Gubernatorial candidate switches party from Dem to independent just before election deadline

By: Danielle Prokop

Outlets: Source New Mexico

Published: February 3, 2026

Words: 537

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 2 days ago

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Former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima announced Monday he is pulling out of the New Mexico Democratic primary and will run instead as an independent in the 2026 gubernatorial election.

Miyagishima’s announcement came less than 24 hours before the deadline for candidates to submit their qualifying paperwork to the Secretary of State’s Office in order to appear on the June 2 primary ballot.

The Tuesday deadline requires the state’s major party candidates — Democratic and …

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