近距离内射合集

SANTA FE 鈥� New Mexico Democrats could still have an all-female ticket for this year鈥檚 general election.

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Deb Haaland on Friday announced her endorsement of state Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard to be the party鈥檚 lieutenant governor candidate in November. 

The endorsement of Garcia Richard came one day after Haaland released a list of five potential running mates to join her on the November general election ballot. Haaland interviewed all five of those candidates after a preliminary vetting process.

Haaland, who easily won this month鈥檚 primary election, took a hands-on approach in the unusual process of selecting a replacement for Maggie Toulouse Oliver, who announced last week she was suspending her campaign for lieutenant governor due to health issues. 

Technically, the decision won鈥檛 be solely up to Haaland, as New Mexico Democratic Party Chairwoman Sara Attleson on Thursday called a state central committee meeting for July 25 to select a new lieutenant governor candidate.

But the gubernatorial nominee鈥檚 endorsement will likely carry significant political heft, as Democrats seek to retain control of the Governor鈥檚 Office in this fall鈥檚 election. 

Garcia Richard previously planned to run for lieutenant governor but dropped out of the race last year due to her husband鈥檚 cancer battle. She said this week his health has since improved.

In a statement announcing her endorsement decision, Haaland pointed out Garcia Richard has won two statewide elections 鈥� in 2018 and 2022. She also cited her experience as a teacher and a former member of the state House.

鈥淪tephanie brings the energy, compassion, leadership, and proven ability to bring people together that I believe will strengthen our campaign and our ability to deliver for New Mexicans,鈥� Haaland said in a message to Democratic state central committee members.

She also said the stakes of this fall鈥檚 election are high for New Mexico due to the policies of President Donald Trump, who has two-plus years remaining in the term he was elected to in 2024.

鈥淣ew Mexico needs leadership that can deliver, but we can鈥檛 deliver on our promises unless we win in November,鈥� Haaland said.

Meanwhile, the list of other candidates vetted by Haaland included two Democratic state senators 鈥� Harold Pope Jr. of Albuquerque and Leo Jaramillo of Espa帽ola. It also included former state Veterans鈥� Services Secretary Sonya Smith and attorney Antonia Roybal-Mack. 

Pope was the only one of the five candidates who appeared on this month鈥檚 primary ballot, as he was defeated by Toulouse Oliver in the lieutenant governor race. Smith ran for secretary of state this year, but failed to qualify for the ballot at Democrats鈥� pre-primary convention in March. 

State Sen. George Mu帽oz, D-Gallup, said Friday he also had preliminary discussions with Haaland鈥檚 campaign about the lieutenant governor post, but decided not to launch a public campaign for the position.

Under New Mexico鈥檚 election code, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run independently in the primary election. The winners of those races who share the same party affiliation are then paired on a ticket for the general election.

The state Republican Party has been critical of the planned process for replacing Toulouse Oliver on this fall鈥檚 ballot, likening it to the process the Democratic Party used in 2024 to have Kamala Harris run for president as its nominee in place of Joe Biden.

But Democrats have pointed out the process is in compliance with state law, and has also been used to fill ballot vacancies in past election cycles. 

Dan Boyd covers state government and politics for the Journal in Santa Fe. Follow him on X at or reach him via email at dboyd@abqjournal.com.