Daisy Maldonado held a narrow overnight lead in the Democratic County Commission District 1 primary, while Eugenia Montoya Ortega and Isabel Jerabek won their races.

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

DOÑA ANA COUNTY - Two Democratic candidates won local primary races early Wednesday, while a third Doña Ana County contest remained too close for Organ Mountain News to call after Tuesday’s election.

Incumbent Assessor Eugenia Montoya Ortega won the Democratic primary for county assessor, and Isabel D. Jerabek won the Democratic primary for Third Judicial District Court, Division 4. In the race for the open County Commission District 1 seat, Daisy Ann Maldonado held a narrow overnight lead over Angela Rowe Garcia.

Doña Ana County Commission District 1

Daisy Ann Maldonado held a narrow lead over Angela Rowe Garcia early Wednesday in the Democratic primary for the open Doña Ana County Commission District 1 seat.

With all 190 precincts reporting partial returns at midnight, Maldonado had 2,012 votes, or 54%, while Garcia had 1,731 votes, or 46%, according to unofficial election results from the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office. Maldonado led Garcia by 281 votes.

Organ Mountain News had not called the Democratic primary early Wednesday.

District 1 is an open seat currently represented by Christopher Schaljo-Hernandez, who was elected in 2022 and is not seeking reelection. The district includes downtown Las Cruces, Mesilla, Picacho Hills, Fairacres, Mesquite, La Mesa and San Miguel.

Garcia’s campaign identifies her as CEO of Toy Box Early Learning and Childcare Centers. Her campaign has emphasized lowering costs, expanding access to essential services and improving public safety.

Maldonado entered the race after criticizing the County Commission’s approval of financing tied to Project Jupiter, OMN previously reported. Her campaign says she has spent more than a decade working alongside colonia residents and working families in Doña Ana County and Las Cruces.

The eventual winner will face Samantha Barncastle Salopek, an attorney whose work has focused on water and natural resources policy. She ran for state Senate District 38 in 2024, losing to Democratic Sen. Carrie Hamblen by 298 votes.

Salopek was unopposed in her primary.

Doña Ana County Assessor

Incumbent Assessor Eugenia "Gina" Montoya Ortega won the Democratic primary for Doña Ana County assessor early Wednesday, defeating Ruben Ramon Reyes and Shannon Dale Reynolds in unofficial returns.

With all 190 precincts reporting partial returns at midnight, Montoya Ortega had 6,980 votes, or 45%. Reyes had 4,534 votes, or 29%, while Reynolds had 4,166 votes, or 27%, according to unofficial election results from the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office.

Montoya Ortega was elected in 2022 and took office Jan. 1, 2023. Reyes ran against Montoya Ortega in the 2022 Democratic primary, then was appointed chief deputy assessor in January 2023, according to Doña Ana County. Reynolds previously served as the District 3 county commissioner.

Montoya Ortega told KRWG in May that she sought reelection to finish work begun during her first term. She identified a countywide reappraisal project as one of her goals, saying the office has not completed a full field reappraisal since 2008.

No Republican candidate filed for the county assessor seat.

Third Judicial District Court, Division 4

Isabel D. Jerabek won the Democratic primary for Third Judicial District Court, Division 4, early Wednesday, defeating Dania R. Gardea in unofficial returns.

With all 190 precincts reporting partial returns at midnight, Jerabek had 8,426 votes, or 54%, while Gardea had 7,278 votes, or 46%, according to unofficial election results from the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office.

No Republican candidate filed for the Division 4 seat, leaving Jerabek without a Republican opponent in the November general election.

Division 4 of the Third Judicial District Court primarily handles family court matters in Doña Ana County, according to Jerabek, who currently serves as a domestic relations hearing officer for the court.

Jerabek told KRWG she has worked as an attorney for more than 20 years and has served the Third Judicial District Court in roles including contract hearing officer, staff attorney supervisor and domestic relations hearing officer. She has said she ran to address family court case backlogs and provide stability after judicial turnover in the division.

Updated unofficial vote counts are available on the Secretary of State's website. The results are unofficial until canvassed.

Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. If you have a personal story to share or a lead we should follow up on, reach out at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or connect with him on X at @damienwillis.