Democratic US senators considering presidential runs rally party faithful at New Mexico matanza

Hundreds of enthusiastic Democrats gathered at Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque on Saturday to hear from two United States senators who are considering runs for president, marking New Mexico’s first step into the 2028 Democratic presidential primary as a newly crowned early primary state. 

The Democratic National Committee in August moved New Mexico’s Democratic presidential primary to Feb. 15, 2028, making it the fourth primary to be held in the country. Previous New Mexico primaries took place in June, often well after the party’s nominee had emerged.

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) convened the inaugural “4th in the Nation Matanza,” which served as both a political rally with just over a week until the Nov. 3 general election and an informal kickoff to a long presidential campaign. 

Between performances by local mariachi bands and other performers, U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), who both have said they are considering runs for president, gave stump speeches laying out the stakes of the upcoming mid-term elections and recounting their own high-profile fights with President Donald Trump.

“People from all over the country now have a chance to see the beauty and everything that New Mexico has to offer,” Van Hollen told attendees Saturday. “And you, the people of New Mexico, will have a really key role in shaping the future direction of the Democratic Party, and you’ll have an essential role in selecting the next president of the United States of America.”

Van Hollen, a U.S. senator since 2017, told Source NM after his speech that he visited New Mexico to help campaign for Luján, who is running for reelection against Republican opponent Larry Marker, and to listen to New Mexicans while he “kicks the tires” on 2028.

“There’s no better way to kick the tires than talk to people in New Mexico, give them my vision of where the Democratic Party needs to go, but also get input and feedback from them,” he said. 

Both Kelly and Van Hollen, in interviews after their speeches, said they are embracing New Mexico’s new prominence in the presidential race. They cited the state’s high population of Native American, Hispanic and rural voters, as well as its proximity to the U.S. Mexico-border as reasons the state should be more prominent in the campaign.

NM governor, Democratic leaders make case to national party for earlier 2028 presidential primary

“I think it’s significant not only for New Mexico but for the West,” Kelly said. “I think it means that the Democratic Party is prioritizing, you know, what happens out here.”

Kelly, in his speech, criticized the Trump administration for rising prices, healthcare cuts and the ongoing war in Iran and urged New Mexico Democrats to head to the polls.

“I’ve been traveling all over the country campaigning for Democrats in some of the most competitive races because so much is on the line for families here in New Mexico and across our nation,” Kelly said. “Everything, everything comes down to the work we do between now and election day.”

Kelly was joined on stage by his wife, former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.), who has advocated for an end to gun violence since she was severely injured in an assassination attempt in 2010. Giffords described her difficult recovery from the gunshot wound that nearly killed her. 

“Words once came easily to say I struggle to speak, but I’ve not lost my voice,” she said. “America needs all of us to speak out, even when you have to fight to find the words.”

Van Hollen and Kelly are just the latest potential Democratic presidential candidates visiting New Mexico in recent weeks. Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg campaigned for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland and incumbent U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) in Las Cruces in September. 

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) joined Haaland on Oct. 19 to tout the state’s universal childcare program. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker visited the state and filmed a campaign video endorsing Haaland, and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is slated to join Haaland for a healthcare event Tuesday in Española. 

In her speech Saturday, U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) celebrated the visits of the high-profile Democrats and predicted that more are on their way. 

“Every single Democrat who wants to run for president has to come to New Mexico. It means they have to talk to you,” she said, pointing to the crowd. “It means they have to look you in the eye and ask you what you care about, your hopes, your dreams, your vision for the future of this country.”

Courtesy of Source New Mexico