Primary Election unofficial results

Despite more than two dozen local and state candidates running in Tuesday’s primary, many races were unchallenged in the primary, leaving candidates with a clear path to the November ballot. Others have no challenger even in November, making them the presumptive winners.

Out of 11 races on Valencia County voters ballots, six of them had candidates with primary challengers. Voter turnout in Valencia County hit 21.7 percent, with 7,631 ballots cast out of 35,192 eligible voters.

Since New Mexico has closed primaries, only voters registered with a major party could participate in the primary. Statewide turnout was 22.8 percent. Of the six races with challenges, four were at the county level and two for the state Legislature.

In the races for the two Valencia County Commission seats and the county clerk and treasurer positions, only the Republicans saw primary opponents and the two legislative races were a field of Democrats.

Valencia County Commission

In Valencia County Commission District 2, incumbent Republican Troy Richardson faced James R. Dean and Samuel Esquibel. Richardson received 270 votes, Dean 137 and Esquibel took 140.

Democrat Duana Draszkiewicz, drew 411 votes.

VCC District 4 incumbent Joseph Bizzell and former Valencia County District 3 commissioner David Hyder were on the ballot for the Republicans, with Bizzell receiving 454 votes to Hyder’s 256.

Democrat Charles Eaton received 750 votes.

In VCC District 5, Republican Dante E. Berry was unopposed in the primaries and won’t face a challenger in November. He received 817 votes on Tuesday.

Valencia County Clerk

Republican Mike Milam ran for a second term as county clerk, drawing one primary challenger, Carlos E. Aragon. Milam received 2,373 votes compared to Aragon’s 1,432.

Unchallenged in the Democratic primary was Rustin Porter, who received 3,124 votes.

Valencia County Treasurer

Republican Ron Saiz, the incumbent candidate for the Valencia County treasurer seat, ran against Leyda Martinez Hahn and Danielle Marie Trujillo.

Saiz received 1,413 votes, while Hahn took 942 and Trujillo received 1,385.

The difference of votes between Saiz and Trujillo has triggered a possible recount by the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office.

Michelle Tafoya, a Democrat, received 3,221 votes.

N.M. Senate

District 30 Republican Sen. Joshua Sanchez ran for District 29 along with Democrat Tina Garcia.

Sanchez received 2,613 votes and Garcia took 2,296.

In N.M. Senate District 30, two Democrats from Cibola County went head-to-head on the primary ballot — Angel Charley and Clemente Sanchez. Charley received 1,929 votes to Sanchez’ 1,118.

In District 39, Elizabeth Stefanics, a Democrat, received 4,217 votes.

N.M. House of Representatives

Republicans Tanya Mirabal Moya and Brian Baca are running for section terms in Districts 7 and 8, respectively.

Moya received 953 votes, and Baca took 1,734.

District 49 Republican Rep. Gail Armstrong received 1,990 primary votes.

In District 69, incumbent Democrat Harry Garcia faced challengers Stanley E. Michael and Michelle Abeyta.

It looks like Garcia will lose his seat, receiving 825 votes, and the district will go to new-comer Abeyta with 1,340 votes. Michael took 196 votes.

13th Judicial District Attorney

Democrat incumbent Barbara Romo will step into her second term as district attorney for the 13th Judicial District after running unopposed in the primary and receiving 13,538 votes.

The 13th Judicial District includes Valencia, Cibola and Sandoval counties.