Goolsby, López Askin to Compete for Secretary of State
The two candidates are vying to lead New Mexico election operations in the upcoming November 2026 state election.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Elections
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Republican Ramona Goolsby and Democratic nominee Amanda López Askin are competing for the New Mexico Secretary of State seat. The race features candidates with starkly different approaches to election administration and the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential results.
Why it matters
The candidates represent fundamentally different philosophies on election management and public trust. While López Askin highlights her administrative experience, Goolsby campaigns on addressing concerns regarding election processes and institutional confidence.
Democratic nominee Amanda López Askin has managed 13 elections during her time as the Doña Ana County clerk. Republican challenger Ramona Goolsby currently serves on the Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors.
The players
Ramona Goolsby
She is the Republican nominee for New Mexico Secretary of State who was elected to the Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors in 2025.
Amanda López Askin
She is the Democratic nominee for New Mexico Secretary of State who has served as the Doña Ana County clerk since 2018.
Maggie Toulouse Oliver
She is the current New Mexico Secretary of State who was the subject of a 2022 lawsuit filed by Ramona Goolsby regarding election machinery.
Anne Brady-Romero
She is the Sandoval County Clerk who was named in a 2024 lawsuit filed by Ramona Goolsby concerning ballot access.
The details
Amanda López Askin cites her tenure as Doña Ana County clerk since 2018 as primary preparation for the statewide office. Conversely, Ramona Goolsby has frequently utilized the court system, filing lawsuits in 2022 and 2024 against state and local election officials that were ultimately dismissed.
Timeline
Amanda López Askin has served as Doña Ana County clerk since 2018.
The 2020 presidential election resulted in Joe Biden winning 306 electoral votes.
Goolsby's 2022 lawsuit regarding election machines was dismissed in August 2023.
A 2024 lawsuit filed by Goolsby against a county clerk was dismissed in July 2024.
The New Mexico Secretary of State election will be held in November 2026.
Political Context
The race is defined by a deep partisan divide over the 2020 presidential election results. While the Democratic platform relies on established administration protocols, Republican challengers often seek to leverage judicial oversight to address concerns over election integrity.
The winner of this race will oversee all statewide election procedures, directly impacting how residents cast their ballots and how results are certified. Voters will see these administrative philosophies reflected in how their local county clerks are managed and how election disputes are handled.
The takeaway
The election highlights a clear choice for voters regarding whether to prioritize administrative continuity or increased judicial scrutiny of state processes. Citizens should monitor local candidate forums to understand how these opposing management styles might affect future voting access.
Further reading
For more on the current state of voting, visit New Mexico Elections.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Abqjournal.
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