Navigating New Mexico's 2026 midterm election? Here's what to know.

New Mexico will have a new Governor in 2027, and multiple Congressional seats are contested for the 2026 General Election.

There are also three General Obligation Bond questions asking voters to approve funding for projects across the state.

Who is favored to win governor of New Mexico?

Voters will determine who will replace Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham in the November General Election.

Republican candidate Greggory Hull and Democrat Deb Haaland won their respective Primary Elections in the summer.

Hull was previously the Mayor of Rio Rancho in northern New Mexico for 12 years.

Haaland would be the first Native American female governor in U.S. history if she is elected in November. She is a former Interior Secretary and New Mexico Congresswoman.

Who is on the ballot in New Mexico?

Members of New Mexico's Congressional delegation are seeking re-election.

The 2nd Congressional District remains an important seat to both major political parties. Democrat incumbent Gabe Vasquez seeks his third term and will face Republican candidate Gregory Cunningham. The seat has flipped parties three times in the past eight years. Vasquez defeated Yvette Herrell in 2022 and was re-elected with another victory over Herrell in 2024. Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson made a stop in Las Cruces to stump for Herrell in 2024 and did the same for Cunningham, making an appearance in Albuquerque on Aug. 26.

Democrat U.S. Rep. Melanie Ann Stansbury seeks her fourth term in New Mexico's 1st Congressional District. She will face Republican Didi Okpareke.

In the 3rd Congressional District, Democrat U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez will face Republican Martin Zamora.

On the Senate side, Democrat Ben Ray Lujan seeks his second term and will face write-in Republican candidate Larry Marker.

Ballot measures and GO Bond questions

Voters statewide will be asked to approve four Constitutional Amendments and three General Obligation Bond questions in November including an amendment that would allow state legislators to receive a salary and a GO Bond to fund improvements to libraries across the state.

Constitutional Amendment No. 1 would, "provide that all bills passed by the legislature and not acted on by the governor will become law and to require veto messages on all bills vetoed in whole or in part by the governor."

Constitutional Amendment No. 2 would, "remove the requirement that school elections be separate from partisan elections."

Constitutional Amendment No. 3 would will impact the makeup of the Board of Regents for institutions in New Mexico. It would establish nominating committees to submit nominees to the Governor for appointment for non-Student Board of Regents members. It also does not allow non-Student Board of Regents members to have changed their political party registration within the past six months preceding appointment. Additionally, student members of a Board of Regents will be appointed from a list provided by an elected student governing body from the institution.

Constitutional Amendment No. 4 would, "allow legislative compensation that is limited to the median household income for New Mexico."

General obligation bond financing is a method intended to fund capital projects. The funding is obtained through the issuance of bonds which are paid back through a temporary increase in property taxes.

GO Bond Question No. 1 would allow the state to issue GO Bonds in the amount of $21.6 million, "to make capital expenditures for certain senior citizen facility improvement, construction and equipment acquisition projects."

GO Bond Question No. 2 would allow the state to issue GO Bonds in the amount of $19.3 million, "to make capital expenditures for academic, public school, public and tribal library resource acquisitions."

GO Bond Question No. 3 allow the state to issue GO Bonds in the amount of $352 million, "to make capital expenditures for certain higher education, special schools and tribal schools capital improvements and acquisitions."

Jason Groves covers local government and politics for the Sun-News. Reach him by email at [email protected].