Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico signed into law a bill allowing voters with no party affiliation to vote in primary elections without changing their nonpartisan status. This shift to partially open primaries will take effect in time for the 2026 cycle, allowing more voters to participate in the nomination process for various elected offices. This change still prohibits crossover voting by members of opposing parties. The bill was opposed by the state Republican Party, who viewed it as a potential stepping stone towards fully open primaries or ranked choice voting.
The share of unaffiliated voters in New Mexico has grown from 15% in 2004 to 23% this year. Governor Lujan Grisham expressed support for open primaries as a step in the right direction for the state, where governance has been challenging. The state’s unaffiliated voters outnumber registered Democrats in some counties and outnumber Republicans in others. With Democrats holding majorities in the state Legislature and Trump losing the state three times, this change could have significant implications for future elections in New Mexico.
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