1994: The
Green Party of New Mexico qualified for
statewide ballot status in November 1994.
In 1994 in New Mexico, the criteria to qualify for statewide ballot status
was interpreted to mean receiving at least 5% in any statewide race.
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
ballot status in November 1996.
The criteria in New Mexico to retain statewide 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
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
ballot status.
2000: The
Green Party of New Mexico lost its
statewide ballot status in November 1998.
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 requalification 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, challening
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 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.