Ordoñez holds narrow Democratic sheriff lead; Garrison wins GOP primary
Vanessa Ordoñez held a narrow lead over James Frietze in the Democratic primary for Doña Ana County sheriff, while Todd Garrison won the Republican primary.
Vanessa Ordoñez led James Frietze by 559 votes late Tuesday, while Todd Garrison won the Republican nomination for Doña Ana County sheriff.
Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News
DOÑA ANA COUNTY - Vanessa Ordoñez held a narrow lead over James A. Frietze late Tuesday night in the Democratic primary for Doña Ana County sheriff, while Todd J. Garrison won the Republican nomination.
With all 190 precincts reporting partial returns at 11:30 p.m., Ordoñez had 6,008 votes, or 37%, while Frietze had 5,449 votes, or 33%, according to unofficial election results from the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office. Ordoñez led Frietze by 559 votes.
In the Republican primary, Garrison had 4,175 votes, or 57%, while Jaime Quezada finished a distant second with 1,219 votes, or 17%.
Garrison is set to face the eventual Democratic nominee in the November general election.
The results remained unofficial late Tuesday night, and Organ Mountain News had not called the Democratic primary.
Democratic voters chose among Gabriela H. Lozano, Jon R. Day, Rafael Reyes Jr., James A. Frietze, Ricardo Segovia, Eugene Charles Alvarez and Vanessa Ordoñez.
Republican voters chose among Gabriel Lee Baisas, Todd J. Garrison, Byron N. Hollister and Jaime Marquez Quezada.
Ahead of the primary, candidates who responded to a Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative questionnaire addressed staffing, public trust, mental health response, rural policing, accountability and cooperation with federal agencies.
Jonny Coker
Jonny Coker
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.
Keep Reading
Fugitive who used dead man’s identity for decades in Weed pleads guilty — Stephen Craig Campbell admitted using another man’s identity while hiding in rural Otero County from a Wyoming warrant dating to 1983.
NMDOH reports second measles exposure at Las Cruces federal courthouse this year — Anyone at the U.S. District Court building at 100 N. Church St. from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 27 may have encountered measles.
Organ Mountain News launches southern New Mexico listening initiative — Share the issues, concerns and experiences shaping life across southern New Mexico through a new community survey that takes less than five minutes.
