By Damien Willis on Jun 3, 2026

Vanessa Ordoñez wins Democratic primary for Doña Ana County sheriff

Vanessa Ordoñez won the Democratic primary for Doña Ana County sheriff by 569 votes and will face Republican Todd Garrison in November.

Vanessa Ordoñez won the Democratic primary for Doña Ana County sheriff and will face Republican Todd Garrison in the November general election. (Courtesy photo / Illustration: Organ Mountain News)

Ordoñez defeated James Frietze by 569 votes and will face Republican Todd Garrison in the November general election.

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

LAS CRUCES - Vanessa Ordoñez won the Democratic primary for Doña Ana County sheriff, defeating James A. Frietze by 569 votes in final unofficial precinct results posted Wednesday morning.

With all 190 precincts fully reporting, Ordoñez had 6,019 votes, or 37%, while Frietze had 5,450 votes, or 33%, according to the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office.

Five other Democrats competed in the crowded primary:

Jon R. Day received 1,537 votes, or 9%.
Gabriela H. Lozano received 1,363 votes, or 8%.
Rafael Reyes Jr. received 1,052 votes, or 6%.
Ricardo Segovia received 571 votes, or 3%.
Eugene Charles Alvarez received 405 votes, or 2%.

Ordoñez will face Republican Todd J. Garrison in the November general election. Garrison won the four-way Republican primary with 4,175 votes, or 57%, in final unofficial precinct results.

The Democratic contest remained too close for Organ Mountain News to call late Tuesday night, when Ordoñez led Frietze by 559 votes with all precincts still reporting partial returns. The Secretary of State’s Office later marked all 190 precincts as fully reporting and listed Ordoñez as the Democratic winner.

The results remain 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.

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