ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Democratic U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján holds a significant lead over Republican challenger Larry Marker in New Mexico’s U.S. Senate race, according to a new Journal Poll.
The survey found 53% of likely voters support Luján, while 38% said they plan to vote for Marker. The remaining voters were either undecided or supported another option.
Luján, who was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2020 after serving six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, is seeking another term in office.
Pollster Brian Sanderoff of Research & Polling Inc. said Luján’s statewide name recognition and established political profile have helped him build an early advantage.
The poll found Luján performing especially well among:
- Democratic voters
- Independent voters
- Hispanic voters
- Women voters
Among independent voters, 56% said they plan to support Luján, compared with 25% for Marker.
Regionally, Luján held strong leads in the Albuquerque metropolitan area and north-central New Mexico, while Marker performed better in eastern and northwestern portions of the state.
The poll also highlighted the potential role national politics could play in the race. A separate survey found President Donald Trump’s job approval rating in New Mexico at 32%, while 61% of respondents said they disapproved of his job performance.
According to the poll, voters who disapprove of Trump’s performance overwhelmingly favored Luján, while those who approve of the president largely supported Marker.
The poll was conducted between Aug. 21 and Aug. 28 and surveyed 516 likely New Mexico voters. The stated margin of error is plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.
