Primary elections: End of the road for some

Vote 2008: Unprecedented primary election season culminates today at polling sites around the state

Steve Terrell | The New Mexican

6/2/2008 - 6/3/08

Political campaigns climax today as Democrats and Republicans go to the polls to choose nominees for federal, state and county offices.

The unprecedented primary election season was shaped largely by U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici's decision not to seek re-election. All three New Mexico members of the House of Representatives are running for Domenici's seat, which caused a scramble in both major parties for all three open congressional seats.

Statewide, 543,613 Democrats and 354,267 Republicans were registered to vote as of May 23, according to the Secretary of State's Office.

In Santa Fe County, 55,696 Democrats are eligible to cast ballots, compared to 15,571 Republicans.

But 17 percent of New Mexico's electorate isn't allowed to vote in the taxpayer-funded primaries because they are registered as either independents or members of minor parties.

Already, 3,773 Democrats in Santa Fe County voted early, as did 927 Republicans, according to the County Clerk's Office. The office said it sent ballots to 1,495 Democratic voters and 421 Republicans.

Because U.S. Rep. Tom Udall is running unopposed in the Democratic Senate primary, the biggest contest to be decided by Northern New Mexico Democrats today is the 3rd Congressional District race.

Six Democrats want a chance to succeed Udall in Congress: state Public Regulation Commission member Ben Ray Luján, developer Don Wiviott, Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya, former state Indian Affairs Secretary Benny Shendo Jr., and lawyers Jon Adams and Rudy Martin.

Luján's candidacy created a vacancy in the District 3 PRC race. Six Democrats are running for the position, including lawyer Bruce Throne, Española Mayor Joe Maestas, Santa Fe County Commissioner Paul Campos, former state Sen. Arthur Rodarte, former Corporation Commissioner Louis Gallegos and title company sales manager Jerome Block Jr.

Another contested Democratic primary contest is the 1st Judicial District attorney's race, which will decide who replaces outgoing four-term District Attorney Henry Valdez. Angela "Spence" Pacheco, a former assistant district attorney, and current assistant prosecutors A.J. Salazar and Joseph Campbell are on the ballot.

There are contested Santa Fe County races in the Democratic primary, including county clerk — in which incumbent Valerie Espinosa is being challenged by Gilbert Martinez.

There are two open County Commission seats. District 5 has four Democratic candidates: Joe Auburg, Liz Stefanics, Stephen Wust and Ralph Jaramillo. In District 4 there are three Democratic candidates, including Elizabeth "Dolly" Luján, Mark Marquez and Kathleen Holian.

While Democrats held a presidential caucus in February, Republicans in New Mexico get to vote for a presidential nominee today — although U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona wrapped up the nomination weeks ago. McCain and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas are on today's ballot.

The Republican primary contest that has generated the most excitement has been the Senate battle between Steve Pearce and Heather Wilson.

There's also a GOP primary for the 3rd Congressional District race. Lawyer Marco Gonzales and Rio Rancho business owner Dan East are competing.

Although she's not on the primary ballot, former Green Party activist Carol Miller of Ojo Sarco could be in the general election as an independent candidate. She said Monday that she has collected nearly 11,000 petition signatures to get on the ballot — nearly twice as many as required. Miller, running for Congress as a Green in a 1997 special election, pulled 17 percent of the vote.

The fact that election day is here also means election night parties are set to go. Among congressional candidates, Luján planned to hold a soiree at Hotel Santa Fe, while Shendo Jr. expected to hold a get-together at Jemez Pueblo. He was expected to be available to the media "upon the announcement of election results." Montoya's party, meanwhile, was set to be held at the Santa Fe Hilton. Wiviott's schedule showed that he planned "private time with family" at 7 p.m.

Republican Gonzales planned a party at The Lodge at Santa Fe while his primary opponent, East, was to gather with friends at his Rio Rancho home.

Staff writer Kate Nash contributed to this report.

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com.