Choosing to be a candidate can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be – we are here to help!

This guide is meant to be a starting point for individuals interested in running for office. For further information, please refer to the Office of New Mexico Secretary of State, Valencia County Bureau of Elections, the DPVC Executive Officers, or your local ward chair. 

1. Download the New Mexcio Secretary of State Candidate Guide.

2. Declaration of Candidacy – required for all candidates
En español: Declaración de Candidatura – obligatorio para todos los candidatos

3a. Nominating petitions – required for statewide, congressional and federal elections
En español: Petición de Nominación para la Elección Primaria 2026 – obligatorio para todos los elecció​nes estatales, congresionales y federales.

3b. Nominating petitions may also be signed digitally via the New Mexico Secretary of State website. All paper signatures are required to be registered via the Candidate Nomination Petitions and Qualifying Contributions portal.

3c. County candidates are not required to file nominating petitions, however candidates are required to submit a $50 (fifty) fee at time of thier declaration of candidacy. In order to waive this fee, candidates must submit a nominating petition with no fewer than ten (10) signatures for offices elected by district and no fewer than twenty (20) signatures for offices elected countywide at the time of their declaration of candidacy.

4. Register with the Campaign Finance Information System (CFIS)

Affidavit of Designation – if someone else is filing paperwork for you.

En español: Autorizaión Escrita para la Designació -si otra persona está tramitando los docuentos por ti 

Request for Address Confidentiality – if you want your home address to be confidential.

For a full list of nomination petition requirements, visit the New Mexico Secretary of State 2026 Nominating Petition Requirements.

How the percent thresholds are calculated, per the New Mexico Secretary of State candidate guide:

Minimum Number of Signatures: Candidates required to collect petition signatures have a minimum number of valid signatures they must collect to qualify for the ballot. The number of signatures required are calculated and
published by the Secretary of State pursuant to 1-8-33, NMSA 1978 for major party candidates. The petition signature numbers are calculated from a required percentage of the total votes cast for all the party’s candidates
for governor at the last preceding primary election at which the party’s candidate for governor was nominated. Information on the calculations is available upon request from the Bureau of Elections

It is strongly suggested that candidates consider collecting an additional 10% more than the minimum signatures needed in order to ensure they meet the qualifications.

Position, percent threshold, signatures required, (suggested 10% additional goal total)

• US Senator: 2%, 2,505, (2,756)

   

• US Representative:
  District. 1: 2%, 946, (1,041)
  District 2: 2%, 584, (643)

   

• Governor: 2%, 2,505, (2,756)

   

• Lt. Governor: 2%, 2,505, (2,756)

   

• Secretary of State: 2%, 2,505, (2,756)

   

• State Auditor: 2%, 2,505, (2,756)

   

• State Treasurer: 2%, 2,505, (2,756)

   

• Attorney General: 2%, 2,505, (2,756)

   

• Commissioner of Public Lands: 2%, 2,505, (2,756)

   

• Court of Appeals: 2%, 2,505, (2,756)

   

• Public Education Commission:
  District 6: 2%, 231, (255)

   

• State House:
  District 7: 3%, 33, (37)
  District 8: 3%, 39, (43)
  District 49: 3%, 44, (49)
  District 69: 3%, 46, (51)

   

• 13th Judicial District Court Judge Div. 9
  Valencia County Magistrate Judge:
  District 1: 2%, 62, (69)
  District 2: 2%, 62, (69)
  District 3: 2%, 62, (69)

April 13, 2026 – First primary report due
To include campaign activity from October 7, 2025, through April 6, 2026

May 11, 2026 – Second primary report due
To include campaign activity from April 7, 2026, through May 4, 2026

May 28, 2026 – Third primary report due
To include campaign activity from May 5, 2026, through May 26, 2026

July 2, 2026 – Fourth primary report due
To include campaign activity from May 27, 2026, through June 26, 2026

September 14, 2024 – First general report due
To include campaign activity from June 28, 2026, through September 7, 2026

October 13, 2026 – Second general report due
To include campaign activity from September 8, 2026, through October 5, 2026

October 29, 2026 – Third general report due
To include campaign activity from October 6, 2026, through October 27, 2026

January 7, 2027 – Fourth primary report due
To include campaign activity from October 28, 2026, through December 31, 2026

April 13, 2026 – First bi-annual report due
To include campaign activity from October 7, 2025, through April 6, 2026

October 13, 2026 – Second bi-annual report due
To include campaign activity from April 7, 2025, through October 5, 2026