At least four lawmakers’ candidacies challenged

From NMPolitics.net - by Heath Haussamen - At least four sitting lawmakers are among candidates who will have their candidacies challenged in court because they incorrectly filled out nominating petitions. In addition, NMPolitics.net has learned, Republicans will file a challenge today to the candidacy of Senate President Pro Tem Tim Jennings, D-Roswell. As the Journal reported, it won’t come from one of two Republicans seeking to unseat Jennings this year, but it will come. Any qualified voter in the district can file such a challenge. As NMPolitics has reported, at least 12 candidates who filed to run in the June 5 primary failed to comply with a new law that requires that district or division numbers be listed on their nominating petitions. Secretary of State Dianna Duran still certified their candidacies after Assistant Attorney General Tania Maestas advised her to do so. Maestas sent Duran a letter advising that, “In the absence of any evidence of fraud or bad faith, it is unlikely that a court would require strict adherence to the statutory requirements at the cost of denying a significant number of voters their constitutional right to participate in the election process.” That left it to individuals to challenge their candidacies in court. Read more

At least four lawmakers’ candidacies challenged