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Maggie Toulouse Oliver

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For the British policewoman and reality TV participant, see Margaret Oliver.

Maggie Toulouse Oliver
26th Secretary of State of New Mexico
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 9, 2016
GovernorSusana Martinez
Michelle Lujan Grisham
Preceded byBrad Winter
Personal details
Born1975 or 1976 (age 48–49)[1]
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of New Mexico (BA, MA)
WebsiteGovernment website

Maggie Toulouse Oliver (born c. 1976) is an American politician from the state of New Mexico. She is the 26th Secretary of State of New Mexico and a member of the Democratic Party. Prior to serving as Secretary of State, Toulouse Oliver was the county clerk for Bernalillo County. On April 24, 2019, Toulouse Oliver declared her candidacy for the 2020 U.S. Senate election, but she later withdrew.[2][3]

Early life and career

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Oliver was born around 1976[4] in Los Angeles but is described as a "lifelong resident" of New Mexico.[5] She graduated from Highland High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1994,[6] and earned her bachelor's degree in Political Science and Spanish,[7] and her master's degree in Political Science, at the University of New Mexico.[8] She worked as the New Mexico state director for the League of Conservation Voters,[9] and as a political consultant and community organizer.[10]

Political career

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Bernalillo County Clerk

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Toulouse Oliver was appointed as the county clerk of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, by the county commission on January 2, 2007, to fill the unexpired term of Mary Herrera, who was elected New Mexico Secretary of State in November 2006.[11]

As county clerk, Toulouse Oliver created a smartphone app that provides users with information about voting, such as directions to their closest voting center, hours of operation, and information about the length of the wait in line to vote.[12] Toulouse Oliver also lead the implementation of voting centers in Bernalillo County, in an effort to reduce wait times and the need for provisional ballots.[13][14]

New Mexico Secretary of State

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Following the resignation of Dianna Duran as Secretary of State, Toulouse Oliver defeated Republican Nora Espinoza in the November 2016 special election to fill the remainder of the term.[15] She was sworn into the position on December 9, 2016.[16]

As Secretary of State, Toulouse Oliver has modernized the voter registration system in New Mexico,[17] and advocated for automatic voter registration and same-day voter registration,[18][19][20][21][22] both of which are now law in the state.[23][24] Toulouse Oliver also instituted New Mexico's first sexual harassment prevention trainings for lobbyists.[25]

She has advocated for and enacted stronger campaign finance disclosure rules,[26][27][28] bringing greater transparency to independent political spending in New Mexico.[29] Toulouse Oliver has lobbied and advocated for open primary elections[30][31] and ranked choice voting.

Toulouse Oliver founded New Mexico's Native American Voting Task Force,[32][33][34][35] which works to increase voter turnout in Native American communities in New Mexico. The task force has worked together with the League of Women Voters to create voter guides for use in native communities.[36] Toulouse Oliver also refused to turn over voter information to President Trump's Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, citing security, legal, and privacy concerns related to voters’ confidential information such as Social Security numbers, birthdates, and voting history.[37][38]

Toulouse Oliver has advocated for elections security, and has ensured that the state of New Mexico employs many election security best practices, including the use of paper ballots and post-election audits.[39] The office of the Secretary of State recently created a full-time dedicated cybersecurity staffer to “make sure [people] know that their votes are counted and their voices are heard."[40] In 2018, Toulouse Oliver testified as an expert witness before the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on elections security and cybersecurity issues.[41] In 2017, she was a founding member of the Elections Government Sector Coordinating Council, which works with the Department of Homeland Security to inform policy on elections as critical national infrastructure.[42]

Toulouse Oliver sits on the board of the New Mexico Martin Luther King Jr. Commission,[43] the Public Employees Retirement Association board,[44] and the Commission of Public Records board.[45]

In November 2024, after the presidential election, Toulouse Oliver accused state representative John Block of encouraging online harassment she had received. Block said he too had been harassed, and said, "If it gets to violent threats like you described that you got, I apologize that that is happening to you."[46]

Awards and recognition

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In 2016, Toulouse Oliver  was named one of the EMILY's List Gabrielle Giffords Award nominees.[47]

As New Mexico's Secretary of State, Toulouse Oliver was named the Treasurer and Elections Committee Co-Chair of the National Association of Secretaries of State,[48][49] and was awarded Election Administrator of the Year by FairVote,[50] both in 2018. Her office was awarded the New Mexico Family Friendly Business Award in 2017, 2018, and 2019.[51] She was awarded the Election Assistance Commission's annual “Clearie” award in February 2019 for her work to make elections more accessible to blind and visually impaired voters.[52]

In 2018, she was named as a W.K. Kellogg Foundation Leadership Network Fellow,[53] and in 2019 she was named as a Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellow at the Hunt Institute.[54]

United States Senate campaign

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Toulouse Oliver was seen as a potential 2020 candidate for the United States Senate.[55][56] After Tom Udall announced that he would not seek re-election in 2020,[57] Toulouse Oliver said she was "seriously considering" a run for the Senate seat,[58][59] and launched her campaign on April 24, 2019.[60][2] On October 29, 2019, Toulouse Oliver dropped out of the race, endorsing her former rival Ben Ray Luján, who went on to win the election.[61]

Electoral history

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Year Office Type Votes for Oliver % Opponent Party Votes %
2014[62][63] Secretary of State Primary 97,323 100
General 245,508 48.36 Dianna Duran Republican 262,117 51.64
2016
(special)[64][65] 		Primary 172,837 100
General 423,938 56.59 Nora Espinoza Republican 325,231 43.41
2018[66][67] Primary 148,545 100
General 399,134 57.76 Gavin Clarkson Republican 257,306 37.24
2022[68] Primary 120,492 100
General 384,526 54.5 Audrey Trujillo Republican 300,763 42.6

References

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  1. ^ Terrell, Steve (April 21, 2019). "Following the Money: Where New Mexico Senate Candidates May Get Funds". Associated Press. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Reichbach, Matthew (April 24, 2019). "Toulouse Oliver announces Senate run: 'We need more women in Washington'". NM Political Report. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019.
  3. ^ Reichbach, Matthew (October 29, 2019). "Toulouse Oliver ends Senate run". The NM Political Report. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  4. ^ "Following the money: Where New Mexico Senate candidates may get funds". Apnews.com. April 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  5. ^ "Meet the Secretary". www.sos.state.nm.us. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  6. ^ "Wonder Women: Maggie Toulouse Oliver and Jodie Herrera". Weekly Alibi. August 11, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  7. ^ "Secretary of State (D) — Maggie Toulouse Oliver". Albuquerque Journal. October 1, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  8. ^ "Bio: Maggie Toulouse Oliver running for re-election for New Mexico's Secretary of State 2018". KRQE. October 3, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  9. ^ "Secretary of state: Maggie Toulouse Oliver claims victory". Las Cruces Sun-News. November 8, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  10. ^ Baker, Deborah (December 9, 2016). "Toulouse Oliver sworn in as Secretary of State". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  11. ^ McKay, Dan (January 3, 2007). "Dem Named County Clerk". ABQjournal. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  12. ^ ABQ Journal News Staff (October 25, 2012). "Bernalillo County Releases Voting App". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  13. ^ "The Santa Fe New Mexican". October 1, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  14. ^ "Robis Elections". Robis Elections. 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  15. ^ Yingling, Sara (November 9, 2016). "Toulouse Oliver becomes New Mexico's Secretary of State". KRQE. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  16. ^ Lee, Morgan (December 9, 2016). "New Mexico swears in newly elected secretary of state". SFGate. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  17. ^ Ferguson, Heather (March 29, 2019). "Voter registration changes save time, money, democracy". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  18. ^ Simonich, Milan (January 18, 2017). "Democrats propose amendment calling for automatic voter registration". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  19. ^ Toulouse Oliver, Maggie (February 13, 2019). "Same-day registration boosts turnout". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  20. ^ Toulouse Oliver, Maggie (February 11, 2019). "Same-day voter registration will improve our elections". The New Mexico Political Report. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  21. ^ Clark, Carol (March 28, 2019). "SOS Maggie Toulouse Oliver Responds To Same-Day And Automated Voter Registration Bill Becoming Law". The Los Alamos Daily Post. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  22. ^ Toulouse Oliver, Maggie (November 20, 2018). "Secretary of state calls for same-day voter registration". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  23. ^ "State extends voter registration through Election Day". The Journal. March 28, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  24. ^ Oxford, Andrew (March 27, 2019). "Lujan Grisham signs same-day voter registration law". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  25. ^ Paskus, Laura (November 22, 2017). "Toulouse Oliver calls for sexual harassment training for NM lobbyists". The New Mexico Political Report. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  26. ^ "Q&A: Secretary of State candidate Maggie Toulouse Oliver". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  27. ^ McKay, Dan (March 9, 2019). "House passes campaign disclosure bill". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  28. ^ "New Mexico Secretary of State Toulouse Oliver Releases Draft Campaign Finance Rule". KRWG. June 13, 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  29. ^ Oxford, Andrew (July 25, 2017). "Toulouse Oliver revises campaign spending proposal". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  30. ^ "NM Secretary Of State Wants Legislation That May Help Expand Voter Participation". KRWG. November 21, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  31. ^ Toulouse Oliver, Maggie (June 1, 2018). "It's time for open primaries in New Mexico". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  32. ^ "N.M. Secretary Of State To Start Native American Voting Taskforce". CBS Minnesota. May 3, 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  33. ^ "Native American Voting Task Force". New Mexico Secretary of State. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  34. ^ Voges, Nick (November 29, 2017). "New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse-Oliver Convenes Native American Voting Task Force". Medium. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  35. ^ "Native Americans Fight for Power at the Ballot Box". Governing. September 27, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  36. ^ Spratto, Madison (October 23, 2018). "New Voter Guides Aim To Boost Native American Participation". KUNM. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  37. ^ Reichbach, Matthew (June 30, 2017). "NM's secretary of state won't release voter information to Trump's voter commission". The New Mexico Political Report. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  38. ^ "NMSOS Toulouse Oliver defending electoral integrity". Facebook. July 18, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  39. ^ Starks, Tim (March 11, 2019). "Why 2020 contenders need to worry about hackers now". Politico. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  40. ^ Vesoulis, Abby (March 5, 2019). "States Are Trying to Stop Election Meddling. But the Real Risk is Public Confidence". Time. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  41. ^ Boyd, Dan (July 24, 2018). "Politics Notebook: Interior secretary talks to Western AGs in New Mexico". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  42. ^ "Elections Government Sector Coordinating Council Established, Charter Adopted". U.S. Election Assistance Commission. October 14, 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  43. ^ "Commissioners". New Mexico MLK Jr. State Commission. 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  44. ^ "Board Membership". Public Employees Retirement Association of New Mexico. 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  45. ^ "Commission Members". New Mexico State Records Center and Archives Commission of Public Records. 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  46. ^ Lee, Morgan (November 12, 2024). "New Mexico secretary of state says she's experiencing harassment after the election". AP News. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  47. ^ Merod, Anna (March 11, 2016). "Six women politicians shifting the local political landscape". MSNBC. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  48. ^ "NASS Executive Board". National Association of Secretaries of State. 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  49. ^ "Q&A: Secretary of State candidate Maggie Toulouse Oliver". Albuquerque Journal. 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  50. ^ "Champions of Democracy Awardees 2018". FairVote. 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  51. ^ "2019 Award Recipients". Family Friendly New Mexico. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  52. ^ "New Mexico Secretary of State Wins National Award for New Electronic Ballot Software System". U.S. Election Assistance Commission. February 14, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  53. ^ "2019 Fellows". WKKF Community Leadership Network. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  54. ^ "Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows". The Hunt Institute. 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  55. ^ Gonzales, Nathan (March 28, 2019). "Ben Ray Luján to announce New Mexico Senate run Monday". Roll Call. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  56. ^ Wilson, Reid; Lillis, Mike; Wong, Scott (March 27, 2019). "New Mexico Dems brace for crowded race to succeed Udall". The Hill. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  57. ^ Arkin, James (March 25, 2019). "Sen. Tom Udall won't seek reelection in 2020". Politico. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  58. ^ "Maggie T. Oliver". Twitter. March 28, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  59. ^ Reichbach, Matthew (April 1, 2019). "Luján: 'I'm running to be your next United States senator'". The New Mexico Political Report. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  60. ^ Oxford, Andrew (April 10, 2019). "Toulouse Oliver planning announcement on U.S. Senate race". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  61. ^ Pardo, Annalisa (October 29, 2019). "Secretary of state quits 2020 Democratic bid for US Senate | KRQE News 13". Krqe.com. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  62. ^ "Official Results Primary June 3, 2014". Secretary of State of New Mexico. 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  63. ^ "Official Results General November 4, 2014". Secretary of State of New Mexico. 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  64. ^ "OFFICIAL RESULTS 2016 Primary - June 7, 2016". Secretary of State of New Mexico. 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  65. ^ "OFFICIAL RESULTS 2016 General - November 8, 2016". Secretary of State of New Mexico. 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  66. ^ "OFFICIAL RESULTS 2018 PRIMARY - June 5, 2018". Secretary of State of New Mexico. 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  67. ^ "OFFICIAL RESULTS 2018 GENERAL - November 6, 2018". Secretary of State of New Mexico. 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  68. ^ "2022 Primary Election Candidate Summary Results Report" (PDF). New Mexico Secretary of State.
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Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of State of New Mexico
2016–present 		Incumbent
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