ALBUQUERQUE — Capitan rancher and businessman Ed Tinsley won the five-way Republican primary for the 2nd Congressional District seat on Tuesday.

Tinsley, owner of the K-Bob's restaurant chain, had more than 31 percent of the vote with 90 percent of unofficial returns counted Tuesday night.

"We were apprehensive because we had four other great candidates in the race," Tinsley said. "The key thing is that the Republican voters across the 2nd District sent a clear message, and it was fun to be part of that message."

Two other candidates, Monty Newman of Hobbs and Aubrey Dunn Jr. of Roswell, were at 20 percent each. Las Cruces businessman Greg Sowards had 17 percent and Truth or Consequences rancher C. Earl Greer had just under 10 percent.

"The strong showing we had across the district shows our message is strong," Tinsley said. "Now the key is galvanizing that support and taking it into the general election."

Tinsley lost in another five-way GOP primary in 2002 when incumbent Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., was first elected. Pearce vacated the seat this election cycle to run for U.S. Senate.

The second time was a charm, Tinsley said, because he was better organized and had a better idea of what to expect. His campaign team helped him develop a business plan and a systematic strategy.

"We weren't going to be so knee-jerk," Tinsley said. "If you're a horse racing fan, it's like we were saying, 'Don't worry about what you're doing on the backstretch. It's what you're doing on as you approach the clubhouse."'

The Democratic race was too close to call late Tuesday, with Hobbs oilfield services business owner Harry Teague narrowly ahead of Doña Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley of Las Cruces.

Teague had 52.48 percent of the vote while McCamley was at 47.52. They were separated by just 1,641 votes, but several Doña Ana County precincts had yet to be counted.

On the campaign trail, Tinsley told voters the sprawling Southern New Mexico district needs a consistent conservative voice. He said his experience in business, ranching and the oil and gas industry made him the best candidate.

He also defended the Iraq war and hammered away at immigration issues, saying it's an urgent time to secure the Mexican border to prevent a national security breach while also implementing a comprehensive immigration overhaul.

"There are very few districts in the country that have the border issues we have," Tinsley said. "We are on the front line, but it's a very complicated issue. We can't take a Band-Aid approach to fixing things."

Tinsley won in 12 of the district's 18 counties. He beat Dunn, a retired banker who now owns a Roswell-area ranch, in Chaves County. Tinsley also limited his losses by running second behind Newman in Lea and Eddy counties.

Newman, who owns a real estate business, surged into contention in the closing weeks, aided by almost $1 million in advertising from the National Association of Realtors political action committee.

As for the Democrats, Teague is a high school dropout who went to work in the oilfields at 16 to help his struggling family. A self-made millionaire, he spent more than $750,000 of his own money on the primary.

A former Lea County commissioner, Teague hoped to parlay his longtime friendship with Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, a fifth-grade classmate in Hobbs, into political support. He also was endorsed by Gov. Bill Richardson.

McCamley is a 30-year-old Doña Ana County commissioner who returned to his hometown of Las Cruces after earning a Harvard master's degree in public policy.

In keeping with the youthful vibe of McCamley's campaign, he shunned the usual trappings of a hotel ballroom party on election night. Instead, he planned to hang out with supporters at a Las Cruces bowling alley.

The seven candidates were vying to represent New Mexico's so-called cowboy country in a vast Republican-leaning district that is roughly the size of Pennsylvania.

The 2nd District spans a diverse expanse of mountains, rangeland, mining operations and oilfields that stretches from Zuni Pueblo to Hobbs, from Lordsburg to Santa Rosa.