The 2024 election in New Mexico came to an end Dec. 16 as the State Canvassing Board certified results for two races that had automatic recounts.
The New Mexico House District 57 race triggered an automatic recount with former Rio Rancho Public Schools board member and Republican Catherine Cullen and Democrat Michelle Sandoval being separated by less than 1% of the vote.
After the recount, Cullen won the vacant seat by 133 votes. The District 57 seat has been held by Jason Harper since 2013. Harper announced in March that he would not run again.
District 57 covers Enchanted Hills, Mariposa, Northern Meadows, North Hills, Mountain Hawk and Cleveland Heights neighborhoods in Rio Rancho.
The other race that had to be retallied saw Republican David Reagor beat Democrat Denise Derkacs in a race for a Los Alamos County council seat.
How sad for our country.