Shawn Griffiths
Independent voters will finally have access to taxpayer-funded primary elections in New Mexico after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed SB 16 into law. Primary reform advocates are now celebrating a win that was several years in the making.
IVN has covered the ongoing efforts in New Mexico over the last decade, including the campaign of independent Jarratt Applewhite and the work of New Mexico Open Elections, founded by former state Rep. Bob Perls.
It was apparent 10 years ago that New Mexico had a problem with fair elections and representation -- one that stemmed not just from a lack of competition, but a lack of contested seats.
Just as it was back then, about half of state legislative seats went uncontested in the last election cycle -- meaning winners were picked outright in the primary election of the dominant party in their district.
Add the additional elections that are effectively decided in primaries due to most districts being safe for the Republican or Democratic Party, and what voters had was a system in which only a handful of them had a meaningful say.
Then, in 2023, primary reform advocates saw that they were getting closer to victory. For the first time, an open primaries bill passed the state Senate and made its way to the House.
While the bill ultimately did not succeed, it was clear to those who lobbied the legislature that sentiments were changing. Two years later, they had enough support to pass a semi-open primary bill.
Under the new law, party members have to vote in their respective party's primary. However, independent voters can decide between a Republican, Democratic, or Libertarian primary ballot starting in 2026.
Success for open primaries in New Mexico is a story of how patience and persistence pays off -- especially when there are people dedicated to building a grassroots movement and bolster it over time.
Some of the people who led the open primaries movement in New Mexico appeared in a virtual discussion hosted by the better elections group Open Primaries. Listen to them tell their stories of this hard-fought victory above.