"New Mexico’s Democratic Party has launched a long shot bid to become one of the early primary states for the 2028 presidential election cycle.
"In their recent application to the Democratic National Committee, state party leaders touted New Mexico’s diverse electorate and relatively inexpensive media market as factors that set the state apart.
"'We submitted a bid to hold an early presidential primary because the Democratic Party is facing real national challenges — and New Mexico shows the path forward,' state party chairwoman Sara Attleson said in a statement.
"The state Democratic Party chairwoman, who was elected to the post last year, also cited the national Democratic Party's struggles to win support from rural, working-class voters."
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Noteworthy: "Long shot" is likely an apt way to describe the New Mexico Democratic Party's push to be included among the early states on the 2028 presidential primary calendar. That is not a statement about the merits of the bid from Democrats in the Land of Enchantment. Rather, it is an acknowledgment of the institutional barriers that make successful inclusion in the early window difficult for the state party there. Under the rules of the process the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has instituted for the 2028 cycle, at least one state from each of four regions across the country will be represented in the pre-Super Tuesday portion of the primary calendar. New Mexico is one of two states from the west region opposite an early state stalwart, Nevada. And Democrats in the Silver state already have an early primary -- first Tuesday in February -- codified in state law. At best, then, New Mexico Democrats are likely fighting for any fifth spot that may be at stake. And there may be better options among the pool of applicants than New Mexico for that position.
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