New Mexico's first semi-open primary delivered a marquee result Tuesday night, as former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland was projected to clinch the Democratic nomination for governor. After polls closed at 7 p.m., early returns quickly showed Haaland opening up a commanding lead over Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, reshaping the November field. Across the state, local and down-ballot contests were still unsettled as precincts kept reporting into the evening.
How the semi-open primary worked
Under New Mexico's new semi-open rules, independent and "Decline to State" voters were allowed to request a Democratic or Republican ballot on June 2 without changing their registration. The change was pitched as a way to broaden participation while keeping regular ballot procedures intact, according to the Santa Fe County Clerk's Office.
Haaland's win and the stakes
By mid-evening, major outlets were calling the race for Haaland, handing Democrats a high-profile nominee to succeed term-limited Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. "New Mexico, thank you for believing in what we can build together," she wrote as supporters gathered, according to reporting by The Associated Press.
Republican governor field and local contests
Early returns put former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull in the lead on the GOP side, with KVIA showing him at about 48% with roughly 40% of precincts reporting, while Doug Turner and Duke Rodriguez trailed in the three-way race. Locally, Doña Ana County sheriff tallies were splitting along party lines, with James Frietze leading the Democratic contest and Todd J. Garrison ahead among Republicans in initial counts. See KVIA ABC‑7 and Source New Mexico for early returns.
Senate primary and turnout
Incumbent U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján was also projected to win his Democratic primary against Matt Dodson in early counts, according to The Associated Press, setting up his re-election campaign heading into November. State tallies showed 189,659 ballots cast, roughly 13.47% turnout, in unofficial results posted Tuesday night, per the New Mexico Secretary of State.
What comes next
Haaland will now pivot to the general-election campaign against the eventual Republican nominee, with the general election scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026, according to national election calendars. Officials are expected to post updated returns as counties finish counting, and results are certified in the weeks ahead, while voters and campaigns quickly turn their attention to November's statewide matchups. See the national calendar for key dates and deadlines.
