New Mexican voters pick new blood to represent them in Santa Fe

The Roundhouse in Santa Fe pictured Jan. 24, 2024. (Photo by Patrick Lohmann / Source NM)

Several races from Tuesday’s Primary Election needed an additional day to wrap up.

The House and Senate districts below are some of the districts that will have new representatives serving the areas in the Roundhouse starting in 2025.

O’Malley will be the next District 13 senator

By night’s end on Tuesday, incumbent three-term Sen. Bill O’Neill (D-Albuquerque) was trailing against challenger Debbie O’Malley, a Bernalillo County commissioner, in the Democratic primary.

The Associated Press confirmed O’Malley’s victory at 2:50 p.m. on Wednesday. She won with 2,300 votes to O’Neill’s 2,127.

There were no Republican primary candidates for the seat.

Senate District 13 includes Barelas, and parts of downtown Albuquerque, the North Valley and Montaño.

Boone to replace Nibert for Southern NM Senate seat

Sen. Greg Nibert (R-Roswell) conceded to Patrick Boone in the Republican primary to represent Senate District 27 in Southeastern New Mexico.

As of 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nibert trailed Boone by 101 votes, according to the Associated Press , which still had not called the race. Third candidate Larry Marker received 15.4%.

The last update from the Secretary of State shows Boone ahead with 2,442 votes to Nibert’s 2,341. Marker has 870 votes.

Wednesday Nibert conceded the race in an announcement to his supporters, “ I believe that the fight to take back New Mexico from the forces of liberal progressivism is just getting started. We need to unite in the fight for our state. I pledge my support to Make America Great Again and get New Mexico back to honoring traditional family values.”

No democratic candidates ran for election in this primary race, meaning whoever comes on top will appear unopposed on the ballot in the November general election and be sworn into office in January 2025.

The district encompasses parts of Chaves, Curry, De Baca, Lea and Roosevelt counties

New senator set for seat vacated by Cliff Pirtle

Southeast New Mexico will have a new state senator representing constituents starting in 2025. Roswell Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell beat Chad Hamill, of Hagerman, in the Republican primary election race for Senate District 32.

Current officeholder, Sen. Cliff Pirtle (R-Roswell), did not run for reelection. Pirtle has held the legislative seat since 2013.

Senate District 32 encompasses portions of Chaves, Eddy and Otero counties. No opponents ran on the Democratic side of this race. Ezzell will run unopposed in the November general election.

Rep. Willie Madrid loses primary

Democratic candidate Jon Hill won the primary election for House District 53 with 635 votes over incumbent Rep. Willie Madrid's 455 votes.

The Associated Press called the race at 12:08 p.m. on Wednesday.

House District 53 covers portions of Doña Ana and Otero counties, including parts of Las Cruces’ east mesa.

Republican candidate Elizabeth Winterrowd ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Winterrowd and Hill will likely appear as opponents on the ballot for the November general election.

Cortez takes tight Republican race for House District 62 seat

In the waning hours of Tuesday night, Republican candidate Elaine Cortez had earned 40.4% of the votes in the House District 62 primary election, leading opponents Debra Hicks and D’Nae Robinett Mills.

The Associated Press called the race for Cortez at 2:11 p.m. on Wednesday.

Cortez won with 40.4% of the vote, while Hicks had 38.6% and Robinett Mills had 21%.

Since no Democrats ran in this primary election, Cortez will run unopposed in November.

Incumbent Rep. Larry Scott (R-Hobbs) did not run for reelection in the House, opting instead to seek a state Senate seat. He has held the House seat since 2015.

House District 62 encompasses parts of Lea County north of Hobbs up to the eastern border with Texas.

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