Democratic Party of New Mexico
Abbreviation	DPNM
Chairperson	Jessica Velasquez
Governor	Michelle Lujan Grisham
Lieutenant Governor	Howie Morales
Senate President Pro Tempore	Mimi Stewart
House Speaker	Brian Egolf
Headquarters	300 Central Ave, SE Albuquerque, NM 87102
Membership (2021)	611,357[1]
Ideology	Social liberalism Modern liberalism Progressivism
National affiliation	Democratic Party
Colors	Blue
Seats in the U.S. Senate	2 / 2
Seats in the U.S. House	3 / 3
Seats in the State Senate	27 / 42
Seats in the State House	45 / 70
Justices on the Supreme Court	5 / 5
Website
www.nmdemocrats.org
Politics of United States Political parties Elections Politics of New Mexico Elections

Politics of New Mexico
Constitution United States Constitution New Mexico Constitution
Executive Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) (list) Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales (D) Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver (D) Attorney General Raúl Torrez (D) State Auditor Joseph Maestas (D) State Treasurer Laura Montoya (D) Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard (D) Public Regulation Commission Governor's Cabinet and State Agencies
Legislature State Senate President Howie Morales (D) President pro tempore Mimi Stewart (D) Majority leader Peter Wirth (D) Minority leader Gregory A. Baca (R) House of Representatives Speaker Brian Egolf (D) Majority leader Javier Martinez (D) Minority leader James G. Townsend (R)
Judiciary Supreme Court Court of Appeals New Mexico District Courts Magistrate Court Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Municipal Court Probate Court See also: U.S. District Court of New Mexico
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Inferior jurisdictions Counties Cities census-designated places School districts
Federal representation U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D) Ben Ray Luján (D) U.S. Representatives 1: Melanie Stansbury (D) 2: Yvette Herrell (R) 3: Teresa Leger Fernandez (D)
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The Democratic Party of New Mexico (DPNM) is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is headquartered in Albuquerque and led by Chair Jessica Velasquez, Vice Chair Manny Crespin, Secretary Isaac Dakota Casados, and Treasurer Rayellen Smith.^[2][3] It is currently the dominant party in the state, controlling all of New Mexico's three U.S. House seats, both U.S. Senate seats, both houses of the state legislature, and the governorship.

The party has provided 19 of the 31 governors of New Mexico.^[4][5][6] The New Mexico Democratic Party is led by Jessica Velasquez, with other modern prominent figures include Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and Attorney General Raúl Torrez.

Historical development

New Mexico Territory elected its first delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1850: Richard Hanson Weightman, a Democrat. At this time, the Democratic Party was socially conservative and many Democrats supported expanding slavery into new Western territories. This pro-slavery position stopped New Mexico's first attempt at a state constitution (which prohibited slavery) from being ratified in 1850, preventing the territory from becoming a state.

In the early 1900s, Democratic politician Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo led a movement in favor of civil rights for Hispanic and Latino Americans and Spanish speakers in New Mexico. He found that most Latinos identified as Republicans, which disturbed Larrazolo because he felt that the Republican political machine in the territory was exploiting its Hispanic voters. When New Mexico Territory was preparing to become a state in 1910, Larrazolo was selected as a delegate to the constitutional convention. He succeeded in making sure that the state's constitution protected and guaranteed the political, civil, and religious rights of those of Spanish and Mexican descent. However, other state Democrats opposed these protections and unsuccessfully attempted to prevent the new constitution from being ratified. After being opposed by his own party, Larrazolo became a Republican and served as a Republican governor and senator from New Mexico.^[7]

Like the national Democratic Party, the Democratic Party of New Mexico underwent significant ideological changes throughout the 20th century. Since the growth of social liberalism began in the party, Democrats have found success in New Mexico. Between 1931 and 1951, and again between 1971 and 1987, all executive offices in the state were consistently held by Democrats. With brief exceptions, there have generally been Democratic majorities in both houses of the New Mexico Legislature since 1930. In 1977, the Democratic Women of New Mexico caucus was founded with the purpose of promoting women's voices in the state and national party. This caucus later became a chapter of the National Federation of Democratic Women.

As of 2020, the Democratic Party of New Mexico is made up of county party organizations in all of the state's 33 counties, and is governed by the State Central Committee of DPNM, which meets twice each year to conduct the regular business of the organization and elect its officers. In addition to the New Mexico Federation of Democratic Women,^[8] the party includes a Native American Democratic Caucus, a Labor Caucus, a Veterans Caucus, and several other caucuses. There are also standing DPNM committees for dealing with specific ongoing issues, including affirmative action, budget and finance, platforms and resolutions (SPARC), and state rules (SRC), and the Judicial Council.

Ideological and issue stances

The New Mexico Democratic Party stated its ideological stances in its 2014 platform.^[9] Economically, the party supports a balanced budget made possible by progressive taxation and promotes fair trade and fair labor practices. Like the national Democratic Party, the DPNM supports environmental protection and emphasizes the importance of natural resources such as land and water. The party believes that every citizen should have the right to health care, education, and Social Security. It also aims to protect tribal sovereignty and make sure all Native Americans are recognized in the state.

Incumbent Democratic officeholders

All of the state's seven executive offices are held by Democrats. Democrats also hold supermajorities in both houses of the New Mexico State Legislature.

Members of Congress

Democrats control both of New Mexico's U.S. Senate seats and all three of New Mexico's seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. Senate

Democrats have controlled both of New Mexico's seats in the U.S. Senate since 2008:

• 
  Senior U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich
• 
  Junior U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján

U.S. House of Representatives

District	Member	Photo
1st	Melanie Stansbury
2nd	Gabe Vasquez
3rd	Teresa Leger Fernandez

Election results

Gubernatorial

New Mexico Democratic Party gubernatorial election results

Election	Gubernatorial candidate	Votes	Vote %	Result
1911	William C. McDonald	31,036	51.01%	Won Y
1916	Ezequiel Cabeza De Baca	32,875	49.40%	Won Y
1918	Felix Garcia	22,433	47.70%	Lost N
1920	Richard H. Hanna	50,755	47.80%	Lost N
1922	James F. Hinkle	60,317	54.57%	Won Y
1924	Arthur T. Hannett	56,183	48.82%	Won Y
1926	Arthur T. Hannett	52,523	48.15%	Lost N
1928	Robert C. Dow	52,550	44.30%	Lost N
1930	Arthur Seligman	62,789	53.17%	Won Y
1932	Arthur Seligman	83,612	54.82%	Won Y
1934	Clyde Tingley	78,390	51.90%	Won Y
1936	Clyde Tingley	97,090	57.21%	Won Y
1938	John E. Miles	82,344	52.24%	Won Y
1940	John E. Miles	103,035	55.59%	Won Y
1942	John J. Dempsey	59,258	54.55%	Won Y
1944	John J. Dempsey	76,443	51.81%	Won Y
1946	Thomas J. Mabry	70,055	52.70%	Won Y
1948	Thomas J. Mabry	103,969	54.72%	Won Y
1950	John E. Miles	83,359	46.26%	Lost N
1952	Everett Grantham	111,034	46.23%	Lost N
1954	John F. Simms	110,583	57.01%	Won Y
1956	John F. Simms	120,263	47.77%	Lost N
1958	John Burroughs	103,481	50.47%	Won Y
1960	John Burroughs	151,777	49.68%	Lost N
1962	Jack M. Campbell	130,933	52.98%	Won Y
1964	Jack M. Campbell	191,497	60.21%	Won Y
1966	Gene Lusk	125,587	48.26%	Lost N
1968	Fabian Chavez Jr.	157,230	49.29%	Lost N
1970	Bruce King	148,835	51.26%	Won Y
1974	Jerry Apodaca	164,172	49.94%	Won Y
1978	Bruce King	174,631	50.53%	Won Y
1982	Toney Anaya	215,840	52.97%	Won Y
1986	Ray Powell	185,378	46.95%	Lost N
1990	Bruce King	224,564	54.61%	Won Y
1994	Bruce King	186,686	39.92%	Lost N
1998	Martin Chávez	226,755	45.47%	Lost N
2002	Bill Richardson	268,693	55.49%	Won Y
2006	Bill Richardson	384,806	68.82%	Won Y
2010	Diane Denish	280,614	46.55%	Lost N
2014	Gary King	219,362	42.78%	Lost N
2018	Michelle Lujan Grisham	398,368	57.20%	Won Y
2022	Michelle Lujan Grisham	370,073	52.0%	Won Y

See also

• Political party strength in New Mexico
• New Mexico Democratic primary, 2008
• New Mexico Democratic caucuses, 2004

References

External links

• Democratic Party of New Mexico