New Mexico could move its 2028 presidential primary to Feb. 15, but a dispute between Democrats and Republicans could be in the works.
SANTA FE, N.M. – New Mexico could move its 2028 presidential primary to Feb. 15, but a dispute between Democrats and Republicans could be in the works.
The Democratic National Committee has New Mexico fourth in line for the 2028 Democratic presidential election. Moving all primaries from June to February would require a change in state law and the governor’s signature.
Democratic Candidate Deb Haaland’s team confirmed with KOB 4 on Friday that Haaland would sign a bill to move the primary date to Feb. 15.
Republican Gregg Hull said he would veto that change at face value. Hull said the Democratic February date would not work for Republican schedules.
Hull said he opposes having two primary voting dates and believes there should be one primary for both parties and a range of candidates.
“If this was just bringing one party primary forward, and not every party primary forward then I’d have to object to it, because it would become very expensive and very confusing on New Mexico voters,” Hull said. “Because if you had one primary in February and then you didn’t have another primary until June, that puts things into a real tailspin”
Hull also raised flags over possible confusion from having the primary election close to other municipal elections in March.
The Democratic Party of New Mexico said in a press release that state law would need to change and that the Republican Party and other parties would also move up their primaries. Hull said he does not expect Republicans to simply accept that plan.
“I don’t see either party just saying, ‘Yeah, if you move, we’ll move’ and just acquiescing to that,” Hull said.
A couple of decades ago, New Mexico changed state law to let presidential primaries stand apart from every other office. That allowed Democrats to hold early presidential primaries in 2004 and 2008.
KOB 4 asked the Secretary of State if Republicans could opt out of the change. The office told KOB 4 it is still researching that question.
