Adrian HeddenCarlsbad Current-Argusachedden@elritomedia.com Arguments for reforming New Mexico policies to cut down on crime and cultivate a “business friendly” economy are what Doug Turner hopes…
New Mexico Republican delegates selected two of five gubernatorial candidates during the party’s pre-primary convention Saturday to appear on the June 2 primary election ballot. Both state parties held their pre-primary conventions this weekend, with Republicans convening in Ruidoso and Democrats appearing in neighboring Mescalero, to help candidates from major parties secure spots. The selection also determines the ballot order, with candidates picked as pre-primary nominees appearing higher up on the ticket, according to state election guidelines. Gregg Hull, the 12-year mayor of Rio Rancho, received more than 55% of the 430 delegate votes. Doug Turner, a charter school advocate, public relations professional and gubernatorial candidate from 2010, received 24% of the delegate votes.
Only two of the five Republican hopefuls for the party’s gubernatorial nomination got enough votes Saturday to make the primary ballot. Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull got 239 votes from delegates to the party’s preprimary convention in Ruidoso and Doug Turner, a businessman and latecomer to the race, got 104 votes, meaning both will be on the ballot for Republican voters June 2. Duke Rodriguez, state Sen. Steve Lanier and Jim Ellison got 39, 31 and seven votes, respectively. Candidates needed support from 20% of the delegates to make the primary ballot. “The state of our party is incredibly strong,” Amy Barela, the chair of the state party, said in a statement. “New Mexico Republicans are more unified than ever before, and we are committed to showing New Mexico voters why Republicans are worthy of their trust this November. It’s time we take our great state back.”
The general election in the 2026 New Mexico governor's race is several months away, but primary season is underway. New Mexico's primary election will be held on Tuesday, June 2. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Two Democrats and six Republicans filed declarations of candidacy for New Mexico’s 2026 gubernatorial race ahead of Tuesday's filing deadline. The Secretary of State’s office has until February 10th to review the submissions and determine which candidates meet the qualifications to be on the ballot.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Another Republican has entered the New Mexico governor’s race. Entrepreneur and education advocate Doug Turner launched his campaign on Tuesday. Turner served as state director and campaign manager for Republican Governor Gary Johnson. He also served as board chairman of Public Charter Schools of New Mexico. This is his second round of running for governor, after losing in the primary to Susana Martinez in 2010. Turner will face Republicans Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, state Senator Steve Lanier, Ultra Health CEO Duke Rodriguez, and former PRC commissioner Jim Ellison in the June primary. Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Bernilaillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman are looking to win the Democratic bid. Former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima is running as an independent.
Outgoing Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham — who is term-limited by the Constitution from seeking reelection — opened the 30-day legislative session with her final State of the State address and a message of finding common ground. To underscore the theme, a video played in advance of the speech in which the governor shared a table in renowned Santa Fe breakfast spot Tia Sophia’s with several of her predecessors: Republican Governors Susana Martinez, Gary Johnson and Garrey E. Carruthers (former Democratic Gov. Toney Anaya joined by phone). Unity notwithstanding, the crowd on the New Mexico House floor watching included some of this year’s Democratic contenders for Lujan Grisham’s position: Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman and former U.S. Interior Secretary and Congresswoman Deb Haaland (the third Democratic candidate, former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima, was in Denver, he told Source NM).
