‘Democratic socialist’ makes ballot to challenge Ben Ray Luján in June primary

A Democratic socialist from Farmington has officially qualified to appear on the Democrat primary ballot to challenge incumbent U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján in New Mexico’s 2026 Senate race.

Matt Dodson, a longtime San Juan County Democrat and Air Force veteran, confirmed this week that he received official notice from the New Mexico Secretary of State that he will appear on the June 2 Democratic primary ballot.

Dodson has been involved in Democrat Party politics for years, including serving seven terms on the party’s State Central Committee. He has also been involved in environmental advocacy and was previously endorsed by Conservation Voters New Mexico during a past run for the New Mexico Legislature. According to his campaign, he is affiliated with “environmental justice” and veterans advocacy groups.

Dodson is running on a platform that includes universal healthcare, “free” college, higher taxes on billionaires, and removing corporate money from politics. He has pledged not to accept corporate contributions to his campaign.

“The Democratic Party’s favorability is at an all-time low,” Dodson said in a statement announcing his candidacy. “We should be spending money here in the U.S. working on our infrastructure and social programs, not on foreign wars of aggression.”

Dodson is positioning himself as a challenger to what he describes as entrenched political leadership in Washington, including Luján, who comes from one of New Mexico’s most well-known political families. Luján was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2020 after serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and previously working on the state’s Public Regulation Commission — back when requirements for the job were lax.

Dodson said he believes voters are frustrated with the current direction of the country and the economy and are looking for new leadership.

“These legacy names are about to expire,” Dodson said. “This country and this state are suffering too many setbacks. We need new leadership, true leadership, to bring us out of what will result from this war and this lackluster economy.”

He also criticized what he described as the influence of defense contractors, corporations, and billionaires on federal policy, arguing that elected officials are not doing enough to support working families.

“Who is going to rebuild this economy for the average working family?” Dodson said. “I am. Why? Because I care about our economy, infrastructure, and the well-being of workers and families; things our current Congress is ignoring.”

Dodson will face Luján in the Democrat primary election on June 2, with early voting scheduled to begin May 5.

While Luján has not yet publicly responded to the primary challenge, incumbents typically hold significant advantages in fundraising, name recognition, and party support. However, Dodson’s entry into the race signals potential ideological divisions within the Democratic Party, particularly between establishment Democrats and more progressive or democratic socialist candidates.

The primary election will determine the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat in November 2026. It is unclear how strong the Dodson campaign will be, as Luján has access to unlimited party funds, however, it could force the far-left senator to expend resources and possibly offend moderates, despite Luján being one of the most far-left members of Congress, in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.

On the Republican side, Larry Marker of Chaves County has garnered enough write-in signatures to make the primary ballot, and will advance to the general election once he gathers enough write-in votes to place him there.