SANTA Fe, New Mexico: More and more voters in New Mexico don't belong to any political party. Until now, they couldn't vote in primary elections unless they joined a party.

But that will change thanks to a new law signed this week by Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Starting in 2026, these nonpartisan voters will be allowed to vote in primaries without changing their status. However, they will still be unable to vote in another party's primary.

This move goes against what many other states have done. Last year, voters in states like Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada rejected plans to open primaries or use ranked choice voting.

The new law comes just in time for the 2026 elections, when voters will choose nominees for three U.S. House seats, one U.S. Senate seat, and many state offices, including governor, as Lujan Grisham finishes her term. Elections for the state House, led by Democrats, will also take place.

Right now, 23 percent of registered voters in New Mexico are unaffiliated with a political party—up from 15 percent in 2004. Before this law, they couldn't take part in primary elections unless they registered with a party.

In some counties, unaffiliated voters even outnumber those in the major parties. For example, they outnumber Democrats in Otero and Curry counties, and Republicans in Los Alamos and Doña Ana counties.

Democrats currently hold all statewide offices and all three congressional seats in New Mexico. Former President Donald Trump has lost the state three times but narrowed the margin in 2024.

Some Republicans opposed the new law, saying it could lead to fully open primaries or ranked choice voting in the future.

Still, Governor Lujan Grisham supports the change, calling it a positive step for a state where "we seem to not be able to govern, in a way," especially after a frustrating legislative session on public safety and education.