New Mexico’s presidential primary is currently held in June, long after the nomination contest is effectively decided. Democratic Party of New Mexico Chair Sara Attleson released the following statement explaining why New Mexico deserves to be an early state in the Democratic presidential primary:“We submitted a bid to hold an early presidential primary because the Democratic Party is facing real national challenges — and New Mexico shows the path forward. Including New Mexico as an early nominating state would ensure that presidential candidates confront one of the nation’s most continuously consequential policy challenges early and substantively. A statute change within state law would be necessary should the DNC move up New Mexico’s presidential primary date. As New Mexico now holds semi-open primaries, declined-to-state voters would be able to vote in the Democratic presidential primary.