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By Mandy Taheri
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New Mexico will have no Republican on the ballot for the U.S. Senate race after GOP candidate Christopher Vanden Heuvel was disqualified for failing to submit enough valid signatures to qualify, New Mexico's secretary of state press team told Newsweek.
Why It Matters
The lack of a Republican on the general election ballot would mark the first time in modern New Mexico history that a U.S. Senate race features only one major-party candidate.
Read More on Politics
Incumbent Democratic Senator Ben Ray Luján is seeking another term. He has been in the seat since January 2021, having previously served in the U.S. House.
New Mexico has voted Democratic in recent presidential elections, with Democrats carrying the state in most recent contests, though the governorship has switched parties in recent cycles.
The 2026 midterms give Democrats a chance to claw back seats two years after President Donald Trump returned to the White House, winning the Electoral College and the national popular vote.
Republicans also took control of the Senate and held a narrow House majority, prompting Democrats to debate what went wrong in 2024, and how to reset their message and leadership.
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What To Know
"I am writing to inform you that you did not qualify as a candidate for the office of United States Senator, pursuant to the express requirements of the New Mexico Election Code," a letter obtained by Newsweek signed by Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver sent to Heuvel.
The letter continued, "To qualify as a candidate for this office, a prospective candidate must submit a declaration of candidacy and the statutory minimum number of nominating petition signatures at the time of filing."
Oliver said that after review, the office determined that he "failed to reach the required 2,351 signatures in accordance with NMSA 1978, § 1-8-33."
Other Republican candidates in statewide races were disqualified for the same reasoning, including Carlton Pennington for a congressional race and Republican gubernatorial hopeful Belinda Robertson. Certification of the candidates to be a part of the election is one of the first steps for them to become eligible for the ballot.
Luján's seat is up for reelection in 2026. His campaign spokesperson Adán Serna told the Albuquerque Journal, "He'll continue earning their support on the campaign trail while doing the job they elected him to do by lowering costs and delivering results for New Mexico. That commitment does not change based on who else is the ballot."
In addition to this Senate seat, all of the statewide offices in the state are up for grabs as are three House seats. The governor's seat is open given incumbent Michelle Lujan Grisham cannot seek a third term.
What People Are Saying
Tyler Bowyer, a conservative activist affiliated with Turning Point Action, said in an X post Thursday: “The Republican Party of New Mexico is completely incompetent.”
X account Election Wizard, which has over half a million followers, said in an X post on Thursday: "For the first time in modern NM history and in a state Harris only won by 6, the state's general election ballot for a U.S. Senate race will have only one major party candidate."
Gabby Giffords, former U.S. representative and gun control activist, said in a February 3 press release: "Senator Ben Ray Luján is a fighter, and the person we need working for New Mexico families at this moment. Our nation has made important strides on gun safety in recent years, but we need leaders who are willing to continue the fight. Senator Luján stands up to gun lobby CEOs and fights for commonsense gun safety laws. His voting record proves it, and I saw it firsthand when we served together in the U.S. House. GIFFORDS PAC is proud to endorse Senator Luján as he runs for reelection.”
Ned Ryun, CEO of American Majority, a conservative organization, said in a Thursday X post about the disqualification: "That’s pretty pathetic. Looks like Tim Scott and NRSC were asleep at the wheel. He had time to tweet about that stupid meme but apparently not enough time to make sure the GOP Senate candidate qualified for the ballot in NM. . . Priorities, chief. Priorities."
What Happens Next
The Democratic primary will take place on June 2. The general election will be held on November 3.
Update 2/12/26, 6:15 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with details from the letter.
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