New Mexico Land Commissioner Garcia Richard wins Democratic lieutenant governor nomination

New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard is the new Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor following a vote of roughly 500 state party members that concluded late Wednesday.

The Democratic Party of New Mexico announced the results of the party’s State Central Committee vote Thursday morning. The party stepped in to name a new lieutenant governor candidate after Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver dropped out of the race in June shortly after winning the primary election.

Garcia Richard, who is serving her second and final term overseeing the State Land Office, received 255 votes equaling 53% of the 477 cast. 

State Sen. Harold Pope (D-Albuquerque), who lost to Toulouse Oliver in the June 2 primary, received 218 votes totaling 46% of the vote. Two other candidates received four votes that combined amount to less than 1% of the total ballots cast.

The results mean Garcia Richard will join former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on the Democrats’ ticket for the Nov. 3 general election. They will run against Republican gubernatorial nominee Gregg Hull, the former longtime Rio Rancho mayor, and lieutenant governor candidate Sen. David Gallegos (R-Eunice). 

In a statement Thursday, Garcia Richard said she is eager to begin campaigning alongside Haaland, who endorsed Garcia Richard ahead of the SCC vote, to defeat Hull and Gallegos in November. 

“From my time in the classroom to the State House and the State Land Office, I have never stopped fighting for our communities,” Garcia Richard said. “Deb and I share a vision for a New Mexico where we lower costs, increase access to healthcare, build safer communities, and provide a world-class public education for every child.”

Garcia Richard did not immediately respond to Source NM’s request for further comment on the results Thursday. 

Haaland, in a statement Thursday morning, touted Garcia Richard’s experience overseeing the State Land Office, as well as serving as a state legislator and a teacher. If elected lieutenant governor, Garcia Richard would preside over the state Senate. 

“As Lieutenant Governor, Stephanie will be a partner in the Roundhouse as we work to lower costs, create safer communities, ensure kids can read sooner, and provide access to quality healthcare,” Haaland said. “Stephanie will use her legislative expertise to move key pieces of legislation across the finish line.”

The vote concludes a roughly six-week-long, quasi-campaign in which Pope and Garcia Richard courted SCC members with the help of high-profile endorsements, as well as public appeals and fundraising. 

In the week leading up to the election, which took place over a four-day period beginning Saturday, actress Jane Fonda endorsed Garcia Richard, and two state chapters of the Democratic Socialists of America endorsed Pope. 

Pope also accused Sen. Antonio “Moe” Maestas (D-Albuquerque) a fellow Democratic state senator from Albuquerque’s West Side, of “mudslinging” after Maestas filmed a video accusing Pope of underfunding schools in his district and touting Garcia Richard.  

New Mexico Democratic lieutenant governor candidates tout experience, vision in final plea

Pope did not return Source NM’s request for comment Thursday morning. 

The New Mexico Republican Party also decried the process as undemocratic and, in a statement Wednesday, called it a “backroom deal” that disenfranchised candidates and voters.

But Democratic state party officials said they were following the process to replace candidates who withdraw from races as required under party rules. 

In a statement Thursday, DPNM Chair Sara Attleson said the committee of “Democrats from across New Mexico spoke, and they chose Stephanie.” Now it’s time to focus on the general election, she said. 

“DPNM implores all Democrats in the state to do whatever you can, whether it’s knocking on doors or talking to your neighbors, to help us win over votes and get our Democrats elected in November!” she said.