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Nov 3, 2026 · primaries held June 2

New Mexico - United States Senate

⭐ For the first time in modern state history, no Republican qualified for the ballot — Sen. Luján faces only a write-in challenger. Get caught up ↓

Ben Ray Luján
Ben Ray Luján
Democrat - Age: 54 · Incumbent

Seventh-generation New Mexican from Nambé; served 12 years in the House before the Senate.

Ballotpedia profile →
Larry Marker
Larry Marker
Republican - Write-in nominee

Former oil and gas operator nominated as a write-in after no Republican made the ballot.

Race overview →
Who's ahead? CookSOLID DSabatoSAFE DDDHQSAFE D
Ratings: Cook Political Report (Aug 20), Sabato’s Crystal Ball (Aug 26), Decision Desk HQ (Aug 5). Source →

There's no head-to-head general-election polling of this race. The Cook Political Report rates it Solid Democratic — Republicans haven't won a New Mexico Senate race since 2002, and this year their nominee isn't even printed on the ballot.

Cook Political Report Senate ratings → As of July 2026

Where they stand

Tap a topic that's important to you.

LUJÁN SAYS
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MARKER SAYS
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Money & campaign finance

Where each candidate stands on campaign-finance questions.

LUJÁN
MARKER
Yes Ban Congress from trading stocks Unknown
Unknown Takes corporate PAC money Unknown

Sources: Luján co-introduced the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act

Fundraising
RAISEDCASH ON HANDUNDER-$200 DONORS
Ben Ray Luján
$5.6M$4.4M21% of receipts
Larry Marker
$34K$12K3% of receipts

Campaign committee totals for the 2025–26 cycle, through June 30, 2026. Under-$200 share is unitemized individual contributions divided by total receipts. FEC filings →

Their big promises

LUJÁN'S TOP 3
Lower everyday costs
"Lowering costs and delivering results" is the campaign's core promise.
Rural clinics & broadband
Expand healthcare access and high-speed internet in rural and tribal communities.
Gun safety laws
Endorsed by Giffords PAC; pledges to keep standing up to the gun lobby.
MARKER'S TOP 3
Unleash NM oil & gas
More drilling in the Permian Basin and fewer federal restrictions on producers.
Shrink the federal government
Cut spending and regulation he says strangle small operators.
Give Republicans a choice
Stepped in as a write-in so the seat wouldn't go uncontested.

Agree or differ?

Federal support for Los Alamos & Sandia labs
Both back the national labs that anchor New Mexico's economy
AGREE
Keep Holloman & Cannon Air Force Base missions funded
Both support the military installations that drive jobs across southern and eastern NM
AGREE
Ban assault-style weapons
Luján: supports a ban · Marker: campaigns as a gun-rights conservative
DIFFER
Methane limits on oil & gas wells
Luján: supports federal methane rules · Marker: calls them a burden on small operators
DIFFER
More funding for ICE
Luján: pledged a "no" vote on new ICE funding · Marker: backs expanded enforcement
DIFFER

Their stories

BEN RAY LUJÁN
1972Born in Nambé to a family with deep roots in northern New Mexico politics.
2008Elected to the U.S. House; rose to Assistant Speaker, the #4 House Democrat.
2020Won this Senate seat with 51.7% over Mark Ronchetti.
2026Won his primary with 83.7% and enters the general as the overwhelming favorite.
LARRY MARKER
CareerSpent his working life as an oil and gas operator in New Mexico's energy patch.
Feb 2026The only Republican filer was disqualified over petition signatures, leaving the ballot empty.
Jun 2026Nominated as the GOP's write-in candidate after the primary.
Nov 2026Voters must physically write his name in for their vote to count.

The backstory

Positions summarized from campaign websites, voting records, and news reports · July 2026
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