A recent poll commissioned by two organizations advocating for ranked choice voting has shown significant support for the system among residents of Santa Fe and Las Cruces, New Mexico. Conducted by SurveyUSA between November 12 and 16, the survey revealed that 57% of participants from Las Cruces and 58% from Santa Fe favor retaining ranked choice voting, despite some mixed reactions observed on social media.
The poll included responses from 475 voters who participated in the recent municipal elections. Among those surveyed, 28% in Las Cruces and 32% in Santa Fe expressed opposition to the voting method. Ideological divides were evident, with 74% of self-identified liberals supporting the system compared to 55% of moderates and only 38% of conservatives. Interestingly, 53% of conservative respondents opposed ranked choice voting.
Age also played a significant role in voter attitudes toward the system. Younger voters demonstrated a stronger preference for ranked choice voting than their older counterparts. This year’s elections in Santa Fe utilized the ranked choice system in three contests, resulting in the winners of two City Council seats being determined after the second round and the mayoral race being decided after seven rounds. Notably, in all cases, the candidates who emerged victorious also led in the initial round of voting, indicating that the outcomes would have been consistent under a traditional plurality system.
The poll also highlighted that 75% of Santa Fe respondents ranked two or more candidates in the mayoral election, while 59% ranked three or more. Advocates for ranked choice voting argue that the system helps enhance voter engagement and ensures that elected officials have broader support.
Sila Avcil, co-founder and executive director of NM Voters First, emphasized the need for ranked choice voting in Albuquerque, particularly in light of the upcoming mayoral runoff election, which is expected to be costly. “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,” Avcil stated. “If Las Cruces and Santa Fe voters can understand the system and approve of it, then so can Albuquerque residents.”
In a related context, the political landscape in New Mexico has been stirred by the nomination of Steve Pearce to head the Bureau of Land Management. Pearce, a former Republican congressman and chairman of the state GOP, has faced opposition from Democratic lawmakers and conservation groups. Brenner, president of the Southwest Public Policy Institute, publicly criticized Pearce in an opinion piece published in the Washington Post and The New Mexican, stating that he left the Republican Party due to a shift away from traditional Republican values under Pearce’s leadership.
The political conversation intensified further last week when former President Donald Trump made inflammatory comments regarding Democratic lawmakers who have called for military personnel to defy illegal orders. In a video, six Democratic veterans urged service members to uphold the Constitution. Trump’s response, labeling their actions as “seditious behavior,” provoked strong reactions from New Mexico’s federal lawmakers.
Representative Teresa Leger Fernández condemned Trump’s remarks, linking them to the violence witnessed during the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. “We know what Trump’s calls for political violence look like,” she remarked. She described the situation as a dangerous call to violence and urged Republicans to denounce such rhetoric.
Representative Gabe Vasquez echoed these sentiments on social media, labeling Trump’s comments as “incredibly dangerous” and calling for unity among Americans against divisive behavior. Other lawmakers, including Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján, also condemned Trump’s statements, emphasizing the need for leadership that fosters unity rather than division.
This confluence of events highlights the ongoing discussions surrounding electoral systems and political discourse in New Mexico, reflecting both local and national sentiments. As communities grapple with their voting methods and political leaders navigate contentious issues, the results of the recent polling provide a glimpse into the evolving landscape of public opinion in the region.
