Lea County registered voters number 27,259. Figures gathered by New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver confirm that 5,421 (19.88%) of these voters, most of whom are Republicans, cast ballots in the Tuesday, June 7, Primary Election.
This information was compiled after 100% (55 out of 55) of Lea County’s precincts reported.
Governor – Statewide
For any candidate, beating incumbent Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, (Dem.), on November 8 is going to be an uphill struggle. New Mexico’s Republicans know this, and in their opinion the former television meteorologist Mark V. Ronchetti is the candidate to take on the challenge. Ronchetti received 61% of Lea County’s Republican vote and 58% of the Republican vote statewide in Tuesday’s Primary.
In his victory speech Ronchetti said, “We have a governor that has decided that she will look out for the best interests of the elites in Santa Fe instead of you.” Ronchetti received a total of 68,406 votes in the state with a total of 117,115 cast in the Republican primary election for governor. Incumbent Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham received 124,366 in her uncontested primary, over 7,000 more votes than all Republican candidates received combined. In 2018, she easily beat her Republican opponent, US Congressman Steve Pearce, by over 100,000 votes.
As a side note Libertarian Karen Bedonie won her race in Tuesday’s Primary. Her name will appear on the ballot alongside those of Lujan Grisham and Ronchetti in November.
U S House of Representatives – Districts 2 & 3
Current District 2 United States Representative Yvette Herrell, who is uncontested on the Republican side of the ballot, will oppose Gabriel Vasquez in November’s General Election. It should be noted that District 2 boundaries were recently redrawn, and the district’s redrawn boundaries may bring new dynamics into the race. Lea County Democrats, with 160 votes cast, gave Vasquez 61% of the vote in Tuesday’s Primary. Vasquez won the primary with 76% of the Democratic vote statewide.
For District 3 U S Representative Lea County voters in Tuesday’s Primary Election echoed the sentiments of Democrats and Republicans statewide. Democrat Teresa Leger Fernandez will oppose Republican Alexis Martinez Johnson in the November 8, General Election.
State House Representatives – Districts 61 and 62
Both Republican incumbents Randall T. Pettigrew (District 61) and Larry R. Scott (District 62) beat their Republican opponents by significant margins in Tuesday’s Primary. Each received over 60% of the vote. Pettigrew and Scott will run unopposed for State Representative in the November General Election.
Lea County Commissioners
In the District 2 race Bradley D. Weber received 46% of the vote, with 641 votes. Gary M. Schubert received 33% of the vote, with 453 votes, and Glenn Boswell gained 21% of the vote, with 290 votes. All three are Republicans. No Democrats appeared on the ballot as candidates for District 2 Commissioner. District 2, “…begins at Avenue D in Lovington and continues south to Joe Harvey Boulevard in Hobbs.”
The District 3 position was uncontested. Republican Gary Eidson with 100% of the vote will run unopposed in the November General Election. District 3 “…covers a majority of north Hobbs, with some sections south of Bender and south of Sanger.
Lea County Sheriff
All lights are green for Corey M. Helton to be reelected sheriff in November. Helton, a Republican, is running unopposed and received 100% of the vote (4,199 votes) in Tuesday’s Primary.
Lea County Assessor
Republican Ava Benge received 100% of the vote in the Primary with 3,846 votes. She will run unopposed in the November General Election.
Lea County Probate Judge
The honorable Ladonna K. Hardin, (Rep.), is running unopposed for the judgeship. In Tuesday’s Primary she received 100% of the vote with 3,801 votes.
A complete list of Tuesday’s Primary Election results has been published by Secretary of State Toulouse Oliver and is available online.
