The Forward Party of New Mexico is making a last-ditch effort to have their candidates for a handful of statewide races placed on New Mexico’s ballots before they are scheduled to be mailed out Friday.
This story was originally published at New Mexico Political Report, a nonprofit news service covering politics and policy in the Land of Enchantment. Learn more and support our work at nmreports.org
The party filed an emergency application this week with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking placement of two statewide nominees on the November 3rd general election ballot. Those ballots are scheduled to be mailed on September 19th without the names of Forward Party candidates in a handful of statewide races.
The party argues that New Mexico’s two-tiered system requiring “minor parties” to submit more voter signatures than the two major parties to qualify candidates for the ballot is unfair. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez joined the party in asking the federal courts to overturn the state’s dual-qualifying process.
The emergency application follows a September 15th order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit denying the same order. The Tenth Circuit appeal remains pending. A federal district court in New Mexico previously denied the party’s request for a preliminary injunction.
Three party has qualified several candidates for the November ballot in Public Education Commission District 3, for Santa Fe County Magistrate Judge, and for Luna County Magistrate Judge.