NEWS
DNC chairman says New Mexico poised to play leading role in 2028 presidential primary
Presidential hopefuls likely to visit state early, often after DNC gives green light to moving up primary contest
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SANTA FE 鈥� New Mexico鈥檚 days as a flyover state for presidential hopefuls might be over 鈥� at least for now.
In a Wednesday interview, Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin said New Mexicans should expect to see presidential candidates 鈥渦p close and personal鈥� after the DNC approved making New Mexico one of six early states in the 2028 calendar.
Whether that means eating green chile stew, riding in hot air balloons or handshakes and selfies at the New Mexico State Fair remains to be seen.
Specifically, New Mexico is poised to bat cleanup in the early state calendar, as its Feb. 15, 2028, primary contest would slot it behind South Carolina, Nevada and New Hampshire. Michigan and Virginia would then follow New Mexico before other states hold their primary contests.
While legislation enacting the change still must be approved by New Mexico lawmakers during next year鈥檚 60-day session, Martin said he expects some presidential candidates will begin announcing their campaigns shortly after this fall鈥檚 election cycle.
By the start of next year, he predicted candidates will start traveling to early calendar states 鈥� including New Mexico 鈥� to hold campaign events, set up field offices and build local ties.
鈥淲hat it means for New Mexico is that there鈥檚 going to be a lot of attention by presidential candidates and by the national press,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be an opportunity for New Mexicans to tell the story of this great state.鈥�
He also said moving up the state鈥檚 presidential primary 鈥� it has taken place on the first Tuesday in June in recent years 鈥� could make endorsements from local elected officials in New Mexico more coveted by presidential hopefuls.
鈥淧robably most importantly for New Mexicans is they鈥檙e going to have the ability to be up close and personal with presidential candidates, and not every state in the country is going to be able to experience that,鈥� Martin said.
He credited Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham with leading the state鈥檚 push for official early state status, saying the governor did an 鈥渁mazing job.鈥� Lujan Grisham traveled to Washington, D.C., in May along with state Democratic Party officials to pitch DNC members on the idea that New Mexico鈥檚 demographics and recent policy initiatives could make it an important testing ground for presidential hopefuls.
Since the DNC voted last weekend to approve the early state calendar, Lujan Grisham she鈥檚 already been fielding phone calls from some potential candidates.
Specifically, the outgoing governor said she鈥檚 been in touch with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. She also said former U.S. Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg plans to visit New Mexico soon.
As for Martin, the DNC chairman said New Mexico鈥檚 application stood out due to the state鈥檚 unique mix of rural and urban voters, along with its sizable Native American and Hispanic populations.
Hispanic residents make up of New Mexico鈥檚 total population, while Native Americans represent 11.6% of the state鈥檚 residents, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
In addition, New Mexico鈥檚 status as the nation鈥檚 second-highest oil producer 鈥� behind only Texas 鈥� and a border state could also elevate energy and immigration-related issues as candidates jockey for position.
Specifically, Martin said the addition of New Mexico to the early state calendar would force Democratic presidential hopefuls to flesh out policy positions on immigration and border-related issues.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one thing to talk about the border and immigration policy when you鈥檙e in South Carolina, but it鈥檚 a much different thing to be talking about it in New Mexico or any border state, frankly,鈥� said Martin, who added New Mexico is the first border state to be included in the early state window.
However, the state鈥檚 low education rankings and reliance on federal funding 鈥� New Mexico currently has the nation鈥檚 highest percentage of residents enrolled in Medicaid 鈥� could also draw increased national attention.
While presidential candidates could focus much of their time and energy on the Albuquerque and Santa Fe metro areas, Martin said successful candidates will also have to expand their reach to other parts of New Mexico.
鈥淭o win the state, they鈥檙e going to have to get around the state and visit communities that really bring in that sort of rural flair that we also want our candidates to be battle tested with,鈥� he said.
While national political pundits have the 2028 early state calendar to determine which candidates might fare better than others, Martin said he doesn鈥檛 believe it will help any certain types of candidates more than others.
He also said he tasked the DNC with crafting a calendar that was rigorous, fair and efficient, a reference in part to affordable media markets.
鈥淲e wanted to make sure that our nominee was battle-tested in a way that helps them win the White House, not just the primary,鈥� Martin told the Journal.
While New Mexico was long viewed as a swing state, no Republican has won the state鈥檚 five electoral votes since President George W. Bush did so in 2004. In addition, Democrats currently hold all statewide offices in New Mexico and comfortable majorities in both legislative chambers.
Despite those trends, President Donald Trump made inroads in the state in 2024 鈥� compared to four years earlier 鈥� after holding a campaign stop in Albuquerque in the final days before Election Day.
While that campaign rally made Trump the only presidential candidate to visit New Mexico in 2024, there could be a surge in such events in the coming year.
鈥淎ny political junkie in New Mexico is going to be on cloud nine,鈥� Martin said.
Dan Boyd covers state government and politics for the Journal in Santa Fe. Follow him on X at @DanBoydNM or reach him via email at dboyd@abqjournal.com.
