Incumbents mostly win in contested New Mexico legislative races

New Mexico incumbents across party lines and geographic divides mostly fought off challengers in contested primary elections Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Secretary of State’s office. 

Twelve of 13 incumbents in contested primary races across the state kept their seats. Only Rep. Marian Matthews (D-Albuquerque) lost her re-election effort in the House District 27 Democratic primary, losing by a narrow margin to challenger Abby Foster. 

Voters also handily rejected three former representatives looking to reclaim their seats in the Roundhouse Tuesday night as Harry Garcia, Debbie Rodella and Ambrose Castellano all lost their Democratic bids.

Upset in House District 27, first-time candidates head to general contest

Foster credited her canvassing efforts in the upset of Matthews for Northeast Heights District 27 contest. 

“I was out knocking doors,” Foster told Source NM on Wednesday. “That’s how we won.”

Foster, a lawyer who represents adults with disabilities in guardianship proceedings, won by a 142-vote margin, according to unofficial results, with 52% of the vote in a race with nearly 4,200 ballots cast. 

The often contentious race included accusations by Foster that Matthews violated a campaign finance disclosure law.

A dark money group called New Chapter, New Mexico also escalated the tension when it took out ads supporting Matthews, along with a state of other Democrats in contested primaries. Matthews said she had no involvement with the dark money group. 

Matthews did not return a phone call Wednesday from Source NM, but wrote in a short statement on social media that “It’s been an honor to serve as your representative for the past six years,” and thanked volunteers and supporters. 

Foster will now face Republican Jahnelle Garcia in the general election, who also took 52% in the House District 27 Republican primary against Robert “Bob” Godshall, a former U.S. Border Patrol agent, prevailing with an approximate 100-vote lead from the roughly 2,200 votes cast.

HD27 was the only legislative race with  contested primaries for both parties.

House District 66 likely heads to a recount  

The three-way Republican primary for House District 66 covering parts of Eddy, Lea and Chaves counties is likely headed for a recount after candidates Dan Lewis and Leanne Gandy were separated by a one-vote margin in a race with 2,218 votes cast.

New Mexico state law requires automatic recounts if the margin between legislative candidates is 0.5%. Since the district crosses multiple county lines, the state’s canvassing board — which certifies the election results — will need to issue the order for a recount, which could be several weeks from now. 

If recount margins remain close, the election could require a runoff between the top two candidates, as neither received more than 50% of the vote. 

Gandy, a retired teacher and superintendent at Lovington Municipal Schools, told Source NM she was unsure of the timing for the recount Wednesday. 

Dan Lewis, a financial executive for the Yates oil and gas dynasty, said he was disappointed to work so hard and come up 10 votes short. He hopes the recount will somehow result in his victory, he said, and said opponent Trindad Malone acted as the spoiler. Malone and Lewis both live in Eddy County, he noted, while Gandy lives in Lea County. 

As for what happens next, “We just have to wait and see,” Lewis said. 

Nonprofit leader declares win in Las Cruces House District 37

Nonprofit leader Lori Martinez declared victory in the June 2 Democratic primary for Las Cruces-area District 37 over attorney Matilda “Tilli” Villalobos after unofficial results showed a nearly 600-vote lead in the race, with just over 3,000 votes cast. 

The two first-time candidates vied for the nomination after five-term incumbent Rep. Joanne Ferrary (D-Las Cruces) declined to seek reelection. Ferrary endorsed Martinez for the seat. 

Martinez has served as the director of Las Cruces education nonprofit Ngage New Mexico for the last nine years, which was a coalition that lobbied for paid family medical leave. 

Martinez faces Republican Isabella Solis in the Nov. 3 election. Solis is a one-time Democratic Doña Ana County commissioner who changed her party affiliation in 2019 and has run several failed bids for Las Cruces mayor.

In a statement declaring victory Tuesday evening, Martinez thanked supporters as well as Villalobos for her “willingness to jump in and serve the community.” 

Martinez said she will work to “earn the trust and support of those who are not with us yet. After countless conversations with people across the district, one thing is clear: we agree on far more than we disagree. I am committed to listening, showing up, and bringing people together to deliver for Southern New Mexico.”

Villalobos told Source NM Martinez has her “full support,” in a statement. “Even though this race did not end the way I hoped, I can look myself in the mirror knowing I ran a campaign rooted in integrity. I ran a race focused on uplifting people, and I am proud of that,” Villalobos said. 

See who won below: