State Auditor of New Mexico · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the New Mexico state auditor race?
Joseph Maestas has the strongest record in the New Mexico state auditor race. Joseph Maestas scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Joseph Maestas's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Joshua Lawrence (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Joshua Lawrence
On the ballot as Joshua James Ryan Lawrence
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Joseph Maestas
On the ballot as Joseph M Maestas
68 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 75
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.
Joshua Lawrence
- On the record2022 to 2023
Ran for Bernalillo County sheriff in 2022 and for governor in 2023 before winning the 2026 Republican auditor nomination.
Joseph Maestas
- On the record2025
Told the Rio Rancho Observer that Rio Rancho and Sandoval County do a great job in their audits and have minimal findings, as part of his office's oversight of local audits.
Source: Rio Rancho Observer
- On the record2006 to 2026
Mayor of Española from 2006 to 2010, city councilor in Santa Fe and Española, chair and vice chair of the Public Regulation Commission, and state auditor since 2023.
- Credit2026-02
As state auditor his office's special audit found the Children, Youth and Families Department misspent more than $4.2 million.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Joshua Lawrence. State campaign finance reports are on file, as reported by the Albuquerque Journal. No official ethics or campaign finance finding found.
Joseph Maestas. State campaign finance reports are on file, as reported by the Albuquerque Journal. No official ethics or campaign finance finding found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Joshua Lawrence. No public record found.
Joseph Maestas. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Joshua Lawrence. Gave interviews to the Albuquerque Journal and answered its questionnaire for the general election. No general election debate or forum report found.
Joseph Maestas. Gave interviews to the Albuquerque Journal and answered its questionnaire for the general election. No general election debate or forum report found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Joshua Lawrence. No public record found.
Joseph Maestas. State auditor since 2023, earlier Public Regulation Commission chair and vice chair, Española mayor from 2006 to 2010 and a city councilor in Santa Fe and Española. No censure or formal conduct finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Joshua Lawrence. No public record found.
Joseph Maestas. Has taken the oath for several elected offices, most recently state auditor. No official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified election results found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Joshua Lawrence. Says he has more than 20 years of experience working in and owning businesses in film, music, theater and live events. Has not held public office or worked in auditing.
Joseph Maestas. State auditor since January 2023, completing a full term; earlier Public Regulation Commission member, Española mayor and city councilor in Santa Fe and Española. Certified fraud examiner and civil engineer.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal, Oct. 5, 2026, Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Joshua Lawrence. Proposes a statewide accountability task force, data analysis to flag irregular spending and stronger follow-up, stated in general terms.
Joseph Maestas. Proposes a statewide inspector general, more certified fraud examiners and a streamlined fraud case system, and states specific criteria for ordering special audits.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Joshua Lawrence. Answered the Albuquerque Journal questionnaire and gave the Journal an interview.
Joseph Maestas. Answered the Albuquerque Journal questionnaire, gives media interviews and publishes his record and plans on his campaign site.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A, Campaign site, Albuquerque Journal, Oct. 5, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Joshua Lawrence. Lives in Tucumcari. Years of residence not found.
Joseph Maestas. Lives in Santa Fe and has held local office in Española and Santa Fe since at least the 2000s. No in-state donor share found.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A, Albuquerque Journal, Oct. 5, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Joshua Lawrence. No public record found.
Joseph Maestas. Heads the Office of the State Auditor, which has a budget of roughly $6.3 million. Campaign reports are on file with no finding.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Joshua Lawrence. No public record found.
Joseph Maestas. His office's special audit found in February 2026 that the Children, Youth and Families Department misspent more than $4.2 million, and it reported in July 2026 on slow local use of opioid settlement funds.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Joshua Lawrence. No public record found.
Joseph Maestas. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Joshua Lawrence. No public record found.
Joseph Maestas. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Joshua Lawrence. No public record found.
Joseph Maestas. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Joshua Lawrence. No public record found.
Joseph Maestas. 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 state auditor race?
Joseph Maestas has the strongest record in the New Mexico state auditor race. Joseph Maestas scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Joseph Maestas's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Joshua Lawrence (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the New Mexico state auditor race in 2026?
Joshua Lawrence (Republican), Joseph Maestas (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Joshua Lawrence a good candidate for State Auditor?
Joshua Lawrence has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Joseph Maestas a good candidate for State Auditor?
Joseph Maestas scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 75 of 100. 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.