New Mexico Senate
Ben Ray Luján (D) holds this seat and is running again. 2 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026. The Cook Political Report rates it safe Democratic.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
Ben Ray Luján
Democrat · holds this seat today
FLiberty Score FOn the liberty side in 27 of 84 votes and bills.
Raised $6,460,522 since January 2025: 52% from people, 32% from PACs and other committees, 16% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Larry Marker
Republican · roswell oil and gas businessman, republican nominee
ALiberty Score A100 out of 100 across 5 principles. Graded on what Marker has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Marker.
Raised $99,230 since January 2025: 95% from people, 5% from the party. The filing at FEC.gov
Higher on Liberty Score: Larry Marker. Larry Marker: A, 100 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count. Ben Ray Luján: F, 33 out of 100 from recorded votes.
Voting in New Mexico: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Larry Marker, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Marker, so the grade above comes from this list: what Marker has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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He said he supports decisive action to stop the Islamic Republic's nuclear ambitions and wants a military and diplomatic end to the conflict.
“I support decisive action to neutralize the Iranians regime nuclear ambitions and protect American and allied lives.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing action against the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme is a with line on the Iran regime measure.
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Said the United States should have dealt with Iran 30 years ago and that he would be pushing the envelope himself on Iran.
“Iran is an issue we should have taken care of 30 years ago.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing action against the Tehran regime is the with side of the Iran regime measure.
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On the iVoterGuide questionnaire he answered yes when asked whether the United States' relationship with Israel is important, and called it the most stable and strongest ally in the Middle East.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Treating Israel as an ally is with liberty on free nations.
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Asked on the iVoterGuide questionnaire which foreign policy view matches his, he wrote that staying out of foreign conflicts is not possible for the United States.
“staying out of foreign conflicts is not possible as the leader of the free world”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Rejecting a stay-out-of-foreign-conflicts position is with liberty on free nations, which rejects isolationism.
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He said he would cut red tape for small businesses and unleash the energy sector.
“We need to unleash our energy sector, cut red tape for small businesses and attract private investment so our economy stands on its own instead of whims of Washington DC.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Cutting regulation on small business is a with line on the free markets test.
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He said he supports using tariffs strategically and not as a blanket tax on consumers.
“I support using tariffs strategically to protect American workers, farmers and industries from unfair foreign competition.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Targeted tariffs framed as opposed to a blanket tax do not match the broad-tariff rule, so the words do not settle the measure.
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On the iVoterGuide questionnaire he marked strongly agree that biological males should not take part in women's sports or use women's bathrooms, locker rooms, shelters or prisons.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Keeping women's sport and women's spaces female is with liberty on equal rights.
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Said he is proud of what the Trump administration has done on the border and wants legal immigration only.
“I'm really proud of what President Trump and Tom Homan have done with the border. They shut the border down.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Praising a closed border and enforcement is with liberty on borders.
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. Race rating: the Cook Political Report, November 2, 2026. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
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New Mexico Senate
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