Election’s done; what about 2020?

of the state Canvassing Board, strongly implied there was something hinky with online absentee ballots issued by Toulouse Oliver’s office. (Martinez voted to approve the results despite her protest.)

But Toulouse Oliver won her re-election with nearly 58 percent of the vote.

Other possible Democratic contenders in this little game shied away from the governor’s race this cycle, but Attorney General Hector Balderas’ political ambitious have been obvious for years. He ran for U.S. Senate six years ago and lost to Martin Heinrich, but was re-elected last month by a monstrous margin. And Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller could run — though being mayor in any city often is hard to take to a higher level. Something as minor as potholes can ruin your political career.

How about the Republicans? Their bench is thinner. Outgoing Lt. Gov. John Sanchez, who sat out this year’s election, might make another stab at the U.S. Senate seat. However, the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, as I’ve pointed out in this column many times, is a lousy springboard, at least in New Mexico. Though many have tried, the last lieutenant governor in this state to go on to higher officer was U.S. Sen. Joe Montoya, who held that job when he won a U.S. House seat in 1957.

Perhaps newer Republican dark horses will emerge. Perhaps state Reps. Kelly Fajardo of Belen — who led the bipartisan effort last year to establish stronger sexual-harassment procedures for the Legislature — or Rebecca Dow, a well-liked lawmaker from Silver City. Either would be a fresh face, which is much needed in the state GOP. And nobody could accuse either of being an old white man, which could help their party’s image after the disaster of 2018.