RNC Sues New Mexico Over Voter Guide Photo Error
The Republican National Committee asks a court to block a League of Women Voters guide that misidentified a Senate candidate's photo.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Elections
The Republican National Committee filed suit against New Mexico's Secretary of State over a voter guide published by the New Mexico League of Women Voters. The guide displayed a photo of Taos County Commissioner Nehemiah Vasquez under the name of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Larry Marker.
Why it matters
The dispute concerns whether voter information distributed before the November 3 election can contain errors that affect how candidates are presented to voters. The League has acknowledged the mistake and corrected its digital guides, but the printed version still contains the error.
The lawsuit was filed October 30 in the Fifth Judicial Court in Chaves County and asks that the printed guide not be placed or distributed on November 3. The League corrected its digital guides at VOTE411.org and in its PDF version on October 29, but the error remains in the printed copies.
The players
Republican National Committee
The national organization of the Republican Party, which coordinates party activity and election policy across the United States.
League of Women Voters of New Mexico
The state chapter of the nonpartisan League of Women Voters, which publishes voter education materials and operates the VOTE411.org voter information platform.
The details
The League of Women Voters of New Mexico published the guide, and the photo error was identified after production had begun, leaving no way to correct the printed copies before distribution. Corrected photos were printed and attached in Los Alamos, while in Santa Fe some photos were marked out and some guides were discarded. The League described the error as an honest mistake and has apologized.
Timeline
June 2026: Larry Marker won the Republican U.S. Senate nomination in the primary with thousands of write-in votes.
Early October 2026: Voter guides were distributed to about 50 locations in Doña Ana County.
October 29, 2026: The League corrected its digital voter guides and apologized.
October 30, 2026: The Republican National Committee filed its lawsuit in Chaves County court.
November 3, 2026: The lawsuit seeks to block distribution of the guide on this date.
Political Context
The lawsuit tests how New Mexico's election rules apply to nonpartisan third-party guides that contain factual errors shortly before an election. The dispute asks whether courts should intervene to restrict distribution of such materials or whether corrections and apologies are sufficient remedies.
Voters who received the printed guide may see a photo of the wrong candidate, while the corrected digital versions are available at VOTE411.org. Voters should check the candidate's name against official ballot information before deciding.
The takeaway
Voters should confirm candidate information against the corrected digital guide or official sources, since the printed version still contains the photo error. Court rulings on the lawsuit will determine whether that printed guide is distributed on Election Day.
What happens next
The Fifth Judicial Court in Chaves County is expected to rule on the request to block distribution of the printed voter guide before the November 3 election.
Further reading
For more on the state's ballot and candidate rules, see Elections coverage for New Mexico.
More information
Find the corrected League of Women Voters digital voter guide on VOTE411.org.
