 3
Joseph Maestas defeated Brian Harris in the Democratic primary for New Mexico Public Regulation Commission District 3 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joseph Maestas | 56.4 | 42,842 |
| Brian Harris | 43.6 | 33,138 | ||
| Total votes: 75,980 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Libertarian primary election
Libertarian primary for New Mexico Public Regulation Commission District 3
Chris Luchini advanced from the Libertarian primary for New Mexico Public Regulation Commission District 3 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Chris Luchini | 100.0 | 386 | |
| Total votes: 386 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
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2022
Joseph Maestas did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Joseph Maestas did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
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.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Maestas for New Mexico, “Meet Joseph Maestas,” accessed March 4, 2023
- ↑ Maestas for New Mexico, “About,” accessed March 4, 2023
- ↑ Santa Fe New Mexican, “Mayoral candidate Maestas no stranger to battling for reforms,” February 1, 2018
- ↑ Maestas for New Mexico, “Meet Joseph Maestas,” accessed March 4, 2023
- ↑ Maestas for New Mexico, “About,” accessed March 4, 2023
- ↑ Santa Fe New Mexican, “Mayoral candidate Maestas no stranger to battling for reforms,” February 1, 2018
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Brian S. Colón (D) |
New Mexico State Auditor 2023-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by Valerie Espinoza (D) |
New Mexico Public Regulation Commission District 3 2021-2023 |
Succeeded by - |
