Sandoval County Commissioner Files to Seek State Senate Seat in 2024

Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block

Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block, a former candidate for governor, may have his sights set on a run for the state Senate in 2024.

Block, a Republican, hasn't formally announced his candidacy, but registered on the Secretary of State’s new Campaign Finance Information System as a candidate in Senate District 12.

District 12 used to be an Albuquerque district but under a new district map now consists of much of Rio Rancho and and Paradise Hills neighborhoods in Bernalillo County. According to the Secretary of State’s website, approximately 51,700 people live in the newly drawn senate district.

The re-drawn senate district maps were a hotly contested matter during the 2021 legislative session, with Republicans claiming districts were gerrymandered to favor Democratic Party candidates. The new District 12, however, looks like it will favor Republicans with the inclusion of Rio Rancho.

Many of the people in the district are already Block's constituents in his role as a county commissioner in District 2.

In a recent interview with the Sandoval Signpost, Block talked about his interest in politics and what he’s helped get accomplished for Sandoval County since he won election to the commission in 2016. He won reelection and his second term on the commission expires December 2024.

“I always wanted to run for office and do something good for the community and just keep serving. And I think we’ve done a fantastic job in Sandoval County in the 6+ years since Republicans took control,” he said. “We have really worked hard to make Sandoval County government a professional organization, and it really is.”

Last year, Block placed fourth out of five candidates in the GOP primary in the governor’s race. He got 11% of the vote in the race won by Mark Ronchetti, who went on to lose to incumbent Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Block has been a Republican firebrand since he’s been on the commission, often criticizing Democrats and promoting his conservative viewpoints.