Editing New Mexico (section)

==Government and politics==
{{Main|Government of New Mexico}}
[[File:Michelle Lujan Grisham 2021.jpg|thumb|Governor [[Michelle Lujan Grisham]] (D)]]

The [[Constitution of New Mexico]] was adopted by [[referendum|popular referendum]] in 1911. It establishes a [[republican form of government]] based on [[popular sovereignty]] and a [[separation of powers]]. New Mexico has a [[bill of rights]] modeled on its [[United States Bill of Rights|federal counterpart]], but with more expansive rights and freedoms; for example, victims of certain serious crimes, such as aggravated battery and sexual assault, have explicit rights to privacy, dignity, and the timely adjudication of their case.<ref>[[Constitution of New Mexico]], Sec. 24.</ref> Major state issues may be decided by popular vote, and the constitution may be amended by a majority vote of both lawmakers and the electorate.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite encyclopedia|entry=New Mexico – Government and society|entry-url=https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Mexico|access-date=2021-08-03|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|language=en|archive-date=October 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012085307/https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Mexico|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Governmental structure ===
[[Article Four of the United States Constitution|Mirroring the federal system]], the New Mexico government consists of executive, legislative, and judicial departments. The executive is led by the [[Governor of New Mexico|governor]] and other popularly elected officials, including the [[Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico|lieutenant governor]] (elected on the same ticket as the governor), [[Attorney General of New Mexico|attorney general]], [[Secretary of State of New Mexico|secretary of state]], [[New Mexico State Auditor|state auditor]], [[New Mexico State Treasurer|state treasurer]], and [[New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands|commissioner of public lands]]. New Mexico's governor is granted more authority than those of other states, with the power to appoint most high-ranking officials in the cabinet and other state agencies.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

The legislative branch consists of the bicameral [[New Mexico Legislature]], comprising the 70-member [[New Mexico House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] and the 42-member [[New Mexico Senate|Senate]]. Members of the House are elected to two-year terms, while those of the Senate are elected every four years. New Mexican legislators are unique in the U.S. for being volunteers, receiving only a daily stipend while in session; this "citizen legislature" dates back to New Mexico's admission as a state, and is considered a source of civic pride.<ref>{{Cite web|title=New Mexico has the nation's only unsalaried legislature. Lawmakers are hoping to change that.|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/new-mexico-has-the-nation-s-only-unsalaried-legislature-lawmakers-are-hoping-to-change-that/ar-AAT7LLf?ocid=BingNewsSearch|access-date=2022-01-26|publisher=MSN|archive-date=January 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126152417/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/new-mexico-has-the-nation-s-only-unsalaried-legislature-lawmakers-are-hoping-to-change-that/ar-AAT7LLf?ocid=BingNewsSearch|url-status=live}}</ref>

The judiciary is headed by the [[New Mexico Supreme Court]], the state's highest court, which primarily [[appellate court|adjudicates appeals]] from lower courts or government agencies. It is made up of five judges popularly elected every eight years with overlapping terms. Below the state supreme court is the [[New Mexico Court of Appeals]], which has intermediate appellate jurisdiction statewide. New Mexico has 13 judicial districts with circuit courts of [[general jurisdiction]], as well as various municipal, [[State court magistrate judge|magistrate]], and probate courts of [[limited jurisdiction]].

New Mexico is organized into a number of local governments consisting of counties, municipalities, and special districts.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Mexico Government |url=http://www.newmexico.gov/government/ |website=www.newmexico.gov |access-date=January 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102050440/http://www.newmexico.gov/government/ |archive-date=January 2, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Politics===
{{See also|Elections in New Mexico|Political party strength in New Mexico|New Mexico Legislature}}

Since 2018, New Mexico has been led by Governor [[Michelle Lujan Grisham]] and Lieutenant Governor [[Howie Morales]], both of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]. All constitutional officers are currently Democrats, including Secretary of State [[Maggie Toulouse Oliver]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sos.state.nm.us |title=NM Secretary of State's Office official web site |website=Sos.state.nm.us |access-date=January 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120011947/http://www.sos.state.nm.us/ |archive-date=January 20, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Attorney General [[Raúl Torrez]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet the Attorney General |url=https://nmdoj.gov/about-the-office/meet-the-attorney-general/ |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=New Mexico Department of Justice |language=en-US |archive-date=May 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240507063455/https://nmdoj.gov/about-the-office/meet-the-attorney-general/ |url-status=live }}</ref> State Auditor [[Joseph Maestas]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=State Auditor |url=https://www.nm.gov/elected-officials/state-auditor/ |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=Welcome to NewMexico.gov |language=en-US}}</ref> State Land Commissioner [[Stephanie Garcia Richard]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nmstatelands.org |title=NM State Lands official web site |publisher=Nmstatelands.org |access-date=July 31, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100728101332/http://www.nmstatelands.org/ |archive-date=July 28, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> and State Treasurer [[Laura Montoya (politician)|Laura Montaya]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stonm.org |title=NM State Treasurer's Office official web site |publisher=Stonm.org |access-date=July 31, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809014817/http://www.stonm.org/ |archive-date=August 9, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable floatright"
! colspan = 6 | Party registration as of February 1, 2025<ref>{{cite web |title = Voter Registration Statistics |publisher = [[New Mexico Secretary of State]] |access-date = February 11, 2025 |url = https://sos.state.nm.us/voting-and-elections/data-and-maps/voter-registration-statistics/}}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Number of voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party of New Mexico|Democratic]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 596,784
| style="text-align:center;"| 42.28%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party of New Mexico|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 454,199
| style="text-align:center;"| 32.18%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent politician}}
| [[Independent voter|Independent]] / [[List of political parties in the United States|Other]]
| align=center | 331,872
| align=center | 23.51%
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
| [[Libertarian Party of New Mexico|Libertarian]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 15,520
| style="text-align:center;"| 1.10%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! style="text-align:center;"| 1,411,370
! style="text-align:center;"| 100.0%
|}

Both chambers of the [[New Mexico Legislature]] have Democratic majorities: 27 Democrats and 15 Republicans in the Senate, and 45 Democrats and 25 Republicans in the House of Representatives. Likewise, the state is represented in the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] by Democrats [[Martin Heinrich]] and [[Ben Ray Luján]]. The state's three delegates to the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] are Democrats [[Melanie Stansbury]], [[Gabe Vasquez]], and [[Teresa Leger Fernandez]], representing the first, second, and third districts, respectively.

[[File:New Mexico Presidential Election Results 2024.svg|thumb|[[2024 United States presidential election in New Mexico|2024 U.S. presidential election results]] by county in New Mexico {{leftlegend|#4389E3|Democratic}}{{leftlegend|#AA0000|Republican}}]]

Since achieving statehood in [[1912 United States presidential election|1912]], New Mexico has been carried by the national popular vote winner in every presidential election except in [[1976 United States presidential election|1976]] and [[2024 United States presidential election|2024]].<ref>{{cite web |title=New Mexico Presidential Election Voting History |url=http://www.270towin.com/states/new+mexico |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304183212/http://www.270towin.com/states/new+mexico |archive-date=March 4, 2014 |access-date=April 21, 2014 |publisher=270towin.com |url-status=dead }}</ref> Until 2008, New Mexico was traditionally a [[swing state]] in presidential elections. The [[1992 United States presidential election|1992 election]] of Bill Clinton marked the first time the state was won by a Democrat since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. [[Al Gore]] narrowly carried the state in [[2000 United States presidential election|2000]] by 366 votes, and [[George W. Bush]] won in [[2004 United States presidential election|2004]] by less than 6,000 votes. The election of [[Barack Obama]] in [[2008 United States presidential election|2008]] marked the state's transition into [[Red states and blue states|a Democratic stronghold]]; Obama was also the first Democrat to win a majority of New Mexico votes since Johnson.<ref name="Weigel">{{Cite web |last=Weigel |first=David |date=October 8, 2012 |title=How Obama Won New Mexico Long Before Election Day |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2012/10/new-mexico-has-become-a-safe-democratic-state-because-of-a-growing-hispanic-population-native-americans-and-bad-republican-talking-points.html |access-date=2021-08-05 |website=Slate Magazine |language=en |archive-date=August 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805222728/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2012/10/new-mexico-has-become-a-safe-democratic-state-because-of-a-growing-hispanic-population-native-americans-and-bad-republican-talking-points.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Obama won New Mexico again in 2012, followed by Hillary Clinton in 2016, Joe Biden in 2020, and Kamala Harris in 2024.

[[File:Party registration by New Mexico county.svg|thumb|Party registration by New Mexico county (February 2023):
{{legend|#d3e7ff|2=Democratic >= 30%}}
{{legend|#b9d7ff|2=Democratic >= 40%}}
{{legend|#86b6f2|2=Democratic >= 50%}}
{{legend|#4389e3|2=Democratic >= 60%}}
{{legend|#1666cb|2=Democratic >= 70%}}
{{legend|#f2b3be|2=Republican >= 40%}}
{{legend|#e27f90|2=Republican >= 50%}}
{{legend|#cc2f4a|2=Republican >= 60%}}]]

Although state politics are decidedly Democratic leaning, New Mexico's political culture is relatively moderate and bipartisan by national standards. While registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans by nearly 200,000, New Mexico voters have historically favored moderate to conservative candidates of both parties at the state and federal levels: According to [[Pew Research Center|Pew Research]], the largest political ideology among New Mexicans is [[political moderate]] at 36%, while 34% are [[conservatism in the United States|conservatives]], 23% are [[Liberalism in the United States|liberal]], and 7% stated they did not know.<ref name="Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project 2022">{{cite web |date=June 13, 2022 |title=Public Life Landscape Study |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/ |access-date=December 26, 2022 |website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project |archive-date=May 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525045337/https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Likewise, New Mexico's demographics are atypical of most traditional liberal states with "political ideology [being] less important" than the profile or outreach efforts of the individual candidate.<ref name="Caldwell-2022">{{Cite news |title=New Mexico Democrats push their state as a model for winning in Southwest |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/12/23/new-mexico-democrats-latino/ |access-date=2022-12-23 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=December 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223192451/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/12/23/new-mexico-democrats-latino/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Due to their historically positive connections to the state's heritage, the [[Republican Party of New Mexico|Republican]] and [[Democratic Party of New Mexico|Democratic parties of New Mexico]] are each relatively robust, and New Mexico is considered a [[bellwether|bellwether state]].<ref name="The Advocate 20202">{{cite web |date=October 20, 2020 |title=New Mexico: Blue or Purple? |url=https://theacademyadvocate.com/5187/news/new-mexico-blue-or-purple/ |access-date=December 16, 2022 |website=The Advocate |archive-date=December 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216195124/https://theacademyadvocate.com/5187/news/new-mexico-blue-or-purple/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Reichbach 20152">{{cite web |last=Reichbach |first=Matthew |date=June 11, 2015 |title=New Mexico a top historical 'bellwether' state for president |url=https://nmpoliticalreport.com/2015/06/11/new-mexico-a-top-historical-bellwether-state-for-president/ |access-date=December 16, 2022 |website=The NM Political Report |archive-date=December 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216195124/https://nmpoliticalreport.com/2015/06/11/new-mexico-a-top-historical-bellwether-state-for-president/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Alberta 20202">{{cite web |last=Alberta |first=Tim |date=November 2, 2020 |title=This Place Has Picked Every President Since 1952. Is Its Streak About to End? |url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/11/02/valencia-new-mexico-election-bellwether-433756 |access-date=December 16, 2022 |website=POLITICO |archive-date=December 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216195124/https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/11/02/valencia-new-mexico-election-bellwether-433756 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Ostermeier 20112">{{cite web |last=Ostermeier |first=Eric |date=February 17, 2011 |title=Meet the New Bellwether States: Ohio and Nevada |url=https://smartpolitics.lib.umn.edu/2011/02/17/meet-the-new-bellwether-states/ |access-date=December 16, 2022 |website=Smart Politics |archive-date=December 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216195126/https://smartpolitics.lib.umn.edu/2011/02/17/meet-the-new-bellwether-states/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Broh 1980 pp. 564–5702">{{cite journal |last=Broh |first=C. Anthony |year=1980 |title=Whether Bellwethers or Weather-Jars Indicate Election Outcomes |journal=The Western Political Quarterly |volume=33 |issue=4 |pages=564–570 |doi=10.2307/448072 |issn=0043-4078 |jstor=448072}}</ref> The state's [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] was the first to incorporate Hispanics and Natives into leadership roles, such as territorial governor [[Miguel Antonio Otero (born 1859)|Miguel Antonio Otero]] and state governor [[Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo]], who was later the first Mexican American and first Hispanic member of the U.S. Senate.<ref name="McClain 2018 p. 1882">{{cite book |last=McClain |first=P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jaHsDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT188 |title=Can We All Get Along?: Racial and Ethnic Minorities in American Politics |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2018 |isbn=978-0-429-97516-5 |page=188 |access-date=December 15, 2022 |archive-date=December 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215042026/https://books.google.com/books?id=jaHsDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT188 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Hornung 2013 p. 832">{{cite book |last=Hornung |first=C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m7mRB5UXx-YC&pg=PA83 |title=Cipriano Baca, Frontier Lawman of New Mexico |publisher=McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-7864-7332-8 |page=83 |access-date=December 15, 2022 |archive-date=December 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215042028/https://books.google.com/books?id=m7mRB5UXx-YC&pg=PA83 |url-status=live }}</ref> Republican president [[Theodore Roosevelt]] had much respect for the Hispanos, Mexican Americans, and indigenous communities of New Mexico, many of whom had been a part of his [[Rough Riders]].<ref name="Robertson 20112">{{cite web |last=Robertson |first=Gary |date=June 1, 2011 |title=Historic Old West buildings are Las Vegas, N.M.'s jewels |url=https://www.latimes.com/travel/la-xpm-2011-jun-01-la-tr-lvnm-20110601-story.html |access-date=December 16, 2022 |website=Los Angeles Times |archive-date=December 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216195123/https://www.latimes.com/travel/la-xpm-2011-jun-01-la-tr-lvnm-20110601-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Weideman 20222">{{cite web |last=Weideman |first=Paul |date=December 14, 2022 |title=Revival Las Vegas: The restoration of La Castañeda |url=https://www.santafenewmexican.com/pasatiempo/columns/art_of_space/revival-las-vegas-the-restoration-of-la-casta-eda/article_b7bdd69c-4321-5052-a4c2-690a2bf7bd71.html |access-date=December 16, 2022 |website=Santa Fe New Mexican |archive-date=December 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216195123/https://www.santafenewmexican.com/pasatiempo/columns/art_of_space/revival-las-vegas-the-restoration-of-la-casta-eda/article_b7bdd69c-4321-5052-a4c2-690a2bf7bd71.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Lujan Grisham succeeded two-term Republican governor [[Susana Martinez]] on January 1, 2019. [[Gary Johnson]] was governor from 1995 to 2003 as a Republican, but in [[2012 United States presidential election|2012]] and [[2016 United States presidential election|2016]] ran for president from the [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian Party]]. New Mexico's Second Congressional District is among the most competitive in the country: Republican Herrell narrowly lost to [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Xochitl Torres Small]] in 2018 but retook her seat in 2020, subsequently losing to Democrat [[Gabe Vasquez]] in 2022.<ref name="Caldwell-2022" /> Recent election cycles within the past decade have seen moderate incumbents replaced by progressive Democrats in cities like Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces, with conservative Republicans being elected in rural areas. Democrats in the state are usually strongest in the [[Santa Fe, New Mexico|Santa Fe]] area, parts of the [[Albuquerque, New Mexico|Albuquerque]] metro area (such as the southeast and central areas, including the affluent Nob Hill neighborhood and the vicinity of the [[University of New Mexico]]), Northern and West Central New Mexico, and most [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] reservations, particularly the [[Navajo Nation]].<ref name="Weigel" /> Republicans have traditionally had their strongholds in the eastern and southern parts of the state, the [[Farmington, New Mexico|Farmington]] area, [[Rio Rancho, New Mexico|Rio Rancho]], and the newly developed areas in the northwest mesa. Albuquerque's Northeast Heights have historically leaned Republican but have become a key swing area for Democrats in recent election cycles.

A 2020 study ranked New Mexico as the 20th hardest state for citizens to vote, due mostly to the inaccessibility of polling stations among many isolated communities.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=J. Pomante II |first1=Michael |last2=Li |first2=Quan |date=December 15, 2020 |title=Cost of Voting in the American States: 2020 |journal=Election Law Journal: Rules, Politics, and Policy |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=503–509 |doi=10.1089/elj.2020.0666 |s2cid=225139517|doi-access=free }}</ref>

==== Female minority representation ====
New Mexico has elected more [[women of color]] to public office than any other U.S. state.<ref name="Thomson-DeVeaux-2020">{{Cite web |last=Thomson-DeVeaux |first=Amelia |date=January 31, 2020 |title=Why New Mexico Elects More Women Of Color Than The Rest Of The Country |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-new-mexico-elects-more-women-of-color-than-the-rest-of-the-country/ |access-date=2021-07-29 |website=FiveThirtyEight |language=en-US |archive-date=July 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729034814/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-new-mexico-elects-more-women-of-color-than-the-rest-of-the-country/ |url-status=live }}</ref> While the trend is partly reflective of the state's disproportionately high Hispanic and indigenous populations, it also reflects longstanding cultural and political trends: In 1922, [[Soledad C. Chacón|Soledad Chávez Chacón]] was the first woman elected secretary of state of New Mexico, and the first Hispanic woman elected to statewide office in the United States. [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] governor [[Susana Martinez]] was the first Hispanic female governor in the United States, and [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] congresswoman [[Deb Haaland]] was among the first Native American women elected to the U.S. Congress.<ref name="Time 2017">{{cite magazine |date=August 8, 2017 |title=Susana Martinez: First Hispanic Republican Female Governor |url=https://time.com/collection/american-voices-2017/4402950/susana-martinez/ |magazine=Time |access-date=December 22, 2022 |archive-date=December 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222093017/https://time.com/collection/american-voices-2017/4402950/susana-martinez/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Becker 2019">{{cite web |last=Becker |first=Amanda |date=January 7, 2019 |title=Deb Haaland becomes one of first two Native American congresswomen |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-haaland-idUSKCN1P11D1 |access-date=December 22, 2022 |website=U.S. |archive-date=December 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222093011/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-haaland-idUSKCN1P11D1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Research by the [[Center for American Women and Politics]] at [[Rutgers University]] found that two-thirds of all nonwhite women who have ever been elected governor in the U.S. are from New Mexico, including the current governor, Lujan Grisham. The state also accounts for nearly one-third of the women of color who have served in any statewide executive office, such as lieutenant governor and secretary of state, a distinction shared by only ten other states.<ref name="Thomson-DeVeaux-2020" /> New Mexico also has a relatively high percentage of state legislators who are women of color, which at 16% is the sixth highest in the nation.

New Mexico is described as a "national leader in electing female legislators".<ref name="McKay-2022">{{Cite news |title=House of Representatives: New Mexico is emerging as a national leader in electing female legislators |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/2560223/womens-impact.html |access-date=2023-01-03 |newspaper=Albuquerque Journal |archive-date=January 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103150647/https://www.abqjournal.com/2560223/womens-impact.html |url-status=live }}</ref> As of January 2023, it ranked sixth in the number of female state legislators (43.8%),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Women in State Legislatures 2023 |url=https://cawp.rutgers.edu/facts/levels-office/state-legislature/women-state-legislatures-2023 |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=cawp.rutgers.edu |language=en |archive-date=January 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103150652/https://cawp.rutgers.edu/facts/levels-office/state-legislature/women-state-legislatures-2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> with women comprising a majority of the New Mexico House of Representatives (53%) and over a quarter of the Senate (29%).<ref name="McKay-2022"/> Women also hold a majority of seats on the state Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals.<ref name="McKay-2022" /> At the federal level, two out of three congressional districts are represented by women.

=== Local government ===
{{Main|Local government in New Mexico}}
{{See also|Government of Albuquerque, New Mexico|label 1=Government of Albuquerque}}Local government in New Mexico consists primarily of [[List of counties in New Mexico|counties]] and [[List of settlements in New Mexico|municipalities]]. There are 33 counties, of which the most populous is [[Bernalillo County, New Mexico|Bernalillo]], which contains the state's largest city, [[Albuquerque, New Mexico|Albuquerque]]. Counties are usually governed by an elected five-member county commission, sheriff, assessor, clerk and treasurer. A municipality may call itself a village, town, or city,<ref>New Mexico Statutes § 3-1-3</ref> with no distinction in law and no correlation to any particular form of government. Municipal elections are non-partisan.<ref>New Mexico Statutes § 3-8-29C</ref> In addition, limited local authority can be vested in special districts and landowners' associations.

=== Law ===
New Mexico is one of 23 states without the death penalty,<ref>{{Cite web|title=State by State|url=https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/state-and-federal-info/state-by-state|access-date=2021-08-10|website=Death Penalty Information Center|language=en-US|archive-date=January 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128140346/https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/states-and-without-death-penalty|url-status=live}}</ref> becoming the 15th state to abolish capital punishment in 2009.<ref>Le Nouveau-Mexique abolit la peine de mort [archive] in Le Monde of March 19, 2009</ref>

{{PresHead|place=New Mexico|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/compare.php?year=2008&fips=35&f=1&off=0&elect=0&type=state|title=Presidential General Election Results Comparison – New Mexico|publisher=US Election Atlas|access-date=January 2, 2023|author=Leip, David|archive-date=January 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103012750/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/compare.php?year=2008&fips=35&f=1&off=0&elect=0&type=state|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|423,391|478,802|21,210|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|401,894|501,614|20,457|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|319,667|385,234|93,418|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|335,788|415,335|32,634|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|346,832|472,422|10,904|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|376,930|370,942|8,432|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|286,417|286,783|25,405|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|232,751|273,495|49,828|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|212,824|261,617|95,545|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|270,341|244,497|6,449|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|307,101|201,769|5,500|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|250,779|167,826|37,632|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|211,419|201,148|4,023|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|235,606|141,084|9,241|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|169,692|130,081|27,508|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|131,838|194,017|1,760|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|153,733|156,027|1,347|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|146,788|106,098|1,040|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|132,170|105,661|777|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|80,303|105,464|1,296|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|70,688|81,389|148|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|79,315|103,699|244|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|61,727|106,037|1,372|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|54,217|95,089|2,300|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|69,645|48,211|158|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|54,745|48,542|9,543|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|57,634|46,668|1,104|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|31,152|33,527|2,108|New Mexico}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|17,733|20,437|11,206|New Mexico}}

The state has among the most permissive firearms laws in the country.<ref name="NRA-ILA-2020">{{Cite web|last1=NRA-ILA|last2=Association|first2=National Rifle|title=NRA-ILA {{!}} New Mexico Gun Laws|url=https://www.nraila.org/gun-laws/state-gun-laws/new-mexico/|access-date=2022-02-05|website=NRA-ILA|language=en|archive-date=February 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205191209/https://www.nraila.org/gun-laws/state-gun-laws/new-mexico/|url-status=live}}</ref> Its constitution explicitly enshrines the right to bear arms and prevents local governments from regulating gun ownership.<ref>State Constitutional Provision – Article II, Section 6."No law shall abridge the right of the citizen to keep and bear arms for security and defense, for lawful hunting and recreational use and for other lawful purposes, but nothing herein shall be held to permit the carrying of concealed weapons. No municipality or county shall regulate, in any way, an incident of the right to keep and bear arms."</ref> Residents may purchase any firearm deemed legal under federal law without a permit.<ref name="NRA-ILA-2020" /> There is a 7-day waiting period under state law for picking up a firearm after it has been purchased (holders of concealed handgun licenses are exempt from the 7-day waiting period), nor any restrictions on magazine capacity. Additionally, New Mexico is a "shall-issue" state for [[concealed carry]] permits, thus giving applicants a presumptive right to receive a license without giving a compelling reason.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/concarry.pdf|title=The Effects of "Shall-Issue" Concealed-Carry Licensing Laws: A Literature Review|access-date=February 5, 2022|archive-date=January 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128110914/https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/concarry.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Before December 2013, New Mexico law was silent on the issue of [[Same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex marriage]]. The issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples was determined at the county level, with some county clerks issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples and others not. In December 2013, the [[New Mexico Supreme Court]] issued a unanimous ruling directing all county clerks to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, thereby making New Mexico the 17th state to recognize same-sex marriage statewide.

Based on 2008 data, New Mexico had 146 law enforcement agencies across the state, county, and municipal levels.<ref name="Reaves-2011">Brian A Reaves, "2008 Census of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies", US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, July 2011</ref> State [[law enforcement]] is statutorily administered by the Department of Public Safety (DPS).<ref>{{Cite web|title=New Mexico Statutes Chapter 29. Law Enforcement § 29-2-1|url=https://codes.findlaw.com/nm/chapter-29-law-enforcement/nm-st-sect-29-2-1.html|access-date=2021-08-18|website=Findlaw|language=en-US|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818225143/https://codes.findlaw.com/nm/chapter-29-law-enforcement/nm-st-sect-29-2-1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[New Mexico State Police]] is a division of the DPS with jurisdiction over all crimes in the state.<ref>{{Cite web|title=New Mexico State Police|website=New Mexico|url=https://www.newmexico.gov/other-affected-services/new-mexico-state-police/|access-date=2021-08-18|language=en-US|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818225142/https://www.newmexico.gov/other-affected-services/new-mexico-state-police/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=New Mexico Statutes Chapter 29. Law Enforcement § 29-1-1|url=https://codes.findlaw.com/nm/chapter-29-law-enforcement/nm-st-sect-29-1-1.html|access-date=2021-08-18|website=Findlaw|language=en-US|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818225142/https://codes.findlaw.com/nm/chapter-29-law-enforcement/nm-st-sect-29-1-1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As of 2008, New Mexico had over 5,000 sworn police officers, a ratio of 252 per 100,000 residents, which is roughly the same as the nation.<ref name="Reaves-2011" /> The state struggles with one of the nation's highest rates of officer-involved killings, which has prompted political and legal reforms at local and state levels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why New Mexico has one of the highest rates for killings by police |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/04/14/1169480686/police-killings-new-mexico-gun-ownership |last=Diaz |first=Jaclyn |date=April 14, 2023 |website=NPR |access-date=April 17, 2023 |archive-date=April 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417023151/https://www.npr.org/2023/04/14/1169480686/police-killings-new-mexico-gun-ownership |url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2021, New Mexico became the 18th state to [[Legalization of non-medical cannabis in the United States|legalize cannabis for recreational use]]; possession, personal cultivation, and retail sales are permitted under certain conditions, while relevant marijuana-related arrests and convictions are expunged.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Cannabis in NM: How will it work? |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/2378994/how-does-it-work-2.html |access-date=2022-02-05 |newspaper=Albuquerque Journal |archive-date=February 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205191208/https://www.abqjournal.com/2378994/how-does-it-work-2.html |url-status=live }}</ref> New Mexico has long pioneered loosening cannabis restrictions: In 1978, it was the first state to pass legislation allowing the [[Medicinal marijuana in the United States|medical use of marijuana]] in some form, albeit restricted to a federal research program.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Now|first=Cannabis|date=February 21, 2018|title=Today Is the 40th Anniversary of America's First Medical Marijuana Law|url=https://cannabisnow.com/lynn-pierson-first-medical-marijuana-law/|access-date=2022-02-05|website=Cannabis Now|language=en-US|archive-date=February 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205191208/https://cannabisnow.com/lynn-pierson-first-medical-marijuana-law/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1999, Republican Governor [[Gary Johnson]] became the highest-ranking elected official in the U.S. to publicly endorse drug legalization.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Janofsky|first=Michael|date=August 22, 1999|title=A Governor Who Once Dabbled in Drugs Says War on Them Is Misguided|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/22/us/a-governor-who-once-dabbled-in-drugs-says-war-on-them-is-misguided.html|access-date=2022-02-05|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=April 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404003359/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/22/us/a-governor-who-once-dabbled-in-drugs-says-war-on-them-is-misguided.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Medicinal marijuana was fully legalized in 2007, making New Mexico the 12th state to do so, and the fourth via legislative action.<ref>{{Cite web|title=New Mexico Becomes Twelfth State To Authorize Medical Cannabis Use|url=https://norml.org/news/2007/04/05/new-mexico-becomes-twelfth-state-to-authorize-medical-cannabis-use/|access-date=2022-02-05|website=NORML|date=April 5, 2007|language=en-US|archive-date=February 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205191208/https://norml.org/news/2007/04/05/new-mexico-becomes-twelfth-state-to-authorize-medical-cannabis-use/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, it was the first U.S. state to decriminalize possession of drug paraphernalia.<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 4, 2019|title=New Mexico Makes History with Weed and Paraphernalia Decriminalization Bill|url=https://reason.com/2019/04/04/nm-weed-paraphernalia-decriminalized/|access-date=2022-02-05|website=Reason Magazine|language=en-US|first1=Zuri|last1=Davis|archive-date=February 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205191208/https://reason.com/2019/04/04/nm-weed-paraphernalia-decriminalized/|url-status=live}}</ref>

As of June 2022, New Mexico has one of the nation's [[Abortion law in the United States by state|most permissive abortion laws]]: Elective abortion care is legal at all stages of pregnancy, without restrictions such as long waiting periods and mandated parental consent.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 2022 |title=State Facts About Abortion: New Mexico |url=https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/state-facts-about-abortion-new-mexico |access-date=2022-06-30 |website=Guttmacher Institute |language=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630034615/https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/state-facts-about-abortion-new-mexico |archive-date= June 30, 2022 }}</ref> In 2021, the state repealed a 1969 "[[trigger law]]" that had banned most abortion procedures, which would have come into effect following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in ''[[Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization]]''.<ref name="AAYVZYl">{{Cite web |title=New Mexico shields abortion clinics ahead of expected patient surge |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/new-mexico-shields-abortion-clinics-ahead-of-expected-patient-surge/ar-AAYVZYl |agency=Reuters |first1=Andrew |last1=Hay |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=MSN |language=en-US |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630034310/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/new-mexico-shields-abortion-clinics-ahead-of-expected-patient-surge/ar-AAYVZYl |archive-date= June 30, 2022 }}</ref> In response to the ''Dobbs'' decision, which held that abortion was not a constitutional right, New Mexico's governor issued an executive order protecting abortion providers from out-of-state litigation, in anticipation of the influx of nonresidents seeking abortions.<ref name="AAYVZYl"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 30, 2022 |title=Women are traveling to New Mexico for abortions |url=https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/women-are-traveling-to-new-mexico-for-abortions |access-date=2022-06-30 |website=WFTS |language=en |archive-date=July 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714153652/https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/women-are-traveling-to-new-mexico-for-abortions |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Fiscal policy ===
On a per capita basis, New Mexico's government has one of the largest state budgets, at $9,101 per resident.<ref>"General Appropriation Act of 2019". ''Section 4, HB No. 2 of 2019.'' New Mexico Legislature. p. 173. Retrieved July 9, 2019.</ref> As of 2017, the state had an [[S&P Global Ratings|S&P Global Rating]] of AA+, denoting a very strong capacity to meet financial commitments alongside a very low credit risk.

New Mexico has two constitutionally mandated [[permanent fund]]s: The [[New Mexico Land Grant Permanent Fund|Land Grant Permanent Fund (LGPF)]], which was established upon statehood in 1912, and the Severance Tax Permanent Fund (STPF), which was created in 1973 during the [[oil boom]].<ref name="NM LFC-2021">[https://www.nmlegis.gov/Entity/LFC/Documents/Finance_Facts/finance%20facts%20permanent%20funds.pdf Legislative Finance Committee Finance Facts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020181713/https://www.nmlegis.gov/Entity/LFC/Documents/Finance_Facts/finance%20facts%20permanent%20funds.pdf |date=October 20, 2022 }}, ''New Mexico Legislature'' (May 2021)</ref> Both funds derive revenue from rents, royalties, and bonuses related to the state's extensive oil, gas, and mining operations; the vast majority of the LGPF's distributions are earmarked for "common (public) schools", while all distributions from the STPF are allocated to the LGPF.<ref name="NM LFC-2021" />  As of 2020, the Land Grant Permanent Fund was valued at $21.6&nbsp;billion, while the Severance Tax Permanent Fund was worth $5.8&nbsp;billion.<ref name="NM LFC-2021" />