Your First Step Into Party Democracy: Understanding the Pre-Primary | By Daniel Alfredo Garcia, Secretary, Democratic Party of Bernalillo County | |
If this is your first time hearing about the Pre-Primary, you’re not alone. Many Democrats don’t realize that some of the most important decisions in our party happen before the June primary election. The Pre-Primary is where that work begins — and where everyday Democrats have real power.
Think of the Pre-Primary as the doorway into the Democratic Party’s decision-making process. It’s how local Democrats help decide which candidates earn a place on the Democratic primary ballot. Long before TV ads or campaign signs, this process shapes the choices voters across New Mexico will later see.
To participate, you must be a registered Democrat by January 15, 2026. Registration for the Pre-Primary opens on January 17. At that point, you choose how you want to take part.
Some people run to become delegates. Delegates represent their ward at the State Pre-Primary Convention and help decide which candidates move forward. Others participate as electors, voting at the ward level to help choose which delegates are elected. Both roles matter, and both give you a voice.
Bernalillo County holds one combined Mega Ward Meeting to make participation accessible and fair. This meeting allows people to meet one another, hear from candidates, and understand the process before voting begins. While attendance is not required, it is strongly encouraged — especially for first-time participants who want to feel confident and connected.
After the meeting, voting happens online. Ballots are sent out electronically, and voting remains open for several days to ensure everyone has time to participate.
This process may sound formal, but at its core it is simple: neighbors choosing neighbors to represent them. It is grassroots democracy, done the right way.
Key Dates to Remember
January 15, 2026 – Last day to register as a Democrat
January 17, 2026 – Pre-Primary registration opens
February 7, 2026 – Mega Ward Meeting (UNM Continuing Education)
February 7, 2026 (5:00 PM) – Registration closes
February 11–15, 2026 – Online voting period
March 7, 2026 – State Pre-Primary Convention
Your Call to Action
If you’ve ever wondered how to move from watching politics to shaping it, this is your moment. Register. Show up. Ask questions. Vote with intention. Democracy doesn’t belong to insiders — it belongs to those who step forward. The future of our party is built by people like you.
| | 13 Days In: Chaos in the White House, Clarity in Our Mission | | By Jacob Trujillo, Chair, Democratic Party of Bernalillo County | | |
Friends and fellow Democrats,
While only being 13 days into the New Year, Republicans and their Supreme Leader seem to be set on making it one of the most violent and damaging years ever. Here’s what’s going on and what our mission is:
In Venezuela, U.S. forces captured former leader Nicolás Maduro, with President Trump announcing that America will control the country’s oil sales indefinitely. He has seized tankers, urged oil executives to invest billions, and framed the operation as reclaiming assets while running the nation for an extended period. This disregard for international norms risks prolonged conflict.
President Trump has revived threats to acquire Greenland, stating “one way or another” the U.S. will take the territory to counter Russia and China, even hinting at military options against a NATO ally’s land.
At home, a tragic ICE shooting in Minneapolis killed Renee Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother, during an immigration enforcement operation. The incident has ignited protests, with state leaders disputing the federal account and demanding accountability amid the administration’s aggressive crackdown.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, issuing subpoenas and threatening indictment over his congressional testimony on a headquarters renovation. Powell calls it a pretext tied to disputes over interest rates, highlighting an unprecedented assault on the central bank’s independence that threatens economic stability.
These events show a pattern of eroding trust in democratic systems, international alliances, and independent institutions. Instability surrounds us, and confidence in our remaining safeguards is declining rapidly.
Yet we are not powerless, and we are not alone. Our greatest strength lies in community. Reach out to neighbors, share stories, listen to concerns, and build connections through conversations, block walks, or local gatherings. These bonds create the resilience needed to face national turmoil.
In New Mexico, the stakes rise in 2026. Republicans plan to spend record amounts to flip the Roundhouse and capture statewide offices, aiming to reverse our progress on affordability, health care, education, and family protections. We cannot allow it.
We must support and elect Democrats who fight for us and shield our people from harmful national policies. We have already seen what our legislature and state officials will do when our people are getting food and healthcare taken away—they stand up and fight like hell! That’s exactly why we must fight like hell for them too. We will need Dems to protect us for the next three years.
Our local leaders stand on the front lines, and your involvement matters most in keeping them there.
The Democratic Party of Bernalillo County is your hub. Watch for upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and trainings. We will announce them soon. Together, we will keep Bernalillo County blue, defend the Roundhouse, and build a stronger New Mexico.
| | We're always on the lookout for articles, podcasts, YouTube videos, and other pieces of media to help engage local Democrats. If there's something you read, watched, or listened to this week that impacted you, email us at info@bernalillodems.org with a link and a quick note about why you want to share it. | |
| | Whistles, then gunfire: How the deadly ICE shooting unfolded in Minneapolis | CNN | Renee Nicole Good's final moments were spent in her maroon Honda Pilot, her son's stuffed animals peeking out from the glove compartment. She had stopped in the middle of a tree-lined south Minneapolis street and motioned for unmarked government vehicles to drive past. | | | US border patrol agents shoot two people in Portland | Police say pair are in hospital but condition not known, as mayor urges ICE to pause operations | | | | | | DOJ probe into Powell sparks backlash from some Republicans, former Fed chairs | A bipartisan group of top economic officials called the DOJ probe into Jerome Powell an "unprecedented attempt" to undermine the Fed's independence. | | | Women now hold the majority of Albuquerque City Council seats as Peña takes presidency - City Desk ABQ | A month after nearly losing her Albuquerque City Council seat, Klarissa Peña is back at the helm. The council elected Peña president in a 5-4 vote over Joaquín Baca. The same five councilors - Peña, Dan Champine, Renée Grout, Dan Lewis and outgoing President Brook Bassan - voted to install the new leadership. | | | | | | Brewhouse Bruises; Speaker Martínez on Session - New Mexico In Focus | This week on New Mexico in Focus, we check in on newly enacted state and federal laws and spending. Nine new state laws rang in the new year, with six centered on health care. New work requirements have been placed on recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the federal food assistance program that more... | | | | |
Democrats, we encourage you to submit your events!
Events and community announcements are displayed in chronological order with no preference in a Democratic primary.
Note that as of this issue we are dividing the announcements into three sections, This Week's One-Time Events; Recurring Campaign Events; and Other Recurring Events.
Event submission deadline: Events submitted after 5 p.m. Friday will not appear in the following Tuesday's Blue Review."
Bookmark our new calendar: https://events.bernalillodems.org/
Be sure to check it for the most up-to-date information.
| | Pre-Legislative Session Town Hall | |
Grab a seat, bring your questions, and help set the agenda for the 2026 Legislative Session by joining Representative Patricia Roybal Caballero (HD-13), Senator Linda Lopez (SD-11), and Senator Harold Pope (SD-23) for our Town Hall. Come with questions, comments, and participate in these important conversations!
- What: Pre-Legislative Session Town Hall
- When: Thursday, January 15th, 2026 from 5:30pm-7:00pm
- Where: Robert F Kennedy High School, 4300 Blake Rd. SW, Albuquerque, NM 87121
For questions about this event or to request ADA accommodations, please contact Nicole Maestas no later than 1/11/2026 at: Nicole.Maestas@nmlegis.gov
| | Joint Legislative Town Hall | | |
Join Senator Heather Berghmans (SD-15) and Rep. Cristina Parajón (HD-25) for a town hall covering the upcoming legislative session.
Saturday, January 17th | 10:00 - 11:30am | Erna Fergusson Library, 3700 San Mateo Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110
| | Westside Legislative Town Hall | | |
Community members are invited to attend the Westside Legislative Town Hall, an in-person public forum featuring Albuquerque’s Westside state representatives. This event offers residents the opportunity to hear legislative updates, ask questions, and engage directly with the elected officials who represent their communities at the Roundhouse.
The town hall will take place Saturday, January 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Ladera Golf Course, located at 3401 Ladera Drive NW, Albuquerque. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m., and light refreshments will be available.
Participating legislators include Cynthia Borrego, Eleanor Chávez, Joy Garratt, Yanira Gurrola, and Charlotte Little.
This town hall is open to the public and designed to encourage thoughtful dialogue on issues impacting the Westside and the broader Albuquerque community.
Individuals needing reasonable ADA accommodations may request assistance by contacting Arcelia Isais-Gastelum at 505-946-5626 or arcelia.isais@nmlegis.gov no later than January 14.
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Canvass for Alex Piland for Mayor of Rio Rancho (OUTSIDE OF BERNALILLO COUNTY)
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Join us to canvass for Alexandria Piland and help us reach voters where it matters most — at their doors.
Rio Rancho is a neighboring city with a long history of voting red, but this election cycle presents a real opportunity for change.
No prior experience is needed. We’ll provide talking points, materials, and support — all you need to bring is your time and commitment.
Early Voting: February 3 and Election Day is March 3!
| | DPBC Office Hours Have Changed — Here’s the New Schedule | |
Join DPBC Executive Officers on a weekly zoom! We will be on to answer questions, listen to concerns, or just chat about how we can best help each other!
📅 Schedule Change: DPBC All-Office Hours are moving from Tuesdays at 6:00 PM to WEDNESDAYS at 6:00 PM. Please update your calendar and join us on our new day!
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82053434002
Meeting ID: 820 5343 4002
| | Our Community Our Voice - NE Heights Dems | | |
Every Thursday, the corner of Paseo del Norte & Ventura NE (by Trader Joe’s and Albertsons) becomes more than just pavement — it becomes the people’s pulpit. From Noon to 1 PM, voices rise, signs lift, and hearts unite under one banner: Our Community, Our Voices!
We’re not just protesting — we’re proclaiming.
We’re saying no to tyranny, no to cruelty, and YES to the enduring promise that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth.
Bring your passion, your poster, and your presence. Whether you’ve marched a thousand times or never before — this is your moment to stand tall, speak loud, and show that Albuquerque’s NE Heights has fire in its soul and love in its purpose.
Because when neighbors gather, democracy breathes again. 🌹💙
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Protesting Tesla is stopping Musk. Stopping Musk will save lives and our democracy. The stakes couldn't be higher. But no one is coming to save us.
We need you!! Join us and protest all that the Trump administration has done and continues to do to hurt people and our country.
We are out there every single Saturday protesting in front of the Tesla Dealership. The more the merrier!
The dealership is on Indian land and we do not have permission to go on the property. Instead we gather at the huge intersection of Hwys 550 and 528 across from the Tesla Showroom in Bernalillo.
You may have heard that Elon said he is “stepping back” from DOGE to get back to the business of Tesla. Don’t believe it for a minute. We can’t let up now because
- his people are still installed across the government
- he’s already done enormous damage
- he’ll continue using Tesla stock to fund assaults on democracy
- other billionaires are watching closely to see what happens
We MUST double down on protests, pull more people in, and keep up the heat. See you Saturdays!!
This event is endorsed by Rio Grande Indivisible, Albuquerque Indivisible and Sandoval Indivisible.
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