The Republican Party of New Mexico is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in New Mexico, headquartered in Albuquerque. The party has provided 12 of the 31 Governors of New Mexico, including only three in the past 40 years. As of 12 October 2010, 32% of New Mexican voters are registered Republicans, compared to 46% registered Democrats.
Early history
Similar to most other state Republican parties, the Republican Party of New Mexico was founded around the American Civil War Era. One of the founding fathers of the Republican Party of New Mexico was Thomas B. Catron. At the time of New Mexico's admission to the Union, Catron owned a significant majority of land in the state. Due to that wealth, Catron was influential in shaping the party. Catron served as U.S. Senator from New Mexico from 1912-1917.
Party platform
The Republican Party of New Mexico's platform covers many issues that interest New Mexicans. The platform title is: "Protecting The American Dream." It was adopted on March 16, 2002, amended on March 18 2006, and further amended on March 13, 2010. The preface to the party's platform summary is: "The Republican Party of New Mexico is a party of the people and for the people. We seek to be faithful to the best traditions of our national party, the party that ended slavery, granted homesteads, built land grant colleges, and moved control of government back into the hands of the people. We champion the worth and abilities of the individual and seek to protect the American Dream for all. We believe our God-given freedom is inseparable from our responsibility to serve our community, state and nation. In this, we draw inspiration from our first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, who challenged us to 'dare to do our duty as we understand it.'"
Economic freedom
The party supports government policies that limit involvement in the private sector. Furthermore, they argue that unions should only be a political tool with the consent of the paying member.
Crime/personal safety
The party argues that criminals should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. It supports the right to bear arms, as credited in the U.S. Constitution and New Mexico Constitution.
Private property
The Republican Party of New Mexico supports the protection of private property from state and local governments.
Education
The party believes that parent involvement, local community involvement, and a right to choose is essential to improving education in New Mexico.
Healthcare
The party's position on healthcare can be summarized as: "Fix it, don't Federalize it!" It supports any way the private sector can improve healthcare in New Mexico.
Equal rights
The Republican Party of New Mexico supports civil rights laws that ban any discrimination based on race, gender, handicap, religion, and or national origin.
Life issues
The party supports the protection of human life and opposes any state level funding of human embryo research and abortions.
Controlled substances
The party supports local law enforcement agencies to deal with drug problems. It opposes any legislation that would legalize any drug.
Immigration
The party believes that any person who comes to New Mexico through legal means is welcomed. However, any person that comes to the state through illegal means should face the full prosecution of the law.
Election integrity
The party argues that a clean environment and sound economy can go together.
Family issues
The party supports a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as being between one man and one woman.
Homeland security
The party argues that state and local law enforcement agencies work willingly with the federal law enforcement agencies across the border. They also support every legal method to detect and diffuse any terrorist plot on New Mexican and the United States soil.
Pre-primary convention
Every two years, prior to the primary election, the party holds a pre-primary convention. This is where statewide candidates push to receive delegate support before the primary election. If a candidate receives at least 20% of the delegates vote, they are automatically placed on the primary election ballot. However, if a candidate does not receive at least 20% of the delegation vote, they can still get on the ballot by obtaining at least 1,500 signatures of Republicans who had voted in the most recent election within 10 days of the convention.
Current elected officials
The party controls none of the state's seven statewide offices, holds a minority in the New Mexico Senate, and a minority in the New Mexico House of Representatives. Republicans also do not hold any of the state's three U.S. House seats.
Members of Congress
U.S. Senate
None
Both of New Mexico's U.S. Senate seats have been held by Democrats since 2008. Pete Domenici was the last Republican to represent New Mexico in the U.S. Senate. First elected in 1972, Domenici opted to retire instead of seeking a seventh term. Congressman Steve Pearce ran as the Republican nominee in the 2008 election and was subsequently defeated by Democratic challenger Tom Udall who has held the seat since.
All 3 of New Mexico’s congressional districts have been held by Democrats since 2018. The last Republican to represent New Mexico in the House of Representatives was Steve Pearce who chose not to run for re-election in 2018, instead unsuccessfully running for Governor.
Statewide offices
None
New Mexico has not elected any GOP candidates to statewide office since 2014, when Susana Martinez was re-elected as governor. In 2018, term limits prevented Martinez from seeking re-election to a third term. Congressman Steve Pearce ran as the Republican nominee in the 2018 election and was subsequently defeated by Democratic challenger Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Former Republican Governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson, ran for the party's nomination for president in the 2012 Republican presidential primary. He was governor of New Mexico from 1995-2003. However, poll numbers showed Johnson well behind the other Republican candidates and he was only included in two debates with his opponents. This was partly the reason he switched to the Libertarian Party and continued his Presidential run for that party's nomination. He won the nomination by a landslide and went on to win third place in the 2012 presidential election behind 1st-place finisher incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and 2nd-place finisher the former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. He won nearly 1% nationwide and slightly above 3% in New Mexico.
