The search for a new Democratic lieutenant governor candidate is setting off a whole new ball game.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico is seemingly headed to uncharted territory as it searches for a new Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor. And now, the Democratic nominee for governor wants to have a say.
It comes after Maggie Toulouse Oliver, who received 80% of the primary vote, unexpectedly dropped out of the race last week, citing health reasons.
The last time the political party had to fill a role like that after an election was back when Deb Haaland left Congress to become the U.S. Secretary of the Interior in 2021. Since then, it’s only happened about two other times.
Who decides on the new nomination?
Democratic Party of New Mexico’s State Central Committee (SCC) will decide who gets the nomination. It’s a group made up of about 500 elected officials, Democratic National Committee members, organization leaders, and more.
At least one SCC member, former Albuquerque Mayor Marty Chavez, intends to follow who Haaland chooses, saying in a Facebook post, “Our next Governor needs to feel confident that when she leaves the State, the Lt. Gov. won’t subvert her policies.” He also added it’s about winning in November.
“Instead of having a new election, the state party is going to fill the slot,” UNM Political Science Professor Tim Krebs said.
An official timeline has not been released, but we are at least more than 30 days from that vote.
Before the party calls for a meeting, it needs an official notification of Maggie Toulouse Oliver’s withdrawal as lieutenant governor from the Secretary of State, which has not happened yet.
DPNM said that will happen after the primary election results are certified, which just happened Tuesday afternoon.
After that happens, DPNM will call for a meeting but has to wait 30 days. The party’s full statement is below.
Haaland’s role in the process
But now, Haaland said she wants in on that process by interviewing candidates and making a public endorsement. Unlike other states, New Mexico gubernatorial candidates don’t choose their lieutenant governor.
“I was not the nominee at the time of the primary, I was another candidate like everyone else, but now that I am the nominee, and I have an opportunity to say, well, this person would help move our state forward,” she said.
Haaland is allowed to do this. In fact, the Democratic Party of New Mexico (DPNM) said it welcomes her to interview the candidates for lieutenant governor.
“I offered any candidates who want to put their hat in the ring for Lieutenant Governor, that I would have a very transparent endorsement process,” Haaland said.
Haaland sent a letter to each of the committee members saying she plans on sending a questionnaire to any candidate willing to participate, then will interview them and issue her endorsement before the SCC votes on the new nominee.
“This is kind of a whole new ballgame,” Haaland continued. “Now that I am the nominee, and I have an opportunity to say, well, this person would help move our state forward.”
Haaland’s decision met with backlash
“She is sort of stepping on the scales here, but that’s a, you know, political choice that she’s making as nominee of the party,” Krebs said.
Not everyone agrees with Haaland’s process. In a post on X, the Republican Party of New Mexico said the party is taking the decision away from voters. Krebs says that’s not what happened.
“I don’t really see it as undermining the will of the voters,” Krebs continued. “The process, in some ways, is not as democratic as an election is, because it involves an appointment of somebody to fill a vacancy in an unusual situation.”
Haaland, on the other hand, says endorsements are typical and says the SCC doesn’t have to go with her pick.
“I would be voicing my opinion on who I think is best suited to move our state forward,” Haaland said. “It will be up to them, they have a vote, and they’ll exercise their vote in that committee.”
