By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. — Sandoval County voters will pick a new sheriff Tuesday, decide two county commission seats and vote on whether to spend $22 million on a secure storage building for the office that runs the election.
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Nov. 3 at 42 voting centers, from Rio Rancho school gyms to chapter houses in Torreon. If you’re in line at 7 p.m., stay put. You still get to vote.
Missed the October registration deadline? You can still register and vote the same day. Bring a New Mexico driver’s license or MVD ID card, or another photo ID plus a document showing your Sandoval County address.
Still holding an absentee ballot? Skip the mailbox. The county clerk must receive it by 7 p.m. Tuesday, so drop it off in person.
 |
| Election Day is Tuesday in Sandoval County. Pictured are voters filling out their ballots at the Sandoval County Administration building in Rio Rancho in October. Photo by Roberto E. Rosales for the Paper |
At the top of the ticket
Former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, the Republican nominee, faces Democrat Deb Haaland in a race that will shape state policy on everything including water, crime, economic development and the budget for the next four years.
Hull runs with Republican David Gallegos, a state senator from Eunice, for lieutenant governor. Haaland runs with Democrat Stephanie Garcia Richard, the outgoing land commissioner. In New Mexico, governor and lieutenant governor run as a team, so you get to cast one vote for the pair.
U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján, a Democrat, faces a challenge from Republican Larry Marker.
House races: In District 1, Democrat Melanie Stansbury faces Republican Ndidiamaka Okpareke. In District 2, Democrat Gabe Vasquez faces Republican Greg Cunningham. In District 3, Democrat Teresa Leger Fernández faces Republican Martin Zamora. All three Democrats are incumbents.
Statewide offices
Five more statewide offices are on the ballot, each with a Democrat and a Republican:
Secretary of State: Democrat Amanda López Askin, the outgoing Doña Ana County Clerk, and Republican Ramona Goolsby are running for the job of overseeing elections.
Attorney General: Democratic incumbent Raúl Torrez faces Republican Samuel Kane Sr.
State Auditor: Democratic incumbent Joseph Maestas faces Republican Joshua Lawrence.
State Treasurer: Democrat Laura Montoya faces Republican James Ellison.
Land Commissioner: Democrat Juan Sanchez III and Republican Michael Perry are competing to run the office Garcia Richard is leaving.
On top of the statewide offices, Sandoval County ballots carry local races, judicial retention votes, four constitutional amendments, three state bonds and three county bonds. Here’s the rundown.
WHAT’S ON YOUR BALLOT
State House (your district depends on your address)
- District 23: Alan Martinez (R), unopposed
- District 41: Yolanda Jaramillo (D), unopposed
- District 43: Christine Chandler (D), unopposed
- District 44: Kathleen Cates (D), Adam Prior (R)
- District 50: Sarah Boses (D), Kenneth Brennan (R)
- District 57: Chriselle Martinez (D), Catherine Cullen (R)
- District 60: Luke Jungmann (D), Joshua Hernandez (R)
- District 65: Derrick Lente (D), unopposed
Sandoval County
- Sheriff: John Paul Trujillo (D), Victor Rodriguez (R)
- Assessor: Gerred Prairie (D), Lawrence Griego (R)
- Commission District 1: Paul Madrid (D), Rebecca Skartwed (R)
- Commission District 3: Frank Smith Jr. (D), Edwin Linson (R)
- Probate Judge: Donna Tillman (D), Rebecca Torres (R)
- Magistrate Judges (all unopposed): Ann Marie Maxwell-Chavez (D), F. Kenneth Eichwald (D), Delilah Montano-Baca (D)
Judicial retention (yes or no; each judge needs 57% to stay)
- Supreme Court: Justices David Thomson and Shannon Bacon
- Court of Appeals: Judge J. Miles Hanisee
- 13th Judicial District: Judges James Lawrence Sanchez, Amanda Sanchez Villalobos and Christopher Perez
Constitutional amendments
- Amendment 1: Ends the governor’s pocket veto and requires written veto explanations
- Amendment 2: Lets school bond and mill levy questions go on general election ballots
- Amendment 3: Creates nominating committees for university regents
- Amendment 4: Pays legislators a salary tied to the state’s median household income
State bonds
- Bond 1: $21.6 million for senior centers
- Bond 2: $19.3 million for libraries
- Bond 3: $352.2 million for higher education, special schools and tribal schools
Sandoval County bonds
- Bond 1: $3.4 million for libraries
- Bond 2: $9 million for a fire training facility and stations
- Bond 3: $22 million for a secure Bureau of Elections storage facility
BY THE NUMBERS
- 42: Election Day voting centers in Sandoval County
- $393.1 million: Total of the three state bonds
- $34.4 million: Total of the three county bonds
- 57%: “Yes” vote each judge needs to keep their seat
Not sure which House district you live in? The League of Women Voters’ nonpartisan guide shows every race on your ballot, with candidates’ answers in their own words. Read our earlier coverage of the sheriff’s race and the District 3 commission race before you head out.
ELECTION DAY: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
See your ballot: lwvcnm.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/LWVCNM-Bernalillo-Sandoval-2026-General-Web.pdf
Sandoval County Bureau of Elections: 1500 Idalia Road, Building D, Bernalillo | 505-867-7577 | sandovalcountynm.gov/countyclerk/
WHERE TO VOTE
Rio Rancho
- Amazing Grace, 4131 Barbara Loop SE, Suite D-2
- Cielo Azul Elementary School, 3804 Shiloh Road NE
- Cleveland High School, 4800 Cleveland Heights Road NE
- Community of Joy Lutheran Church, 841 Saratoga Drive NE
- Eagle Ridge Middle School, 800 Fruta Road NE
- Joe Harris Elementary School, 2100 10th St. SE
- Living Word Church, 1901 17th Ave. NE
- Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, 1301 Nicklaus Drive SE
- Mountain View Middle School, 4101 Montreal Loop NE
- Our Lady Queen of Angels, 1701 Tulip Road SE
- Puesta Del Sol Elementary School, 450 Southern Blvd. SE
- Rio Rancho Elementary School, 4601 Pepe Ortiz Road NE
- Rio Rancho Middle School, 1600 Loma Colorado Blvd. NE
- SSCAFCA, 1041 Commercial Drive SE
- St. Francis Episcopal Church, 2903 Cabezon Blvd. SE
Bernalillo
- Bernalillo High School Auxiliary Gym, 148 Spartan Alley
- Bernalillo Senior Center, 801 Rotary Park Road
- Our Lady of Sorrows Gym, 264 S. Camino Del Pueblo
- Sandoval County Administrative Building D, 1500 Idalia Road
Corrales
- Corrales Community Center, 4324 Corrales Road
- Corrales Recreation Center, 500 Jones Road
Placitas, Algodones and the East Mountains
- Algodones Elementary School, 1399 Highway 313, Algodones
- La Madera Volunteer Fire Station, 826 Faith Drive, Sandia Park
- Placitas Community Library, 453 Highway 165, Placitas
Pueblos
- Cochiti Pueblo Community Center, 225 Cochiti St.
- Jemez Pueblo Community Resource Center, 129 Canal St.
- San Felipe Pueblo Headstart, 10 Meadow View Road
- Sandia Pueblo Community Center, 481 Sandia Loop
- Santo Domingo Pueblo Community Center, 134 Tesuque St.
- Tamaya Wellness Center, 225 Ranchitos Road, Santa Ana Pueblo
- Zia Pueblo Community Center, 135 Capital Square Drive
Jemez Valley and Peña Blanca
- Jemez Valley Community Center, 8154 Highway 4, Jemez Pueblo
- La Cueva Volunteer Fire Station, 122 Twisted Juniper, La Cueva
- Peña Blanca Community Center, 778 Highway 22, Peña Blanca
- Ponderosa Volunteer Fire Station, 4252 Highway 290, Ponderosa
- San Ysidro Public Safety Room, 372 Highway 4, San Ysidro
- Village of Jemez Springs Municipal Office, 80 Jemez Springs Plaza
Cuba and the northwest
- Counselor Chapter House, 9828 Chapter House Road 14, Counselor
- La Jara Volunteer Fire Station, 108 County Road 496, La Jara
- Ojo Encino Chapter House, 1435 Starlake Road, Ojo Encino
- Sandoval County Fairgrounds, 37 Rodeo Road, Cuba
- Torreon Chapter House, Highway 197 (mile marker 26), Torreon
BEFORE YOU GO
- In line at 7 p.m.? Stay in line.
- Same-day registration: Bring MVD ID, or photo ID plus proof of address.
- Absentee ballots: Must be received by 7 p.m. Drop it off; don’t mail it.
- Results Tuesday night: sos.nm.gov/voting-and-elections/election-results/2026-election-results/