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New Mexico state executive official elections, 2020

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2022
2018
New Mexico state executive official elections
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Election details
Filing deadline: March 10, 2020
Primary: June 2, 2020
General: November 3, 2020
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voting in New Mexico
Ballotpedia analysis
Federal and state primary competitiveness
State executive elections in 2020
Impact of term limits in 2020
State government trifectas and triplexes
Other state executive elections

Seven state executive offices were up for election in New Mexico in 2020:

Public Regulation Commission (2 seats)
Public Education Commission (5 seats)

Candidates and election results

Public Regulation Commissioner

District 1

General election

General election for New Mexico Public Regulation Commission District 1

Incumbent Cynthia Hall defeated Janice Arnold-Jones in the general election for New Mexico Public Regulation Commission District 1 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Cynthia Hall
Cynthia Hall (D)
 
59.3
 
119,332
Image of Janice Arnold-Jones
Janice Arnold-Jones (R)
 
40.7
 
81,952

Total votes: 201,284
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for New Mexico Public Regulation Commission District 1

Incumbent Cynthia Hall advanced from the Democratic primary for New Mexico Public Regulation Commission District 1 on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Cynthia Hall
Cynthia Hall
 
100.0
 
50,151

Total votes: 50,151
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for New Mexico Public Regulation Commission District 1

Janice Arnold-Jones advanced from the Republican primary for New Mexico Public Regulation Commission District 1 on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Janice Arnold-Jones
Janice Arnold-Jones
 
100.0
 
28,406

Total votes: 28,406
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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District 3

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
Image of Joseph Maestas
Joseph Maestas (D)
 
71.7
 
148,993
Chris Luchini (L)
 
28.3
 
58,767

Total votes: 207,760
Candidate Connection = 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
Image of Joseph Maestas
Joseph Maestas
 
56.4
 
42,842
Brian Harris
 
43.6
 
33,138

Total votes: 75,980
Candidate Connection = 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 Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Public Education Commissioner

District 1

General election

General election for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 1

Melissa Armijo won election in the general election for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 1 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Melissa Armijo
Melissa Armijo (D)
 
100.0
 
50,976

Total votes: 50,976
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 1

Melissa Armijo defeated incumbent Ricardo Caballero in the Democratic primary for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 1 on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Melissa Armijo
Melissa Armijo
 
71.6
 
13,368
Ricardo Caballero
 
28.4
 
5,292

Total votes: 18,660
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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District 4

General election

General election for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 4

Rebekka Burt defeated Laura Burrows in the general election for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 4 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Rebekka Burt
Rebekka Burt (D)
 
60.7
 
67,527
Laura Burrows (L)
 
39.3
 
43,791

Total votes: 111,318
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 4

Rebekka Burt advanced from the Democratic primary for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 4 on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Rebekka Burt
Rebekka Burt
 
100.0
 
27,357

Total votes: 27,357
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 4

Laura Burrows advanced from the Libertarian primary for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 4 on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Laura Burrows
 
100.0
 
296

Total votes: 296
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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District 8

General election

General election for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 8

Michael Taylor won election in the general election for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 8 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Michael Taylor
Michael Taylor (R)
 
100.0
 
58,751

Total votes: 58,751
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 8

Michael Taylor advanced from the Republican primary for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 8 on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Michael Taylor
Michael Taylor
 
100.0
 
19,358

Total votes: 19,358
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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District 9

General election

General election for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 9

K.T. Manis defeated incumbent Trish Ruiz and Krik Myers in the general election for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 9 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of K.T. Manis
K.T. Manis (R) Candidate Connection
 
70.2
 
48,419
Image of Trish Ruiz
Trish Ruiz (D)
 
25.1
 
17,303
Krik Myers (L)
 
4.7
 
3,249

Total votes: 68,971
Candidate Connection = 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 Public Education Commission District 9

Incumbent Trish Ruiz advanced from the Democratic primary for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 9 on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Trish Ruiz
Trish Ruiz
 
100.0
 
7,260

Total votes: 7,260
Candidate Connection = 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 Public Education Commission District 9

K.T. Manis defeated Arleen Beverley in the Republican primary for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 9 on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of K.T. Manis
K.T. Manis Candidate Connection
 
57.0
 
11,193
Arleen Beverley
 
43.0
 
8,437

Total votes: 19,630
Candidate Connection = 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 Public Education Commission District 9

Krik Myers advanced from the Libertarian primary for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 9 on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Krik Myers
 
100.0
 
102

Total votes: 102
Candidate Connection = 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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District 10

General election

General election for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 10

Steven Carrillo won election in the general election for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 10 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Steven Carrillo
Steven Carrillo (D) Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
82,140

Total votes: 82,140
Candidate Connection = 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 Public Education Commission District 10

Steven Carrillo defeated Leanne Christine Salazar Montoya and William Luther Humbert in the Democratic primary for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 10 on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Steven Carrillo
Steven Carrillo (Write-in) Candidate Connection
 
57.4
 
3,894
Image of Leanne Christine Salazar Montoya
Leanne Christine Salazar Montoya (Write-in) Candidate Connection
 
39.0
 
2,646
William Luther Humbert (Write-in)
 
3.6
 
241

Total votes: 6,781
Candidate Connection = 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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Context of the 2020 elections

Party control in New Mexico

New Mexico Party Control: 1992-2025
Eighteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor D D D R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D
Senate D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
House D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R D D D D D D D D D

Voter information

How the primary works

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. New Mexico utilizes a semi-closed primary process; participation in each party's primary is limited to registered party members and unaffiliated voters.[1][2][3][4]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Poll times

In New Mexico, all polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Mountain Time on Election Day. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[5][6]

Registration requirements

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in New Mexico, each applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of New Mexico, and at least 18 years old by the time of the next election. People convicted of a felony are eligible to vote after their prison time is completed, even if they are still on probation, parole, or another form of supervised release. Individuals who have been declared mentally incapacitated may not register to vote.[7]

Potential New Mexico voters who were not registered automatically may use the New Mexico voter registration form, the national voter registration form, or the state's online voter registration portal to register. Completed registration materials may be mailed or delivered by hand to election officials. To register online, an applicant must have a state-issued ID. First-time applicants registering by mail must attach a valid form of identification to their registration materials, which includes a current and valid photo identification, or, a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, student identification card or other government document, including tribal IDs that show the voter's name and current address.[7]

Automatic registration

See also: Automatic voter registration

New Mexico has automatic voter registration. Eligible voters are automatically registered to vote when they interact with a department of motor vehicles unless they opt out.[8][9]

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

New Mexico has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

See also: Same-day voter registration

New Mexico allows same-day voter registration.[10]

Residency requirements

In New Mexico, individuals can register to vote as soon as they become residents of the state.[11]

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

New Mexico does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote.[12]

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[13] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

Voter ID requirements

New Mexico does not require voters to present identification while voting, in most cases. However, if an individual registered to vote for the first time by mail and did not provide verification of his or her identity then, the voter will have to show identification.[14]

Those voters can present the following forms of identification:

  • Current and valid photo identification
  • Current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, student identification card, or other government document, including identification issued by an Indian nation, tribe, or pueblo that shows the voter’s name and current address

Some municipalities require identification when voting in local elections. Click here for more information.

Early voting

New Mexico permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website. Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.

Absentee voting

All voters are eligible to vote absentee in New Mexico. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.[15]

The county clerk must receive the absentee ballot application no later than the 14th day before the election. A voter may request an absentee ballot by filling out and returning an application form, or by completing an online application. Completed ballots must be returned to the county clerk or voter's precinct before 7 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted.[15][16]


Past elections

2018

The following elections took place in 2018:

See also

New Mexico State Executive Elections News and Analysis
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New Mexico State Executive Offices
New Mexico State Legislature
New Mexico Courts
2025202420232022202120202019201820172016
New Mexico elections: 2025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Party control of state government
State government trifectas
State of the state addresses
Partisan composition of governors

External links

Footnotes

  1. New Mexico Legislature, "2025 Regular Session - SB 16," accessed June 20, 2025
  2. National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed August 22, 2024
  3. Ballotpedia research conducted December 26, 2013, through January 3, 2014, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
  4. New Mexico Secretary of State, "FAQs for Primary & General Election Candidacy," accessed August 22, 2024
  5. New Mexico Compilation Commission, "New Mexico Statutes - Chapter 1, Article 12.1," accessed June 24, 2025
  6. New Mexico Secretary of State, "Voter Bill of Rights," accessed June 24, 2025
  7. 7.0 7.1 New Mexico Secretary of State, “Voter Registration Information,” accessed June 24, 2025
  8. New Mexico Compilation Commission, "New Mexico Statutes - Chapter 1, Article 1-4-5.2", accessed June 24, 2025
  9. New Mexico Compilation Commission, "New Mexico Statutes - Chapter 1, Article 1-4-5.8", accessed June 24, 2025
  10. New Mexico Compilation Commission, "New Mexico Statutes - Chapter 1, Article 1-4-5.7", accessed June 24, 2025
  11. New Mexico Secretary of State, "Voter Registration Eligibility Requirements and FAQs," accessed June 24, 2025
  12. The State of New Mexico, "Voter Registration Form," accessed June 24, 2025
  13. Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
  14. New Mexico Secretary of State, "Voting," accessed June 24, 2025
  15. 15.0 15.1 New Mexico Secretary of State, "Absentee and Early Voting," accessed June 24, 2025
  16. New Mexico Secretary of State, "Absentee Voting by Mail," accessed June 24, 2025