A recent poll has revealed that a majority of voters in both Santa Fe and Las Cruces, New Mexico, support the continuation of ranked choice voting. Commissioned by the organizations FairVote and Common Cause New Mexico, the poll surveyed 475 residents who participated in the municipal elections earlier this month. Conducted by SurveyUSA from November 12 to 16, the findings indicate that 57% of Las Cruces voters and 58% of Santa Fe residents are in favor of maintaining the ranked choice voting system.
The poll results also highlighted a significant ideological divide among voters. Among those identifying as liberals, a notable 74% supported ranked choice voting, while support dropped to 55% among moderates and further to just 38% among conservatives. Interestingly, 53% of conservatives opposed the system. Demographics showed few differences by race or gender, but younger voters were much more inclined to endorse ranked choice voting compared to their older counterparts.
Santa Fe recently implemented ranked choice voting in three elections, with the outcomes for two City Council seats determined in the second round and the mayoral race decided after seven rounds. In all instances, the candidates who led in the first round ultimately emerged victorious, suggesting that the ranked choice system did not alter the initial outcomes. Among Santa Fe respondents, 75% indicated they ranked two or more candidates for mayor, with 59% ranking three or more.
Advocates for ranked choice voting are emphasizing the upcoming mayoral runoff in Albuquerque as a crucial moment to adopt this voting method. “The City of Albuquerque is about to enter one of the most expensive runoff elections in recent years, and turnout is generally much lower in these costly runoffs,” stated Sila Avcil, co-founder and executive director of NM Voters First. She asserted that if voters in Las Cruces and Santa Fe can successfully understand and approve of ranked choice voting, Albuquerque residents can too.
In a related political landscape, the nomination of Steve Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management has faced criticism. Pearce, a former Republican congressman from New Mexico, has garnered opposition from various quarters, including Democrats and conservation groups. In an op-ed published in the Washington Post and The New Mexican, Brenner, president of the Southwest Public Policy Institute, voiced his discontent with Pearce’s leadership style. Brenner expressed disappointment at the shift away from traditional Republican values towards a focus on “bitterness, infighting, and ineptitude” under Pearce’s influence.
On another front, New Mexico’s federal lawmakers have strongly condemned remarks made by former President Donald Trump regarding military service members. Following a video in which six Democratic lawmakers urged military personnel to defy illegal orders, Trump labeled their actions as “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!!” and called for their arrest. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández highlighted the dangers of such rhetoric, recalling the violence of the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. She stated, “We know what Trump’s calls for political violence look like,” demanding that Republicans also denounce this call for violence.
In a similar vein, Representative Gabe Vasquez described Trump’s statements as “incredibly dangerous” and “UN-AMERICAN,” emphasizing the need for unity among Americans to reject divisive behavior. Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján, along with Representative Melanie Stansbury, joined in condemning Trump’s remarks, stressing that a president should work to unite citizens rather than incite division.
As New Mexico navigates these pressing political issues, the support for ranked choice voting may serve as a potential model for other regions considering electoral reforms.
