This article has been updated.
It was just over 13 months ago, on Oct. 3, 2007, that the Washington Post broke the news that Pete Domenici would retire this year after 36 years in the U.S. Senate. Thus began the wildest political roller coaster ride in the state’s history
At that point, the energy surrounding the presidential race already promised to make this a historic year. But Domenici’s retirement led to four of five seats in the New Mexico delegation opening up, and it turned a small swing state into ground zero for the 2008 election.
Doña Ana County appears to be ground zero in New Mexico. Gov. Bill Richardson put it best recently when he said, “Southern New Mexico, with Las Cruces as its center, now becomes the battleground and a must-win for John McCain. If he ties or loses narrowly there, the race is over and Obama wins the state.”
Think about it. If you’re in New Mexico, you’re in one of a handful of states that has received the most visits from presidential candidates this year. I’ve covered many of them, and there are links to those articles at the top of the left column on this site.
And if you live in southern New Mexico, and Doña Ana County in particular, you’re in the primary battleground in the presidential race in the state. McCain has to win big in southern New Mexico to have a shot at winning New Mexico, and he’s focused much of his time here.
It’s not just the presidential race that makes southern New Mexico unique. Sure, there’s the hotly contested 1st Congressional District race in the Albuquerque area, but that race is always hot. What’s unique in New Mexico this year is that there’s a second race — the battle for southern New Mexico’s 2nd District — that is just as hot. The seat hasn’t been won by a Democrat in 28 years, and that may change tonight. If it does, the loss of this seat will come to epitomize the beating the GOP is expected to take today.
But there’s even more. In Las Cruces, we have a hot state Senate contest that could shift the balance of power and lead to a change in leadership in that chamber. Considering that the Senate has been the only real check on the governor’s power in recent years, that could change everything in Santa Fe.
I think most of you understand what’s at stake. Last night, the Secretary of State’s Office released the most recent early and absentee voting numbers, and they’re staggering. Almost 42 percent of New Mexico’s registered voters have already voted and made sure their voices are heard in this historic election. That’s absolutely fantastic.
I’ve already written about the change I believe is coming regardless of who wins today, because so many of us are standing up and speaking out. But we’re not quite there yet. How high can voter turnout get in this election? 70 percent? 80 percent? 90 percent?
Let’s set a record. Let’s make sure the mandate we hand to Washington and Santa Fe today is one of change.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Click here to find your polling place.
If you’re in Doña Ana County and you have problems, call the Bureau of Elections at (575) 647-7428. Statewide, you can call the Secretary of State’s Office at (505) 827-3600 or (800) 477-3632. You can also call the non-partisan group Election Protection at (866) OUR-VOTE or in Spanish at (888) VE-Y-VOTA.
You’re going to have to wait in line today. You’d better get going.
Update, 6:35 a.m.
I almost forgot: Check back here throughout the day and tonight for election news. I’ll be updating this site with results from the various races throughout the evening and, if necessary, all night long.
Update, 8:10 a.m.
Have a story about voting — positive, negative or otherwise — that you want to share? E-mail me at heath@haussamen.com. You can also send photos of lines at polling places or other election-related subjects, and I might publish them.
