Secretary of State of New Mexico · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the New Mexico secretary of state race?
Amanda López Askin has the strongest record in the New Mexico secretary of state race. Amanda López Askin scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Ramona Goolsby at 56, as of October 6, 2026. Amanda López Askin's highest marks are relevant experience and communication. Ramona Goolsby's highest marks are relevant experience and communication. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Strongest record
Amanda López Askin
63 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Ramona Goolsby
On the ballot as Ramona L Goolsby
56 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Amanda López Askin
- On the record2026-06
Her office oversaw the June 2026 primary in Doña Ana County, certified by the county canvassing board June 12, followed by the state-required post-election system check.
- On the record2026-09
Said Joe Biden decisively won the 2020 election and that allegations of widespread voter fraud in New Mexico are false.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal via Yahoo News, Sept. 30, 2026, Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A
- On the record2022 to 2023-02
In 2022 she reported to the FBI an online comment by Solomon Peña about hanging her, months before Peña was charged in shootings at Democratic officials' homes.
Source: KUNM, Feb. 2, 2023
- On the record2018-09 to 2026
Appointed Doña Ana County clerk in September 2018 and elected in 2020 and 2024; she says she has run 13 elections in the county.
Ramona Goolsby
- Mark against2026-08
Said on a Santa Fe New Mexican podcast that 113,000 voters on the permanent absentee list had moved; the list has 59,174 voters, and she later said she misspoke and meant the voter rolls.
Sources: Santa Fe New Mexican via Yahoo News, Aug. 27, 2026, KUNM, Oct. 1, 2026
- On the record2026-09
Asked whether Joe Biden was legitimately elected in 2020, said she would not speculate and that he was sworn in, certified by Congress and served.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal via Yahoo News, Sept. 30, 2026, Source NM via Yahoo News, Sept. 29, 2026
- On the record2023
Aided the failed 2023 effort to put election laws passed that year, including the New Mexico Voting Rights Act, to a referendum.
- On the record2022 to 2026
Filed a 2022 suit against the secretary of state alleging uncertified election machines, dismissed in August 2023, and a 2024 suit seeking original ballots from five Sandoval County precincts, also dismissed.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Amanda López Askin. No public record found.
Ramona Goolsby. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Amanda López Askin. No public record found.
Ramona Goolsby. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Amanda López Askin. Gave a recorded studio interview with listener-submitted questions to KUNM and interviews to Source NM and the Albuquerque Journal for the general election. No general election debate report found.
Sources: KUNM, Oct. 1, 2026, Source NM via Yahoo News, Sept. 29, 2026
Ramona Goolsby. Gave a recorded studio interview with listener-submitted questions to KUNM and interviews to Source NM and the Albuquerque Journal for the general election. No general election debate report found.
Sources: KUNM, Oct. 1, 2026, Source NM via Yahoo News, Sept. 29, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Amanda López Askin. Doña Ana County clerk since September 2018, elected in 2020 and 2024. No censure or formal conduct finding found.
Ramona Goolsby. Army Reserve veteran, family nurse practitioner, hospital supervisor and elected soil and water conservation supervisor since 2025. No formal conduct finding found.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A, KUNM, Oct. 1, 2026
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Amanda López Askin. Took the oath as Doña Ana County clerk and has run the county's elections through certification since 2018. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal via Yahoo News, Sept. 30, 2026, KTSM via Yahoo News, June 12, 2026
Ramona Goolsby. Served in the Army Reserve and holds an elected seat on the Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District board. Filed suits in 2022 and 2024 over 2022 election machines and ballot access; both were dismissed. She says Biden was certified and served.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Amanda López Askin. Elected Doña Ana County clerk, the official who runs elections in the state's second-most-populous county, since 2018.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal via Yahoo News, Sept. 30, 2026, KUNM, Oct. 1, 2026
Ramona Goolsby. Elected to the Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors in 2025; Army Reserve veteran, nurse practitioner, hospital supervisor and rancher. Has not run an election office.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal via Yahoo News, Sept. 30, 2026, Source NM via Yahoo News, Sept. 29, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Amanda López Askin. States positions on voter data requests, ranked choice voting, voter access and office budget in general terms; sets a two-year goal for improving the office's online business tools.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A, KUNM, Oct. 1, 2026
Ramona Goolsby. Proposes a voter roll maintenance task force, a transparency portal for frequently requested records and support for voter ID, stated in general terms.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A, Source NM via Yahoo News, Sept. 29, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Amanda López Askin. Answered the Albuquerque Journal questionnaire, gave interviews to KUNM and Source NM, and took part in primary candidate forums.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A, KUNM, Oct. 1, 2026, Source NM via Yahoo News, Sept. 29, 2026
Ramona Goolsby. Answered the Albuquerque Journal questionnaire, gave interviews to KUNM and Source NM, and publishes issue positions on her campaign site.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A, KUNM, Oct. 1, 2026, Campaign site
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Amanda López Askin. From southern New Mexico and lives in Las Cruces, where she has been county clerk since 2018. No in-state donor share found.
Sources: Source NM via Yahoo News, Sept. 29, 2026, Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A
Ramona Goolsby. Came to New Mexico in 2019 and lives in Rio Rancho. No in-state donor share found.
Sources: Source NM via Yahoo News, Sept. 29, 2026, Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Amanda López Askin. Has led the Doña Ana County Clerk's Office, which runs elections and records for the state's second-most-populous county, since 2018. Staff size not found.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A, Albuquerque Journal via Yahoo News, Sept. 30, 2026
Ramona Goolsby. Has owned and run a ranch, worked as an office manager and supervised hospital staff. No official finding about her campaign found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Amanda López Askin. No public record found.
Ramona Goolsby. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Amanda López Askin. No public record found.
Ramona Goolsby. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Amanda López Askin. No public record found.
Ramona Goolsby. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Amanda López Askin. No public record found.
Ramona Goolsby. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Amanda López Askin. No public record found.
Ramona Goolsby. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the New Mexico secretary of state race?
Amanda López Askin has the strongest record in the New Mexico secretary of state race. Amanda López Askin scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Ramona Goolsby at 56, as of October 6, 2026. Amanda López Askin's highest marks are relevant experience and communication. Ramona Goolsby's highest marks are relevant experience and communication. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the New Mexico secretary of state race in 2026?
Amanda López Askin (Democratic), Ramona Goolsby (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Amanda López Askin a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Amanda López Askin scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Ramona Goolsby a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Ramona Goolsby scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every New Mexico race scored, and the New Mexico 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.