1994: The Green Party of New Mexico qualified for statewide major party ballot status in November 1994.
In 1994 in New Mexico, the criteria to qualify for statewide major party ballot status was interpreted to mean receiving at least 5% in any statewide race. Statewide major party ballot status means having a state funded party primary for any contested races within the party, along with a general election ballot line for all party nominees – nominees who either won a contested primary or ran uncontested within the party.
Roberto Mondragon ran for Governor and received 10.4% and 47,080 votes, running together with Lt. Governor candidate Steven Schmidt. Lorenzo Garcia received 32.7% and 125,370 votes for State Treasurer; and Patricia Wolff received 11.7% and 53.066 votes for Public Lands Commissioner. All of these totals surpassed the 5% necessary for the New Mexico Green Party to qualify for statewide ballot status.
1996: The Green Party of New Mexico retained statewide major party ballot status in November 1996.
The criteria in New Mexico to retain statewide major party ballot status was the same as to qualify for statewide ballot status – receiving at least 5% in any statewide race.
Peggy Helgeson received 11% and 56,127 votes for Corporation Commissioner; Tom Luebben received 5.0% and 25,275 votes for State Supreme Court. Both totals surpassed the 5% necessary for the New Mexico Green Party to retain its statewide ballot status.
1998: The Green Party of New Mexico retained statewide major party ballot status in November 1998.
Richard E. Haley, Jr. received 29% and 116,333 votes for State Auditor; Sam Hitt received 16% and 66,684 votes for Public Lands Commissioner; and Damacio A. Lopez received 6% and 28,480 votes for Secretary of State. All three totals surpassed the 5% necessary for the New Mexico Green Party to retain its statewide major party ballot status.
2000: The Green Party of New Mexico lost its statewide major party ballot status in November 2000.
After the 2000 elections, the New Mexico Secretary of State reinterpreted New Mexico’s statewide ballot access law, ruling that the 5% threshold in a statewide race could be achieved only in the governors or presidential race.
Marvin Gladstone received 54,926 votes for the state Circuit Court of Appeals – equal to 10% of the presidential vote in NM. This total was not ruled to count towards the New Mexico Green ballot re-qualification effort.
Ralph Nader received 21,251 votes and 3.55% for president. His 3.55% was insufficient to reach the 5% necessary for the New Mexico Green Party to retain ballot status.
The New Mexico Green Party filed suit against the Secretary of State, challenging this interpretation (see page 11). The State Supreme Court declined/refused to hear it.
2002: The Green Party of New Mexico regained its statewide ballot status in November 2002.
David Bacon received 5.5% and 26,465 votes for Governor, running together with Lt. Governor candidate Kathy Sanchez. Their total surpassed the 5% necessary for the New Mexico Green Party to regain its statewide ballot status through the 2006 general elections.
2004: The Green Party of New Mexico technically lost its statewide major party ballot status in November 2004.
David Cobb received 1,226 votes and 0.16% of the vote for President. His 0.16% was insufficient to reach the 5% necessary for the New Mexico Green Party to retain ballot status.
However the New Mexico Secretary of State’s office mistakenly left the Green Party on the ballot for the 2006 elections with the same statewide major party ballot status.
2008: The Green Party of New Mexico failed to qualify for statewide ballot status in November 2008.
Green Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney received 1,552 votes for President. Her total was insufficient to reach the 5% necessary for the New Mexico Green Party to gain statewide major party ballot status.
However New Mexico state law also provides for statewide minor party ballot status for parties that receive at least 0.5% in any statewide race. Statewide minor party ballot status entitles the party to a general election ballot line for its nominees, but does not provide for a state funded party primary for any contested races within the party.