Filing day for primary is next week

It’s time for a potential changing of the guard in local elected offices.

Next Tuesday, March 10, is filing day for candidates wishing to run for county and statewide offices, but they’ll have to make it through the June 2 primary first.

Since it’s an even-numbered year, the partisan races will be on the ballot, including Valencia County sheriff, two Valencia County commission seats, Valencia County assessor and probate judge, as well as all three Valencia County magistrate judge divisions and New Mexico state representatives.

Candidates actually have two opportunties to file to run in the primary — from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, as a regular candidate or during the same time period on Tuesday, March 17, as a write-in candidate.

Filing takes place both days at the Valencia County Clerk’s office, 444 Luna, Ave., Los Lunas.

Valencia County Sheriff

Current Sheriff Denise Vigil, a Republican, cannot run again as the seat is limited to two consecutive terms, leaving the field wide open.

Valencia County Commission

In District 1 Republican Gerard Saiz currently holds the seat and is also not eligible to run again, since he is finishing his second consecutive term.

The current commissioner for District 3, Republican Morris R. Sparkman, is in his first term.

Valencia County Assessor

Republican Celia Dawn Dittmaier is the current Valencia County Assessor and is in her first term.

Valencia County Probate Judge

Republican Wendy Wallace is the current probate judge, finishing up her first term in office.

Valencia County Magistrate Judges

All three divisions are currently held by Republicans — Miles Tafoya in Division I, John Chavez in Division II and Desire Sichler in Division III. Sichler has publicly announced she is not seeking re-election.

New Mexico State Representatives

Three of the four state representatives that represent Valencia County in whole or in part are Republicans — Tanya Mirabal Moya, District 7; Brian Baca, District 8; and Gail Armstrong, District 49.

The District 69 seat is held by Michelle Paulene Abeyta, a Democrat.

Candidates declaring for magistrate judge and state representative must gather signatures on nominating petitions to present on filing day.

The number of signatures required are calculated from the total votes cast for all the party’s candidates for governor at the last preceding primary election at which the party’s candidate for governor was nominated.

According to the New Mexico Secretary of State’s 2026 primary election candidate nominating petition requirements, state representatives need 3 percent, which in District 7 is 33 qualifying signatures for Democrats and 35 for Republicans; in District 8 it’s 39 for Democrats and 79 for Republicans; 44 for Democrats and 102 for Republicans in District 49 and in District 69, candidates need 46 qualifying signatures if they’re a Democrat and 22 for Republicans.

For Valencia County magistrate judges, all divisions need 2 percent or 62 signatures for Democrats and 105 for Republicans.

County level candidates do not need signatures unless candidates want to have the $50 filing fee waived. County commission candidates need 10 signatures from their district to waive the fee and those seeking a countywide office — assessor, sheriff and probate judge — need to gather 20 signatures.