It’s election day in Las Cruces. Here’s who’s already won

Twenty-nine candidates running for local office woke up Tuesday morning as winners. The rest— fewer than average — must spend the day sweating it out.

According to an analysis conducted by the Las Cruces Bulletin, the 2024 primaries are the least competitive in 24 years. On average, Doña Ana County residents decide candidates in 15 of the 42 primary-election races. This year, voters can decide in just 9 of the 30.  

At the top of the ballot, Rep. Gabe Vasquez will win the Democratic primary and face Republican primary winner Yvette Herrell.

For the Roundhouse races, three prominent state senators face no primary or general election challengers. Joseph Cervantes, D–Las Cruces, Crystal Diamond Brantley, R–Elephant Butte, and Bill Soules D–Las Cruces, are effectively guaranteed renewed four-year terms. All three are incumbents.

Incumbents Jeff Steinborn and Carrie Hamblen, both Las Cruces Democrats, are without primary challengers. They face Republican challengers David Tofsted and Samantha Barncastle Salopek, respectively, in the general election. The two Republicans also had no primary challengers.

In the House, incumbent Micaela Lara Cadena, D—Mesilla Park, Joanne Ferrary, D—Las Cruces and Doreen Yvonne Gallegos, D—Las Cruces face no challengers in either the primary or general election. Ferrary also faces no challenger after the Republican candidate was disqualified for altering his nominating petition forms. Jenifer Jones, R–Deming, faces no Republican challenger but will face a Democrat in November after a competitive primary. Jones’ district covers Luna and Hidalgo counties with a sliver of Doña Ana County.

Raymundo Lara, D–Chamberino, and Larry Sedillo, R–Las Cruces, face no primary challengers but will face each other in November for District 34. It’s a similar situation in District 36, where incumbent Nathan Small, D—Las Cruces, will face Republican Kim Skaggs in November. Neither have primary challengers.

In District 35’s primary, Democrats Angelica Rubio and Gabriel Duran will face each other, but there will be no Republican candidate for the seat.

At the county level, Nathan Willian Graff has no challengers for a seat on the Doña Ana County Magistrate court. Marisol Richardson has no challengers for county treasurer.

Democrat Manuel Sanchez has no challengers to keep his seat on the county commission. At the same time, fellow commissioner and Democrat Susana Chaparro faces no primary challenger. Chaparro will face Republican Stacie Durham in the general election.