NEWS
Slate of Forward Party candidates file to run in general election, but ballot spots not certain yet
Five candidates from New Mexico's newest political party filed paperwork to run this fall
Published
SANTA FE 鈥� New Mexico voters could have some additional choices this fall.
A slate of five candidates from the Forward Party, the state鈥檚 newest political party, filed paperwork Thursday to run in the state鈥檚 general election in November.
The Forward Party candidates include Bob Perls, a former Democratic state legislator who is seeking to run against incumbent U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luj谩n, a first-term Democrat. Republican Larry Marker of Roswell is also vying for the seat.
Other Forward Party candidates include former Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya, who filed to run for Santa Fe County magistrate judge. Montoya previously has run as both a Democrat and a Republican.
However, the candidates who filed to run for office Thursday are not guaranteed a spot on the ballot. That鈥檚 because the Secretary of State鈥檚 Office has until June 30 to determine whether candidates meet the necessary criteria for certification.
Despite filing paperwork to run, Perls said he and Forward Party state auditor candidate Michael Vigil of Albuquerque likely would fall short of a daunting voter signature requirement for independent and minor party candidates running for statewide office.
He said a condensed time to gather signatures and technical issues with the online voter petition forms used by the Secretary of State鈥檚 Office made it difficult for the signature threshold to be reached.
But Perls said the new party remains undeterred, saying, 鈥淧eople are deeply disgusted with the two-party system and really want options.鈥�
He also said the Forward Party plans to recruit at least 12 legislative candidates in 2028, after several potential House candidates backed out this year.
The Forward Party was certified as a minor party in New Mexico last month after party leaders submitted more than 5,500 voter signatures to the Secretary of State鈥檚 Office.
Party leaders have said they hope to capitalize on disillusionment with the political status quo, especially among younger voters, by offering an alternative that鈥檚 focused on data-driven policies and fair government.
Meanwhile, more than 20 independents also filed to run Thursday, including one candidate for U.S. Senate and three candidates for governor.
The list of independent gubernatorial candidates includes former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima, who recently filed a lawsuit challenging the state鈥檚 voter signature requirements.
While a state district court judge in Santa Fe declined to issue an immediate order relaxing the ballot access requirements, Miyagishima鈥檚 lawyer has said he plans to appeal the case to the state Supreme Court.
There are currently no independents who hold statewide office or legislative seats in New Mexico, even though independents 鈥� or those who decline to state a party affiliation 鈥� now make up more than 26% of the state鈥檚 .
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.
