Of 317 regular elections in New Mexico—225 (71%) are uncontested. An uncontested election is one where the number of candidates on the ballot is less than or equal to the number of seats up for election. 

Of the 26 states where Ballotpedia is covering every election on Nov. 5, New Mexico has the seventh highest rate of uncontested elections.

There are at least 11 office types up for election in New Mexico this year. 

State supreme court justice and local judge have the highest rate of uncontested elections at 100%. Elections for the office of district attorney have the next highest uncontested rate at 86%, followed by treasurer at 81%.

U.S. representative and state representative has the highest rate of contested elections at 48%. The next highest contested office type in New Mexico is U.S. senator and state senator at 37%, followed by county commissioner at 35%.

New Mexico has a Democratic trifecta, meaning Democrats control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature. Among states with Democratic trifectas, 55% of elections are uncontested and 45% are contested. Those rates for Republican trifectas are 64% and 36%, respectively. In states with a divided government, 56% of elections are uncontested and 44% are contested. 

Through October 2024, Ballotpedia has covered 36,068 elections in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four territories in 2024 alone. Of that total, 27,164 (75%) were uncontested and 8,904 (25%) were contested. To learn more about this analysis, click here!