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Here’s what I forgot to say earlier: No absentee ballots can be counted until all are reported. We’re not going to know the results of some races tonight unless a judge will issue an order. Continue Reading
Because no district judge will allow the county to correct poll workers’ mistakes by opening locked ballot boxes tonight, some absentee ballots won’t be counted until tomorrow.In four precincts – 30, 49, 78 and 90 – poll workers locked absentee ballots – if any were cast – in the boxes. That wasn’t supposed to happen, and the county can’t open the boxes without a court order.District judges have been asked by the county and both parties, but have refused to issue such an order tonight, so it may be hard to predict close races.This further compounds the fact that the judges have also refused to issue an order tonight allowing the county to correct another poll worker mistake and count 103 early votes cast in Hatch.“These races, you’re not going to be able to call tonight, especially the close ones,” said county spokesman Jess Williams.County Elections Supervisor Lynn Ellins said there may be no absentee ballots in the boxes. It’s impossible to know until they are opened. Continue Reading
With 68 of 106 precincts reporting, Republican Scott Witt it up just over 1 percent on Democrat Jeff Steinborn in the House District 37 race. Witt has 3,586 votes, or 50.8 percent, to Steinborn’s 3,479 votes, or 49.2 percent. “It is a close race, obviously,” Steinborn said, adding that he believes some outstanding precincts “will be favorable to us.” “You never know how these things come out until all the votes are counted,” Steinborn said. Witt declined to comment. Continue Reading
In the closest statewide races, I calculated the following by adding the results from the state with those from Bernalillo and Doña Ana counties: Democratic auditor candidate Hector Balderas is beating Republican candidate Lorenzo Garcia by about 3,500 votes. He has 73,531 to Garcia’s 70,041. That’s a 51-49 percent lead. Republican Land Commissioner Pat Lyons is beating Democratic challenger Jim Baca by more than 13,000 votes. Democratic secretary of state candidate Mary Herrera is beating Republican Vickie Perea by almost 6,000 votes. Continue Reading
In the district judge Division 5 race, Democrat Lisa Schultz is leading Republican Janetta Hicks 56-44 percent with 31 of 106 precincts reporting. In the district judge Division 8 race, Democrat Fernando Macias is leading Republican Rita Nuñez Neumann 54-46 percent. In the magistrate judge Division 2 race, Democrat Joseph Guillory is leading Republican Steven Foldy 56-44 percent. In the probate judge race, Democrat Alice Salcido is leading Republican Patrick Curran 56-44 percent. Continue Reading
In the county commission District 1 race, Democrat Oscar Vasquez Butler has pulled slightly ahead of Republican John Zimmerman. With 31 precincts reporting, Butler has 1,249 votes, or 53 percent, to Zimmerman’s 1,097 votes, or 47 percent. In the commission District 3 race, Democrat Karen Perez is leading Republican Mack Haley 55-45 percent. In the sheriff race, Republican Todd Garrison is leading Republican Ralph Misquez 54-46 percent. In the assessor race, Democrat Gary Perez is leading Republican H.F. “Junior” Adams 62-38 percent. Continue Reading
CNN projects that Democrats have won the House and have won three of six seats needed to take control of the Senate. Read more by clicking here. Continue Reading
With 31 precincts reporting, in the House District 37 race Republican Scott Witt has pulled slightly ahead of Democrat Jeff Steinborn.Witt has 2,352 votes, or 51 percent, to Steinborn’s 2,255 votes, or 49 percent.In the House District 35 race, Democratic incumbent Antonio Lujan is beating Republican challenger Lawrence Joy 66-34 percent.In the House District 36 race, Democratic incumbent Andy Nuñez is beating Republican challenger Isaac Chavez 57-43 percent.In the House District 53 race, counting this county’s results only, Democratic challenger Nate Cote is beating Republican incumbent Terry Marquardt 57-43 percent. Continue Reading
In the 2nd Congressional District race, Republican incumbent Steve Pearce has a 55-45 percent lead.I got that by combining results from the state’s Web site and Doña Ana and Bernalillo counties, which have not yet reported to the state.Pearce has 20,453 votes compared with 16,576 for Democratic challenger Al Kissling. Continue Reading
Democrat Sandy Jones is off to a hot start in the Public Regulation Commission District 5 race. Combining results from other counties on the Secretary of State’s Web site with results from Doña Ana County, I calculate that Jones has 7,829 votes so far, compared to 5,827 for Republican Earl Greer. That means Jones is up 57-43 percent. Continue Reading
The first results are in for the county. You can view them all by clicking here. As predicted, we have three very close House races. In District 37, Democrat Jeff Steinborn is leading Republican Scott Witt by 13 votes. We also have two close county commission races. Continue Reading
Mitch Boyer reports that in Precinct 82 in San Miguel, Democratic sheriff candidate Ralph Misquez received 160 votes to Republican incumbent Todd Garrison’s 59. In the county commission District 1 race, Democratic incumbent Oscar Vasquez Butler received 166 votes to John Zimmerman’s 52. Continue Reading
In Precinct 17 in La Mesa, Republican Sheriff Todd Garrison did pretty well, increasing his chances of winning this race. If Garrison makes a decent show in the Democratic south county, he has a good shot at winning. Garrison received 144 votes at that precinct, Mitch Boyer reports. Democratic challenger Ralph Misquez received 169 votes. In the county commission District 1 race, Oscar Vasquez Butler received 203 votes, and Republican challenger John Zimmerman received 111 votes. Continue Reading
In Vado, at Precinct 8, Democratic sheriff candidate Ralph Misquez got 127 votes, Mitch Boyer reports. Republican incumbent Todd Garrison received 65 votes. In the county commission District 1 race, Democratic incumbent Oscar Vasquez Butler received 140 votes, Boyer said. Republican challenger John Zimmerman received 50 votes. Continue Reading
Results from four of the five early voting sites are about to be reported. The 103 early votes cast in Hatch won’t be reported until at least tomorrow. When elections workers opened the early voting box from Hatch, the tape that should show that the count began at zero was missing. That means workers have to recount the votes, but the ballots are already locked in a box. That means workers need a court order to open that box, and a district judge would not authorize opening the box tonight. Continue Reading