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2026 Pre-Primary Convention

pre-Primary Convention Information

  • When: Saturday, March 07. The meeting will be called to order at 12:00 p.m. We estimate the meeting to be over by 4:00 p.m.

  • Where: Inn of the Mountain Gods, 287 Carrizo Canyon Rd, Mescalero, NM 88340

  • A zoom link will be provided to delegates to watch virtually if they cannot attend.

  • All state-convention voting for the candidates, platform, and any resolutions will be conducted through our absentee voting process to ensure that all delegates within our party organization are able to participate fully in all aspects of the convention process.

County Convention information

Each county party will be electing delegates that will attend the DPNM Pre-Primary Convention. To see your delegates, click here.

For more information on when each county will be holding their elections, please click here.

Background on being a pre-primary delegate

According to New Mexico State Statute, the Democratic Party of New Mexico must hold pre-primary conventions in election years. Party Pre-Primary Conventions must be held by the second Tuesday of March. The purpose of the pre-primary convention is to decide who makes it on the primary ballot.

The pre-primary convention delegates vote on their preferred candidate for statewide races and federal races. A candidate who does not receive 20% or more of the votes at the pre-primary convention is required to submit more signatures to make it on the ballot. Simply put, our pre-primary convention determines who makes it on the Democratic primary ballot for the June 02, 2026 primary.

The responsibilities of a delegate are simple. Delegates vote for their preferred candidates running to be the Democratic Party's nominee for statewide races (New Mexico Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Auditor, and Land Commissioner) as well as their Federal Races (U.S. Senate and their member of the United States House of Representatives). Delegates also vote on the Democratic Party of New Mexico's platform and resolutions.

Responsibilities of the delegate

Here are the responsibilities of delegates

  • Attend the convention, either in person or virtually over Zoom

  • Vote for candidates seeking to be on the Democratic Party primary ballot (federal and statewide races)

  • Vote on our parties platform and resolutions

Where should I stay

Unfortunately, the room block at the Inn of the Mountain Gods is sold out!

We have another Room Block at Elevate Hotel

There are AirBnbs and hotels near the convention. See the list below:

Top Hotel & Lodge Options

1. MCM Elegante Lodge & Resort Ruidoso
Rating: ⭐ 4.5 / 5 (over 1,200 reviews)
Price: ~ $150-$220+ per night (varies by season)
Phone: (575) 258-5500
Website: mcmeleganteruidoso.com

2. Hampton Inn & Suites Ruidoso Downs
Rating: ⭐ 4.4 / 5
Price: ~ $110-$140 per night
Phone: (575) 378-1199
Website: hilton.com/en/hotels/rowrdhx-hampton-suites-ruidoso-downs/

3. Sitzmark Chalet Inn
Rating: ⭐ 4.6 / 5
Price: ~ $90-$130 per night
Phone: (575) 525-4140
Website: sitzmarkchaletinn.com

4. Hotel Ruidoso
Rating: ⭐ 4.1 / 5
Price: ~ $70-$130 per night
Phone: (575) 257-2007
Website: hotelruidoso.net
Midtown location walking distance to shops and eateries.

5. Ruidoso Mountain Inn
Rating: ⭐ 4.0 / 5
Price: ~ $75-$120 per night
Phone: (575) 257-3736
Website: ruidosomtninn.com
Good value choice near main highway.

6. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Ruidoso Downs
Rating: ⭐ 4.0 / 5
Price: ~ $80-$130 per night
Phone: (575) 378-3514
Website: wyndhamhotels.com/laquinta/ruidoso-downs

7. Best Western Pine Springs Inn
Rating: ⭐ 4.4 / 5
Price: ~ $80-$110 per night
Phone: (575) 378-8100
Website: bestwestern.com

8. Quality Inn Ruidoso
Rating: ⭐ 4.9 / 5
Price: ~ $65-$100 per night
Phone: (575) 315-0147
Website: choicehotels.com/new-mexico/ruidoso

9. Travelodge by Wyndham Ruidoso
Rating: ⭐ 3.3 / 5
Price: ~ $65-$100 per night
Phone: (575) 224-2999
Website: wyndhamhotels.com/travelodge/ruidoso-new-mexico

10. Lodges & Cabin-Style Stays

  • Ruidoso Lodge Cabins – Charming cabins near downtown (~$100-$180+)

  • Ruidoso River Resort – Riverfront resort condos (~$150+)

  • West Winds Lodge – Hotel near midtown (~$70-$110)

  • Shadow Mountain Lodge and Cabins – Cabin rentals (~rates depend on unit size)


2026 Pre-Primary Candidates

This information is from the Secretary of States website and is currently shown as pending. We will update the lists once they have been accepted.

  • United States Senator

    • BEN R LUJAN United States Senator

    • MATT DODSON

  • United States RepresentativeDISTRICT 1

    • MELANIE ANN STANSBURY

  • United States RepresentativeDISTRICT 2

    • GABRIEL VASQUEZ

  • United States RepresentativeDISTRICT 3

    • TERESA LEGER FERNANDEZ

  • New Mexico Governor

    • DEB HAALAND

    • SAM BREGMAN

  • New Mexico Lieutenant Governor

    • HAROLD JAMES POPE, JR

    • MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER

  • New Mexico Secretary of State

    • AMANDA LÓPEZ ASKIN

    • SONYA LEE SMITH

    • KATHARINE E CLARK

  • New Mexico Attorney General

    • RAUL TORREZ

  • New Mexico State Auditor

    • JOSEPH M MAESTAS

  • New Mexico State Treasurer

    • LAURA M MONTOYA

  • New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands

    • JUAN DE JESUS SANCHEZ, III

    • MATTHEW MCQUEEN

    • JONAS MOYA

  • New Mexico Judge of the Court of Appeals

    • KRIS HOUGHTON

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