A man who says he’s running for New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District seat next year is suing the secretary of state in an attempt to void laws that make it more difficult for minor-party candidates to get on the ballot.
That candidate, Alan Woodruff, is joined in the lawsuit by the state Green and Libertarian parties. Woodruff said in a news release that the court action “isn’t just about getting on the ballot. It’s about the more fundamental principle that the voters are entitled to choices. Those choices should not be limited to candidates chosen by the two parties that have maintained a stranglehold on American politics for 100 years.”
Woodruff said the lawsuit would simplify access to the general election ballot for minor-party candidates. According to The Associated Press, the state “no longer recognizes the Green and Libertarian parties as qualified political parties because none of their candidates received enough votes in recent elections. The parties must submit signature petitions to requalify, which is part of a process needed for their candidates to get on the ballot. The lawsuit challenges those provisions.”
Woodruff, who is an attorney, plans to run against Democrat Martin Heinrich next year as a Libertarian Party candidate.
In his news release, Woodruff was joined in expressing frustration with the state’s ballot-access laws by officials from the minor parties that are also part of the lawsuit.
“New Mexico is not alone in its efforts to limit the rights of voters, but its election code contains considerable obstacles that aren’t present in most other states,” said Ken Cavanaugh, chair of the Libertarian Party of New Mexico. “These obstacles are obviously intended to maintain the control of government by parties that are more concerned with their political agendas that with what the people want, need and deserve for a truly representative government.”
“It’s time for the people of New Mexico to demand that their voices — all of their voices — be heard,” said Michal Mudd, co-chair of the Green Party of New Mexico. “That won’t happen until the Legislature opens the ballot to all the parties and let the voters, instead of the established parties, decide.”
Woodruff identifies himself on his campaign Web site as a “pragmatic social liberal and a fiscal conservative,” and writes that he wants “responsible government — no matter what its size.” He says he’s running because he’s fed up with “politics as usual” and believes government should be run like a business.
A prior version of this posting incorrectly stated that Woodruff plans to run as a Green Party candidate.