GOP candidate touts DTS primary law upon qualifying for governor’s race ballot

The campaign of Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez announced this week that it has exceeded the number of signatures required to qualify for New Mexico’s June 2 Republican primary. It is unclear at this time which other GOP campaigns have also crossed the threshold. 

Under New Mexico election law, Republican candidates for governor must collect at least 2,351 signatures from registered Republicans — a figure equal to 2 percent of Republicans who voted in the last gubernatorial primary. Rodriguez’s campaign said it had gathered more than 6,000 total signatures.

According to the campaign, nearly 5,000 of those signatures came from registered Republicans who personally accessed the Secretary of State’s online system, verified their voter information, and formally declared their nominee. 

“This wasn’t about checking a box. It was about earning trust,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “Every signature represents a real person who took time to participate, engage, and make their voice heard. That matters.”

While the signature requirement applies only to registered Republicans, the upcoming primary will be the first conducted under New Mexico’s semi-open primary system — a significant change to the state’s electoral process. As of Dec. 31, 2025, voters registered as Decline to State or unaffiliated made up more than 27 percent of New Mexico’s electorate.

Under the new law, unaffiliated voters will, for the first time, be able to choose either a Republican or Democrat ballot and participate directly in primary elections. Rodriguez applauded the law change, saying his campaign views it as an opportunity to broaden engagement and bring new voices into the process.

“When you look at the names behind those signatures — Smith and Johnson, Williams and Brown, Garcia, Martinez, and Rodriguez, Begay and Yazzie — you see the full story of New Mexico,” Rodriguez said. “Different roots, different experiences, but shared values and shared hopes for the future of this state.”

Rodriguez emphasized that his campaign is focused on inclusivity and respect for voters across party lines, particularly independents.

With ballot access now secured, the Rodriguez campaign says it will shift its focus toward statewide voter outreach, messaging, and coalition-building ahead of the June 2 primary election.