Republican Party of New Mexico
02/12/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/12/2026 18:54
Statement from Chairwoman Barela congratulating candidates who have officially qualified for the 2026 Pre-Primary Convention Ballot
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February 12, 2026 I want to begin by recognizing and congratulating the candidates who have officially qualified for the 2026 Pre-Primary Convention ballot, as certified by the Secretary of State in the February 10, 2026 attached letter. These individuals stepped forward, completed the statutory requirements, gathered the necessary signatures, and met the filing deadlines. That commitment deserves our respect and our support. We have qualified candidates in the following races: - U.S. House of Representatives - District 1 (multiple qualified candidates) - District 2 (multiple qualified candidates) - District 3 - Governor (multiple qualified candidates) - Lieutenant Governor (multiple qualified candidates) - Secretary of State - Attorney General - Commissioner of Public Lands These candidates now move forward to the Pre-Primary Convention process under state law and party rules. As a party, we are committed to supporting them through the next phase - but that support must be coordinated. Victory requires collaboration between the party structure and the campaign teams. We cannot run parallel operations; we must operate as one unified strategy. At the same time, we must address the positions that were not filled due to candidates who did not qualify. We made repeated outreach efforts to candidates who were short on signatures and offered assistance. In several instances, those efforts were met with little or no response. We stand ready to help any Republican willing to put in the work - but we can only help when help is requested and when communication is open. In the case of the U.S. Senate race, we were proactive well before declaration day, engaging in conversations to evaluate the landscape and explore possible remedies ahead of the filing deadline. Our approach was deliberate and strategic. While we sincerely appreciate every individual willing to step forward and place their name on the ballot, our duty as party leadership is to ensure viability, coordination, and competitiveness in every race. That level of success requires communication and partnership. The candidate has also shared that he is in direct contact with the Secretary of State's Office and believes he has received information that differs from what is in the NM Election Handbook. We respect his effort to seek clarity. If the Secretary of State ultimately confirms his qualification based on that information, we will fully support his placement on the ballot and stand firmly behind his candidacy moving forward. We are now working diligently to fill open House seats and have strong candidates in nearly every district. Our recruitment efforts continue daily. I am encouraged by the momentum we are building, and I ask each of you to continue identifying and encouraging strong conservatives in your communities to step forward. As we strengthen the Republican Party of New Mexico organizationally, candidate recruitment becomes easier. Strong structure attracts strong candidates. Clear strategy builds confidence. Discipline creates credibility. But we must also be honest: If we want different outcomes, we must be willing to change direction where needed and empower the party to act boldly, strategically, and in unity. I ask you to join me in strengthening our voice, sharpening our strategy, and building a more powerful Republican Party of New Mexico. Together, we can change the direction of our party - and change the direction of our state. Let's move forward unified, focused, and committed to winning. Amy Barela Chairwoman Republican Party of New Mexico |
Republican Party of New Mexico published this content on February 12, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on February 13, 2026 at 00:54 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]