Independent Redistricting Commission:
87.1% support, 5.1% oppose

Public Event to Highlight Results 5 p.m. Thursday September 26 at Juno Brewery in Downtown Albuquerque

A survey of 170 NM candidates running for state Senate and House as well as US Congress in the 2024 general election shows substantial support for democracy reform measures. The candidate survey was conducted during the summer by a coalition of four pro-democracy non-profits—Common Cause NM, Fair Districts NM, NM First and NM Open Elections. The survey questions were sent via email to 170 candidates with follow-up asking candidates to respond. Thirty-seven (37) of the 170 candidates responded to the survey questions, a 21% response rate.

Highlights of the survey will be presented Thursday evening Sept. 26 at 5pm at the Juno Brewery, 1501 1st St. NW in downtown Albuquerque.

"While this is not a scientific poll, the response rate is comparable to other candidate surveys and helpful in ascertaining the level of support for our issues and where candidates need additional information," said Mason Graham, policy director of Common Cause New Mexico, one of the participating organizations.

"We are heartened by the huge support (over 75%) for two sixty-day legislative sessions, additional lobbyist disclosure laws, open primaries, an independent redistricting commission, and the removal of a constitutional provision preventing legislative salaries," said Perry Radford, deputy director of NM Open Primaries, another participating organization.

Even if the respondents were those who were most interested in these issues, we think the results are significant for the 2024 legislative session, which will include many new faces, she said.

Among the survey's top results:

•89.8% (66.7 % support; 23.1% somewhat) said they supported amending the constitution to extend the legislative sessions to 60 days in both odd and even-numbered years.

•89.5% (76.3% support; 13.2% somewhat) said that they would support legislation that required increased disclosure of lobbying activities.

87.2% support (71.8% support ;15.4% somewhat) opening primaries to voters who decline to state and minor parties without having them change their voter registration.87.10% (61.5% support; 25.8% somewhat) support amending the constitution to allow an independent redistricting commission for the 2030-2031 election.84.7% (74.4% support; 10.3% somewhat) support amending the constitution to remove the prohibition on legislative compensation.79.6% (69.2% support; 10.4% somewhat) support legislation requiring increased financial disclosures from elected officials.56.4% (28.2% support; 28.2% somewhat) support the use of ranked-choice voting in state- level general and/or primary elections.41% (25.6% support; 15.4% somewhat support) legislation to remove the governor's call

Candidates were also asked if they needed more information on specific issues. Candidates expressed the highest degree of uncertainty (23.1%) about legislation to remove the governor's call. 20.5% were not sure about ranked-choice voting, with 18% opposed, the highest level of opposition in the survey.

For more information about the Sept. 26 event go to https://www.nmopenelections.org/democracy_open_house 

Top findings from the report are here. The full report will be released at the Sept. 26 event.