DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF SANTA FE COUNTY

Why Ward Delegate Elections Matter

In February, the Democratic Party of Santa Fe County will host a series of ward elections to choose delegates to the statewide pre-primary convention, which determines which candidates qualify for the Democratic primary election ballot.

In New Mexico, candidates qualify for the primary ballot through a statewide pre-primary convention, which will be held this year on Saturday, March 7 (location to be announced).

At the convention, delegates vote on all statewide offices (Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Treasurer, State Auditor, Land Commissioner, and Supreme Court or Court of Appeals judges) as well as federal offices (U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative). Candidates who receive at least 20% of the delegate vote for their office qualify for placement on the primary election ballot, listed in order of vote total. Candidates who do not reach 20% must gather additional signatures to qualify. Note that the meeting will be HYBRID and to commence at NOON. 

Convention delegates include all members of the State Central Committee (Santa Fe County has 56) plus additional delegates elected by counties. Santa Fe County elects 87 additional delegates, chosen at ward meetings held between February 7 and February 22. Each ward elects between 2 and 7 delegates, based on Democratic voter turnout in the previous two general elections.

Ward delegate elections ensure that local Democratic voters are represented in the candidate qualification process. By electing delegates at the ward level, the party distributes decision-making across the state and bases representation on demonstrated voter participation. This system ensures that candidates appearing on the primary ballot have measurable support within the Democratic Party before the primary election.