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4d ago

New Mexico Disqualifies Lone GOP Senate Candidate, Leaving Party Without a Nominee

The ruling followed a signature review that found Christopher Vanden Heuvel short of the required valid petitions.

U.S. Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) speaks alongside other Senate Democrats during a press conference in the U.S. Capitol building on December 17, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Senate Democrats are unveiling their initiative to combat the rising costs that many Americans are facing in all aspects of their lives on a daily basis. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)
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Overview

  • Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver removed Christopher Vanden Heuvel from the June 2 primary ballot for lacking sufficient valid signatures, leaving no certified Republican in the U.S. Senate race.
  • If no replacement qualifies, the November election would be the first in modern New Mexico history with only one major-party candidate for the Senate seat.
  • Sen. Ben Ray Luján remains on track for reelection and his campaign says its approach to voters does not change based on the field.
  • Other candidates were also disqualified for insufficient signatures, including Republican Carlton Pennington in NM-1, GOP gubernatorial hopeful Belinda Robertson, and Democrat Thomas Wakely, ending his primary challenge to Rep. Gabe Vasquez.
  • State rules require nominating petitions equal to at least 2% of a party’s prior gubernatorial primary vote; GOP leadership said it offered assistance, and some Republicans point to a March 17 write-in option, according to reports.