Two members of LPNM have filed to run for office in Los Alamos County, giving the Liberal Party USA affiliate at least two candidates after it said this month that litigation costs had ended its chances of placing a statewide candidate on the New Mexico ballot for the 2026 cycle.
The Los Alamos Reporter reported June 26 that James Wernicke filed for county assessor, while Chris Luchini filed for a seat on the county council during New Mexico’s filing period for minor parties and independent candidates. If both candidates qualify to appear on the ballot, Wernicke is set to face Democrat Jeff Casalina in a head-to-head race, while Luchini joins a field of five Democrats and two Republicans seeking four available council seats.
Wernicke wrote in the Los Alamos Reporter that same day that he was running to focus on accurate assessments, improving access to data, and helping residents understand exemptions and other forms of property tax relief available to them. Independent Political Report was unable to locate a similar announcement from Luchini.
The party previously said that it initially intended to field a candidate for statewide office, but that its efforts were “zeroed out” as a result of litigation tied to a trademark lawsuit brought by the Libertarian National Committee. The two organizations split in 2022, though LPNM, which has since affiliated with the Liberal Party USA, continued to operate under the Libertarian Party of New Mexico name until recently.
A federal judge granted the LNC’s request for a preliminary injunction, also earlier this month, barring the New Mexico party and several named defendants, including Wernicke and Luchini, from using the “Libertarian Party” name while the case continues. In response, the party temporarily changed its name. However, the injunction has not impacted the party’s ballot status with the state, as the New Mexico Secretary of State continues to list the Libertarian Party of New Mexico as a qualified minor party.
For both candidates to qualify under the Libertarian ballot line, they had to submit at least 101 valid signatures. Under New Mexico law, that figure is based on 1 percent of the total vote cast for governor in Los Alamos County during the last gubernatorial election.
If they qualify, the two candidates may also help LPNM preserve its current qualified minor party status. State law provides that a qualified party ceases to be recognized if two successive general elections are held without at least one of its candidates appearing on the ballot. It also loses recognition if, when it fields a candidate for governor or president, that candidate receives less than 0.5 percent of the total vote cast for that office.
Despite the party’s presidential ticket of Laura Ebke and Trisha Butler failing to reach that threshold in 2024, which the state never publicly addressed, the party has continued to retain its ballot access. That presumably means having the two county candidates on the ballot would satisfy the separate candidate requirement.
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