Secretary of State disqualifies Republican gubernatorial candidate Lanier from June ballot

The crowded Republican race to be the next New Mexico governor got a little thinner Thursday morning. First-term state Sen. Steve Lanier (R-Aztec) did not turn in a new declaration of candidacy and will not make the June 2 primary ballot, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.

Although Lanier failed to garner his party’s support at its March pre-primary convention, he previously told Source NM he was confident he’d still make the ballot because he turned in some 6,000 signatures in February — much more than the 2,351 required for Republicans who don’t earn pre-primary convention designation. Lanier did not participate in the convention’s debates.

However, online Secretary of State records show he has been disqualified from appearing on the June 2 ballot. A spokesperson for the office said Lanier failed to file a new declaration of candidacy by Tuesday’s deadline as required.

“Because of a paperwork mix-up, our campaign didn’t refile on Tuesday. I own that,” Lanier said in a statement. “I believe we qualify to be on the ballot. We are looking at legal options and may file a challenge, given that we filed with all the necessary signatures from the start.” 

That leaves the Republican party with three candidates. Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull and public relations professional Doug Turner both earned more than enough pre-primary delegate votes to make the ballot. Cannabis CEO and former state cabinet secretary Duke Rodriguez said he filed some 8,000 signatures back in February and filed a new declaration of candidacy with the Secretary of State, though as of Thursday morning the Secretary of State’s candidate portal still listed his ballot qualification as “pending.” He told Source NM on Wednesday that he is “fully qualified” to make the ballot.