Forward Party Candidates Lose All Races in New Mexico

New Mexico Forward Party candidates lost all three races they contested on Tuesday. The centrist group, which is the state’s newest minor political party, sought seats on the Public Education Commission and for magistrate judgeships in Santa Fe and Luna counties. Officials for the party said they will continue to field candidates in the next election despite the losses.

Two additional Forward Party candidates failed to appear on the general election ballot. Those candidates sought positions as U.S. Senator and state auditor. They did not gather enough signatures to qualify and lost subsequent legal challenges to gain ballot access.

Andrew Yang, a former presidential candidate, co-founded the national Forward Party in 2022 with former Republican New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman. The party’s stated principles include treating everyone with dignity and respect.

Before Election Day, the New Mexico Forward Party endorsed four candidates running for other offices. The group supported Republican James Ellison for state treasurer, incumbent Democrats Kathleen Cates and Meredith Dixon for the state House of Representatives, and independent Zachary Withers for the state House of Representatives. The Secretary of State’s Office reported that Cates and Dixon won their reelection bids.

Forward Party Chairman Bob Perls issued a statement after the results were tallied. He argued that the candidates’ presence on the ballot showed a growing desire among voters to move away from the two-party system. Perls claimed the two major parties satisfy donors and pander to voting bases rather than building broad governing coalitions.

Perls said the party will focus on fielding candidates for the state Legislature in the 2028 election cycle. He noted that half of all state representatives had no competition in the current election cycle. Perls stated that voters need choices and want candidates who think beyond the influence of the two legacy parties.