We are overjoyed to share that New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed SB 16 into law! This historic bipartisan reform gives 330,000+ independent voters — nearly 25% of New Mexico’s electorate — the right to vote in the state’s primary elections starting in 2026. This continues a nationwide trend of states opening their primary elections to more voters.
“New Mexico’s new law ensures every eligible voter can participate in every taxpayer-funded election — not just those affiliated with a party,” said Nick Troiano, Executive Director of Unite America. “For too long, a quarter of New Mexicans were locked out of primaries, which are often the only elections that matter. This is a major step toward a more inclusive and representative democracy.”
Power in Numbers
New Mexico Voters First, led by Executive Director Sila Avcil, and New Mexico Open Elections spearheaded a multi-year campaign to open the state’s primaries, backed by a coalition that included NM Native Vote, the Veterans and Military Families Caucus, and more. “We have dedicated significant time and effort to building a strong coalition, engaging legislators, and mobilizing independent voters across New Mexico,” Avcil said.
A Growing Nationwide Movement
New Mexico’s SB 16 continues a nationwide trend of states opening their primaries. Over the past decade, Colorado and Maine have opened their primaries to independents, while Alaska voters went a step further by adopting open, all-candidate primaries. The number of states with closed primaries, where independents can’t fully participate, is now down to 16.
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More Efforts on the Horizon
With this victory, Unite America is energized to lead a similar effort in Pennsylvania, which is already gaining support from legislators (if you have connections in the legislature, let us know!), while also continuing to defend open primaries in states like Alaska. These efforts reflect our broader strategy: to solve the Primary Problem.
