Latest news with #AmandaLópezAskin
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark enters NM secretary of state race
May 30—SANTA FE — The open race to pick New Mexico's next top elections official will feature a Democratic primary showdown involving at least two county clerks. Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark recently announced her campaign for secretary of state, ending weeks of speculation. She joins Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin, who became the first candidate in the race when she announced her candidacy last month. In announcing her campaign, Clark cited her trip to Washington, D.C., earlier this year to advocate for the restoration of election security programs as part of the National Association of Counties Board of Directors. She said in a Friday interview she would push to expand voter education programs in high schools if successful in next year's election cycle, while also vowing to continue the work of outgoing Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver. "We want to make sure elections are protected," Clark told the Journal. Clark was first elected as Santa Fe County clerk in November 2020, and then won reelection to a second four-year term in 2024. Before that, she worked on political campaigns, including as a campaign manager, an experience she said gave her unique perspective about how elections are run. "The election administration should never be the reason a candidate wins or loses," Clark said. "Voters should decide whether a candidate wins or loses." She recently launched a TV ad campaign — in her role as county clerk — touting the ease of "pajama voting" for New Mexicans who request permanent absentee voter status. But she said the TV ads were launched before she announced her campaign, and not intended as a way to boost her political profile. Clark also said she believes she's the "best candidate" in the race, citing Santa Fe County's high voter turnout rate in recent election cycles, including a turnout of 75.1% of registered voters in last year's general election. Next year's secretary of state race will not feature an incumbent, as Toulouse Oliver is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term in office. Toulouse Oliver, a Democrat, has served as secretary of state for eight-plus years. She was first elected to the office in 2016, following former Secretary of State Dianna Duran's resignation after being charged with using campaign funds to fuel a gambling habit. All New Mexico statewide offices will be on the ballot next year, including governor, attorney general and secretary of state. A Democrat has held the Secretary of State's Office for all but a few years in modern New Mexico history. When she won election in 2016, Duran became the first Republican elected to the office since 1929. After she resigned, fellow Republican Brad Winter served as secretary of state for one year after being appointed to the post by then-Gov. Susana Martinez.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark enters NM secretary of state race
May 30—SANTA FE — The open race to pick New Mexico's next top elections official will feature a Democratic primary showdown involving at least two county clerks. Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark recently announced her campaign for secretary of state, ending weeks of speculation. She joins Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin, who became the first candidate in the race when she announced her candidacy last month. In announcing her campaign, Clark cited her trip to Washington, D.C., earlier this year to advocate for the restoration of election security programs as part of the National Association of Counties Board of Directors. She said in a Friday interview she would push to expand voter education programs in high schools if successful in next year's election cycle, while also vowing to continue the work of outgoing Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver. "We want to make sure elections are protected," Clark told the Journal. Clark was first elected as Santa Fe County clerk in November 2020, and then won reelection to a second four-year term in 2024. Before that, she worked on political campaigns, including as a campaign manager, an experience she said gave her unique perspective about how elections are run. "The election administration should never be the reason a candidate wins or loses," Clark said. "Voters should decide whether a candidate wins or loses." She recently launched a TV ad campaign — in her role as county clerk — touting the ease of "pajama voting" for New Mexicans who request permanent absentee voter status. But she said the TV ads were launched before she announced her campaign, and not intended as a way to boost her political profile. Clark also said she believes she's the "best candidate" in the race, citing Santa Fe County's high voter turnout rate in recent election cycles, including a turnout of 75.1% of registered voters in last year's general election. Next year's secretary of state race will not feature an incumbent, as Toulouse Oliver is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term in office. Toulouse Oliver, a Democrat, has served as secretary of state for eight-plus years. She was first elected to the office in 2016, following former Secretary of State Dianna Duran's resignation after being charged with using campaign funds to fuel a gambling habit. All New Mexico statewide offices will be on the ballot next year, including governor, attorney general and secretary of state. A Democrat has held the Secretary of State's Office for all but a few years in modern New Mexico history. When she won election in 2016, Duran became the first Republican elected to the office since 1929. After she resigned, fellow Republican Brad Winter served as secretary of state for one year after being appointed to the post by then-Gov. Susana Martinez.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark announces bid for secretary of state
Fresh off winning a second term in an uncontested race, Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark is setting her sights on a more high-profile post: New Mexico secretary of state. Clark declared her candidacy this week, making her the second Democrat to announce plans to run for a post that is second in the line of succession to the governor, after the lieutenant governor. Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin announced her candidacy last month. Like López Askin, Clark said she plans to stay on as county clerk as she campaigns to be New Mexico's top election officer. They are vying to succeed Maggie Toulouse Oliver, who is in her second and final term. So far, no Republicans have publicly announced they are entering the race. Clark, who said she is motived to run for the office to help protect voting rights in the face of election security funding cuts and other nthreats from the Trump administration, called herself the best candidate for the job and touted her accomplishments in the Santa Fe County Clerk's Office, national awards and "robust policy background." "I have completely overhauled this office, modernized it and won national recognition for all of my innovation," Clark, 43, said in a telephone interview Thursday, adding she has "loved being an election official at the county level." "But given the fact that there are voting rights being rolled back all over the country," she said, "I want to make sure that the strongest, most qualified candidate is holding this position." Clark, who holds dual bachelor's degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, in cognitive neuroscience and moral psychology, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of New Mexico, said she has had "several cycles of fairly flawless elections." "We have proven a very pro-voter attitude, which is we have a lot of innovations we would like to take statewide," she said. "We have the highest turnout of large counties in the state, which means that that's a very essential metric for how well you are building trust and interest in your electorate." Clark said the County Clerk's Office has won several national awards during her tenure. "I believe that I am the person because I have national connections, as well as a very robust policy background, that can do the best job of protecting the vote and making sure that everyone in New Mexico knows that their vote will count, and they can trust their elections," she said. While Clark submitted candidate committee registration paperwork to the Secretary of State's Office earlier this month and granted at least one news media interview about her intention run to become New Mexico's top election official, she made it Facebook official Wednesday. The news was shared later that evening at a Drag Bingo fundraiser for the Santa Fe Human Rights Alliance, where Clark is a member of the board. "If she is elected, and she will be, she will be the first [out] queer person in a major position in New Mexico government," Kevin Bowen, the organization's executive director, said to loud cheers and applause. Clark, who identifies as being "bisexual, pansexual," said being queer isn't necessarily a major part of her platform. "It's just who I am ... just like being a millennial," she said. Clark asked people in the crowd how many are registered to vote. "At this time, we have an administration in Washington that is trying to erase us," she said, referring to the administration of President Donald Trump — whose push to purge diversity, equity and inclusion content includes Department of Defense references to the Enola Gay aircraft that dropped an atomic bomb on Japan during World War II, and other files, simply because they contained the word "gay." Clark also pointed to a sweeping executive from Trump that would, among other provisions, require would-be voters to show a passport or similar document proving citizenship when registering to vote. "This is an administration that is determined to make sure that your voice cannot be heard," she said. "Can I get a commitment from all of you that you're going to make sure that you vote in every election?" In an interview, Clark said she serves on the executive committee of the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center, which provides strategic guidance to support the cybersecurity needs of election offices throughout the nation. "Our funding was cut [entirely] on Valentine's Day, and so what we're seeing is that elections are in danger under this administration," she said. "That was highly motivating to run for office to ensure that we're protecting the voters here in New Mexico."
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Doña Ana County clerk to run for NM secretary of state
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin is making a bid for statewide office. López Askin launched her campaign for New Mexico's secretary of state job last week. Next year's election for secretary of state will not feature an incumbent. Current officeholder Maggie Toulouse Oliver, a Democrat, is term limited out and cannot seek a third term. López Askin said she was running to provide 'proven leadership' in the Secretary of State's Office 'to keep elections safe and help small businesses succeed.' López Askin is a Democrat who was appointed Doña Ana County clerk by Republican Gov. Susana Martinez in 2018. She was elected to full terms in 2020 and 2024. 'I am running for secretary of state because it's never been more important to protect New Mexicans' right to vote,' López Askin said. 'With our elections under assault across the country, it's important we have a secretary of state who's ready to stand up to election deniers and extremists.' López Askin, in her second term as county clerk for New Mexico's second-largest county, has a record of fighting for secure elections, her campaign said in its announcement press release. 'In 2020, when our elections were under attack, López Askin persevered, combating misinformation and pushing back on election deniers. She even partnered with law enforcement to keep election workers safe and voting running smoothly,' the announcement said. Her campaign also said that in her seven years as Doña Ana County clerk, López Askin 'has helped new businesses cut through government bureaucracy so business owners can focus on the work they are passionate about,' the press release said. 'In this time of economic uncertainty, we need to make sure that New Mexico's small businesses can compete and thrive,' López Askin said. 'As secretary of state, I will provide certainty and stability for New Mexico businesses.' Here is what the rest of her announcement said: 'López Askin is a proud public servant with deep roots in New Mexico. She was raised in Las Cruces by a proud, hard-working single mom who relied on support programs to provide a stable life for her children. With the support of her community, hard work and determination, López Askin became a family and mental health therapist and dedicated herself to helping kids in foster care. 'When the opportunity came to serve Dona Aña County as county clerk, she leapt at the chance to continue serving the community that has given her so much. As county clerk, López Askin worked with Democrats and Republicans to ensure the integrity of our elections. 'As secretary of state, Amanda will bring her lived and professional experience to serve all New Mexicans by making sure our elections remain safe, secure, and fair, providing transparency in campaign finance, and supporting New Mexico's businesses.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The race to succeed New Mexico's outgoing secretary of state is underway
Apr. 16—SANTA FE — The contest to determine New Mexico's next top elections official is starting to come into focus. Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin this week announced her 2026 campaign for secretary of state, becoming the first candidate in the race. But the Democrat might face primary election competition, as Santa Fe County Clerk Katherine Clark said she's also considering running for the office. Next year's secretary of state race will not feature an incumbent, as current officeholder Maggie Toulouse Oliver is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term in office. Toulouse Oliver, a Democrat, has served as secretary of state for eight-plus years. She was first elected to the office in 2016, following former Secretary of State Dianna Duran's resignation after being charged with using campaign funds to fuel a gambling habit. López Askin, a Las Cruces native, presented herself in an interview as a "battle-tested" candidate for the state's top elections officer, citing her experience overseeing contentious elections as well as voting during the COVID-19 pandemic, confronting misinformation about how votes are processed and defending election workers from intimidation and threats. "I have been on the front lines of literally defending our elections," she said. "It has never been more important to have somebody in the secretary of state's role that is willing to fight for the right to vote, for access to the ballot box." She was new to elections in 2018 when Doña Ana County's Board of Commissioners appointed her to complete the term of her predecessor, Democrat Scott Krahling, after he resigned. She took office five days before early voting began in an election cycle that included a widely scrutinized contest in New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District, where an unprecedented volume of absentee ballots upset what had appeared to be an election night victory for Republican Yvette Herrell, only for Democrat Xochitl Torres Small to win the seat. The unusual circumstances gave rise to rumors, conspiracy theories and threats. Herrell impounded and audited the ballots, claiming that fraud had cost her the election, although she never contested the outcome in court. López Askin said the experience, two years before the 2020 presidential election brought similar pressures to election workers nationwide, taught her the value of transparency, engaging with news media and the public to confront false information and encourage participation. "I fell in love with elections," she said, as she cited New Mexico's recent top ranking in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's state-by-state assessment of elections administration. "I continue to be amazed and impressed by how we run elections in New Mexico. I want to continue with that and I want to continue the top ranking we have." López Askin was elected to her own term as county clerk in 2020 and re-elected last November. She is barred from seeking a third term in 2028 and has said she would continue to serve in office while running for secretary of state. All New Mexico statewide offices will be on the ballot next year, including governor, attorney general and secretary of state. Duran is the only Republican who has been elected secretary of state in New Mexico going back to 1929, though Republican Brad Winter was secretary of state for one year after being appointed to the post by then-Gov. Susana Martinez following Duran's resignation.
