The Raton Range reviewed New Mexico’s political history, education results, crime data, state finances, and local Census figures.
By The Raton Range Staff
RATON, N.M. — Democrats have held most of New Mexico’s political power for nearly 90 years while the state has remained near the bottom in education, near the top in crime and heavily dependent on oil and gas revenue.
Since 1935, New Mexico has had 12 Democratic governors and six Republican governors. Democrats occupied the Governor’s Office for about 58 of those 90 years.
Their control of the Legislature was stronger. Republicans controlled the state House in 1953 and again in 2015 and 2016. Democrats regained it in 2017 and now hold 44 of 70 House seats and 26 of 42 Senate seats.
One online claim requires correction. Republicans did not control the Senate in both 1985 and 1988 through tie-breaking votes. The chamber was divided 21-21 in 1985, 1987 and 1988. Republicans held an outright 22-20 majority in 1986.
New Mexico’s education results remain among the nation’s weakest. The 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book ranked the state 49th in overall child well-being and 50th in education.
On the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress, New Mexico eighth-graders averaged 256 in mathematics, compared with 272 nationally. In reading, they averaged 245, compared with 257 nationally.
FBI-based 2024 data placed New Mexico’s violent-crime rate at about 717 offenses per 100,000 residents, nearly twice the national rate of 359. The property-crime rate was about 2,751 per 100,000, compared with about 1,760 nationally.
Those are statewide figures and should not be assigned automatically to every community.
Oil and gas remain central to the state budget. A Legislative Finance Committee analysis found direct industry revenue accounted for 19% of recurring general-fund revenue in fiscal year 2023. Including related taxes, the estimated share approached 35%.
The local numbers show why the debate matters in northern New Mexico.
Colfax County’s population fell from 13,750 in 2010 to an estimated 12,184 in 2025. Nearly 31% of residents are 65 or older, 17.9% live below the poverty line, and 48% of residents age 16 and older participate in the civilian labor force.
Raton’s population declined from 6,885 in 2010 to 6,041 in 2020. Census estimates place 25.1% of residents below the poverty line and labor-force participation at 49.1%.
National economic changes, the decline of mining and railroad employment, federal policy, geography and local decisions also shaped the region.
The record establishes long Democratic control and documented problems in education, crime, oil dependence and population decline. It does not establish that one party alone caused every outcome.
SOURCES: New Mexico Legislature; National Governors Association; Annie E. Casey Foundation; National Center for Education Statistics; FBI crime data; New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee; U.S. Census Bureau.
