(Story credit: Billy Armendariz & Deming Headlight)
DEMING – According to Billy Armendariz and the Deming Headlight, here’s how Luna County voted yesterday.
Luna County’s two contested races in the 2024 Primary Election were close calls on Tuesday. Democrats favored Linda S. Alvarez over Andrew Simon Hernandez III for the State Representative, District 32 seat.
In the Republican race for Luna County Commissioner, District 3, Christie Ann Harvey finished 22 votes better than Rosela Nañez, 193-171. Harvey took 53 percent of the votes to Nañez 47 percent.
The results are unofficial until Thursday’s canvassing process, but the totals are from the three Voter Convenience Centers in the county. They were located at Holy Family Parish Hall, 615 S. Copper St., Mimbres Valley Learning Center, 2400 E. Pine St., and the Village of Columbus Library at 112 Broadway St. in Columbus, NM.
There were 1,933 votes cast out of 9,876 registered voters in the county. That is a 19 percent voter turnout. The state-wide voter turnout was at 13 percent.
Alvarez collected 465 votes while Hernandez drew 388. Alvarez finished with 54 percent of the votes to Hernandez’s 46 percent.
Alvarez was born and raised in the Hatch Valley. She ran in the Primary on a platform that focused on jobs, economic development, education health care and public safety.
Hernandez brought an extensive background in education. He told the Headlight in a previous article that his educational experience, both as a professor and as a student, have become essential learning tools toward his career in politics.
Alvarez will point her Democratic campaign toward a showdown with Republican incumbent Jenifer Jones for the District 32 State Representative seat in the November 5, General Election.
Hervey stood firm on her campaign ideals of tapping into the county’s potential for growth and border relations to bring added commerce to the area.
Nañez built her campaign on family, faith, and freedom. She helped build two highly successful family-owned businesses in Deming and also helps run the family farm with her husband.
Public safety, vagrancy in the downtown business district, and maintaining county roads were part of her platform leading into the Primary.
On the Democratic side, Ariana Saludares ran unopposed for the commission’s district 3 seat. Saludares and Harvey will square off in the General Election in November.
Luna County voters chimed in for the Presidential primary. Democratic POTUS Joe Biden totaled 680 votes and 896 votes were cast for Republican frontrunner Donald Trump.
Democratic incumbent Martin Heinrich and Republican challenger Nella Louise Domenici will meet in the November General Election for U.S. Senator.
Democrat Gabe Vasquez and Republican Yvette Herrell are on the bill for State. Representative.
In the State Senator Race for District 32, Republican Gabe Ramos will move into the General Election. Democratic incumbent Siah Correa Hemphill has chosen not to run for re-election on the Democratic ticket, but remained on the Primary ballot.
Crystal Diamond Brantley ran unopposed for State Senator (District 35).
Also running unopposed in Tuesday’s Primary were:
State Rep. incumbent Jenifer Jones (R-Deming)
District Attorney (Sixth Judicial District, Michael R. Renteria (D-Deming)
Luna County Clerk Berenda McWright (D-incumbent) and Barbara Jean DeLaney (R)
Luna County Treasurer Kristie Hobbs (D-incumbent) and Carmen Marie MacDonald (R)
Billy Armendariz can be reached at [email protected].