Attend these southern New Mexico candidate forums before voting in 2024 general election

This article will be updated with forum dates as they become available.

Early voting in Doña Ana County begins Oct. 8 , and voters will get a first look at candidates for the 2024 general election this week.

The non-partisan League of Women Voters of Southern New Mexico is hosting two public forums for local candidates.

The first forum will be held Tuesday, Oct. 1 and the second is scheduled for Oct. 8. Both forums will be held at Las Cruces City Hall Council Chambers and begin at 5:30 p.m.

The forums are co-sponsored by the Doña Ana County chapter of the NAACP and the American Association of University Women.

The Oct. 1 forum will feature candidates for County Commissioner race in District 4 and District 5, and the 3rd Judicial District Attorney race.

District 4 Democrat incumbent Susanna Chaparro is facing Republican Stacie Durham.

District 5 Democrat incumbent Manuel Chavez is facing Republican write-in candidate Marcy Renee Teague.

According to a news release announcing the events, District 2 candidates Lorraine McCullough and Stacie Durham are not able to attend.

Fernando Macias ousted current District Attorney Gerald Byers in a Democratic primary in June. Macias faces Republican Michael Cain in the general election.

The Oct. 8 forum will feature candidates for the New Mexico state senate. There are two competitive state senate races and three competitive races for the state House of Representatives.

In addition to questions from the organizers, each forum will have short opening and closing statements.

Candidate questions and answers will be posted at Vote411.org beginning Friday, Oct. 4.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Attend these southern New Mexico candidate forums before voting in 2024 general election