Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) will not face an official Republican challenger on the November ballot in New Mexico after the only Republican candidate, Christopher Vanden Heuvel, did not receive enough signatures to seek the party’s nomination.
Three candidates in other races in New Mexico were also determined not to have enough signatures to make it onto primary ballots, including Democratic congressional candidate Thomas Wakely, Republican gubernatorial hopeful Belinda Robertson, and Republican congressional candidate Carlton Pennington, according to the Albuquerque Journal. The outlet noted that the Senate race has never had just one of the major parties on the ballot for the state.
“He’ll continue earning their support on the campaign trail while doing the job they elected him to do by lowering costs and delivering results for New Mexico,” a spokesperson for Luján’s campaign told the local publication. “That commitment does not change based on who else is [on] the ballot.”
Self-described democratic socialist Matt Dodson is also seeking the Democratic nomination against Luján.
New Mexico Republican Party Chairwoman Amy Barela said in a statement on Thursday that the party “made repeated outreach efforts to candidates who were short on signatures and offered assistance.”
“In the case of the U.S. Senate race, we were proactive well before declaration day, engaging in conversations to evaluate the landscape and explore possible remedies ahead of the filing deadline. Our approach was deliberate and strategic. While we sincerely appreciate every individual willing to step forward and place their name on the ballot, our duty as party leadership is to ensure viability, coordination, and competitiveness in every race,” she stated.
“That level of success requires communication and partnership. The candidate has also shared that he is in direct contact with the Secretary of State’s Office and believes he has received information that differs from what is in the NM Election Handbook. We respect his effort to seek clarity. If the Secretary of State ultimately confirms his qualification based on that information, we will fully support his placement on the ballot and stand firmly behind his candidacy moving forward,” the chairwoman continued.
The news did garner some frustration among Republicans. The Downballot reported that a Republican wanted to run as a write-in candidate has a March 17 deadline.
“Did you know that Republicans won’t have ANY New Mexico Senate candidate for the federal election this November?” GOP activist Scott Presler posted to X. “Yes, you heard me. Democrat Senator Lujan (NM) will walk into re-election [because] Republicans don’t have a candidate. He’s AGAINST the SAVE America Act, by the way.”
Luján is seeking his second term in the Senate. He won the seat in 2020 after defeating Republican Mark Ronchetti with just under 52% of the vote. Nearly 46% of the votes went for the Republican. Luján also served in the House from 2009 until 2021, including time as assistant House speaker and four years in charge of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
New Mexico has other major races this year, including the contest to succeed Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. In 2024, Sen. Martin Heinrich won re-election against Republican Nella Domenici by roughly 10%. The state was seen as mildly competitive during the 2024 election, with Trump obtaining nearly 46% of the vote after holding a rally in the Land of Enchantment just days before the election.
Republicans are in a tough battle to keep the Senate in 2026, as they currently hold a 53-47 majority. According to the Cook Political Report, the most competitive races are expected to be in Maine, Georgia, Michigan, and North Carolina.
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