Good evening, Meadow City. This is the written companion to our 2026 Election Explainer broadcast, where we break down the entire November 3 ballot for the voters of Las Vegas and San Miguel County.
Early voting began October 6. Using the official New Mexico Voter Guide, the ballot runs from the highest federal seats down to our local magistrates. We cover it in five sections: federal offices, statewide executive offices, legislative and judicial races, San Miguel County offices, and constitutional amendments and bonds.
Where to vote early
Most in-person early voting is at the San Miguel County Courthouse Annex on West National Avenue in Las Vegas. For rural neighbors, there is also an alternate site at the Ribera Community Cultural Center.
Federal offices
- U.S. Senate: incumbent Democrat Ben Ray Lujan faces Republican challenger Larry E. Marker.
- Third Congressional District, which covers all of San Miguel County: incumbent Democrat Teresa Leger Fernandez faces Republican nominee Martin Rubin Zamora.
Statewide executive offices
- Governor and Lieutenant Governor: the Democratic ticket of Deb Haaland and Stephanie Garcia-Richard against Republicans Gregory D. Hull and David M. Gallegos.
- Secretary of State: Democrat Amanda Lopez-Askin against Republican Ramona L. Goolsby.
- Attorney General: Democrat Raul Torres against Republican Samuel Isaiah Cain Sr.
- State Auditor: Democrat Joseph M. Maestas against Republican Joshua James Ryan Lawrence.
- State Treasurer: Democrat Laura Montoya against Republican James F. Ellison.
- Commissioner of Public Lands: Democrat Juan De Jesus Sanchez III against Republican Michael Jack Perry.
Legislative races
- State House District 40: Democratic candidate Nancy J. Wright.
- State House District 70: the Democratic field features Anita Amalia Gonzalez and Ambrose M. Castellano.
Judicial retention
The court races work differently. They are not partisan contests. You vote yes or no on whether to keep each judge in their seat. This year you will decide on:
- Supreme Court Justices Shannon Bacon and David K. Thompson
- Court of Appeals Judges J. Miles Hanisee and Christopher Houghton
- Fourth Judicial District Court Division I Judge Michael A. Aragon
San Miguel County offices
The county ballot is largely made up of candidates who came through competitive spring primaries.
- County Assessor: Democrat Doreen J. Garcia, who defeated John Christian Martinez in the primary.
- County Sheriff: Democrat Darren J. Romero, who won the nomination over Rodney J. Perea and Antonio R. Salazar.
- County Commission, District I: Doris R. Gallegos, who came out on top of a five-person race against Mark Anthony Dominguez, James Chavez, Rock Gerald Ulibarri, and Marcia Guadalupe Archuleta.
- County Commission, District III: Antonio J. Padilla, who secured the nomination after a tough battle against Matt C. Martinez.
- Magistrate Judge, Division I: Nicholas J. Montoya, who claimed the Democratic nomination over Manuel J. Lucero and Carlos Nevarez Jr.
- Magistrate Judge, Division II: Phillip L. Ledger, who ran unopposed in the primary.
- Probate Judge: Dwight James Torres, who also ran unopposed in the primary.
Constitutional amendments
At the bottom of the ballot you will be asked to decide four constitutional amendments and three general obligation bonds.
- Amendment I would eliminate the governor’s pocket veto. Currently, if a governor ignores a bill after the legislative session ends, it dies with no explanation required. Under this amendment the bill becomes law by default, and to veto it the governor must provide a written explanation.
- Amendment II removes the rule keeping school elections separate from partisan elections. Combining them could save local school districts hundreds of thousands of dollars normally spent on special ballots.
- Amendment III establishes nominating committees to give the governor a specific list of names for university boards of regents.
- Amendment IV would allow standard salaries for state legislators.
2026 general obligation bonds
- Question one funds senior citizen facility improvement, construction, and equipment.
- Question two is for public library acquisitions.
- Question three focuses on higher education improvements across New Mexico.
Final thoughts
As you head to the polls by November 3, remember that civic participation shapes the foundation of our community. So we ask: does the true power of our democracy lie not in Washington, but right here in the hands of the Meadow City voters? We certainly think so.
Watch the full broadcast for the complete walkthrough, and share this post with a neighbor who is still working out their ballot.
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