Incumbent Governor Bill Richardson (D) was term-limited and thus cannot run to a third consecutive term. The primaries were won by the Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish in the Democratic side and by the district attorney Susana Martinez in the Republican side.[3]
Incumbent Secretary of State Mary Herrera (D) ran for a second term in office, but was defeated by the Republican Dianna Duran.[1]
In March of 2010, New Mexico Attorney GeneralGary King began an investigation into allegations that Herrera solicited donations from organizations that had contracts with the Secretary of State's office and ordered employees to gather signatures for her re-election campaign.[5] Herrera denied the allegations, but the scandals surrounding her contributed to her defeat. [6]
Incumbent Land Commissioner Patrick H. Lyons (D) was term-limited and thus could not run to a third consecutive term. He was succeeded by the former Land Commissioner Ray Powell.[4]