Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin has officially entered the 2026 race for New Mexico Secretary of State, pledging to defend voter access, combat misinformation and expand civic engagement across the state.
In an interview with Organ Mountain News, López Askin said her decision to run came as Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver prepares to leave office due to term limits — and after nearly seven years of what she called “battle tested” leadership as county clerk.
“Now more than ever, I think we’re at a really pivotal time in democracy — especially connected to elections and access to the ballot box,” she said. “It would be an honor to serve.”
From Doña Ana to statewide campaign
Appointed in 2018 and later elected twice, López Askin has led one of New Mexico’s most populous and diverse counties through some of the most tumultuous election cycles in modern history.
“I walked in pretty idealistic,” she said. “But 2018 was trial by fire. By 2020, I had already been dealing with election denialism, misinformation and unrealistic demands. That forced me to get in front of things, not behind.”
She emphasized her ability to build coalitions, secure funding and strengthen election infrastructure. That includes raising poll worker pay to $15–$18 an hour and securing more than $4 million in state and local funding to build a new election warehouse in Las Cruces — slated to open this summer.
“I’m proud to say we’re fully staffed and fully functioning,” she said. “That hasn’t been easy, but it matters.”
Top priorities: access, funding, education
López Askin outlined three top campaign priorities if elected: protecting access to voting, especially for rural and low-income residents; ensuring consistent state funding for elections; and creating nonpartisan voter guides to inform voters about candidates and ballot initiatives.
She criticized federal proposals like the SAVE Act — which would require documentary proof of citizenship to register — as particularly harmful to New Mexico.
“We’re a rural state with high poverty rates and limited access to certain forms of ID,” she said. “Policies like that could disenfranchise a lot of eligible voters here.”
She also supports revisiting the idea of a statewide election education task force, which she helped propose in previous legislative sessions but said never gained traction.
“The average voter’s perspective matters,” she said. “What we think is working might be totally different from how they experience the system.”
Building connections across the state
Born and raised in New Mexico, López Askin said she believes her southern New Mexico roots will bring a valuable perspective to the statewide office.
“I don’t think there’s ever been a Secretary of State from Doña Ana County,” she said. “Our county — with its bilingual, immigrant-rich population — is more representative of New Mexico than other parts of the state.”
Asked how she’ll campaign across such a geographically large and diverse state, she pointed to her extensive personal and professional networks.
“I have family in nearly every corner of New Mexico,” she said. “To me, this campaign is about connecting with people where they are — and listening to what they need from their Secretary of State.”
López Askin said she plans to continue in her current role as county clerk while campaigning, relying on what she called a “fully staffed and highly capable team.”
“I got a doctorate, became a mom and worked full time all at the same time,” she said with a laugh. “I think I can do anything.”
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