The weeks-long inter party fight to choose a lieutenant governor nominee ended just where the state Democrat Party’s gubernatorial nominee wanted it. With 477 votes cast from the party’s 500 State Central Committee members, outgoing Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard bested State Senator Harold Pope 53%-46%. The Haaland-Garcia Richard ticket will be the first all female ticket in New Mexico.
Gubernatorial nominee Deb Haaland endorsed Garcia Richard early in the process causing many in the party’s more progressive wing to object. Pope, a progressive senator from Albuquerque’s Westside, lost the primary election in June to outgoing Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver. Toulouse Oliver later withdrew, creating a vacancy. Garcia Richard initially ran for the lieutenant governor slot but withdrew as Toulouse Oliver entered the race.
“I am deeply humbled and honored to earn the trust of the DPNM State Central Committee and to join Deb Haaland on this ticket. New Mexicans work incredibly hard, and they deserve a government that works just as hard for them. From my time in the classroom to the State House and the State Land Office, I have never stopped fighting for our communities. Deb and I share a vision for a New Mexico where we lower costs, increase access to healthcare, build safer communities, and provide a world-class public education for every child.” – Stephanie Garcia Richard
The New Mexico insider fight played out alongside a a similar underway process in Maine where Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner withdrew following disclosures about his treatment of women. The New Mexico statewide party selection process has been a distraction to individual campaigns, including Haaland’s, which have precious few weeks remaining to raise funds and secure votes ahead of the November elections which will feature contests for all statewide offices, every seat in the State House of Representatives, all three Congressional seats and Ben Ray Luján’s U.S. Senate seat, along with many county positions.
The ballot was conducted via electronic ballot over four days, according to details provided by the Democratic Party of New Mexico. The final results were: Stephanie Garcia Richard: 255 votes (53%), Harold Pope Jr.: 218 votes (46%), Toni Pinedo: 3 votes and Geoffrey Luehring: 1 vote.