VOTE 2022

Vote 2022: At a Glance

A recap of SFR’s general election endorsements and explainers for ballot choices

Voter participation has already been robust in New Mexico’s general election, but with final ballots cast Tuesday, Nov. 8, here’s a reminder of what’s at stake via SFR’s recommendations and explanations published at the start of early voting. Our endorsements made arguments for Democrats who have demonstrated their commitments to voting rights and access to abortion, as well as to improving the state’s infrastructure, education and overall health care. Here’s the TL/DR version.

US Representative, Congressional District 3:

In her first term, US Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández has demonstrated her ability to work with the rest of the state’s congressional delegation to help secure funding desperately needed as New Mexico recovers from the economic toils of the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating wildfire season. And with the likely shift in the makeup of Congress across the nation, she will be another crucial voice fighting to protect voting rights and women’s constitutional right to abortion.

Governor:

Incumbent Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has responded aggressively to a slate of crises—badgering the federal government for resources during the pandemic and loudly demanding compensation for the US Forest Service’s role in the Hermits Peak/ Calf Canyon Fire. She also shepherded the legalization of cannabis; the expansion of college scholarships; bills to increase teacher pay; bills to fund early childhood education; bills to fund more law enforcement hires, among many other initiatives. She has done all that while trying to rebuild a state government largely decimated by her predecessor, particularly in the area of behavioral health. (Reminder: The same political team that propelled Susana Martinez to the fourth floor is working for GOP challenger Mark Ronchetti. He has never once responded to our requests for interviews.)

UNITEDSTATESREPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTANTEDELOSESTADOSUNIDOS DISTRICT 3 / DISTRITO 3 VOTE FOR ONE / VOTE POR UNO ALEXIS MARTINEZ JOHNSON REPUBLICAN PARTY / PARTIDO REPUBLICANO TERESA LEGER FERNANDEZ DEMOCRATIC PARTY / PARTIDO DEMÓCRATA GOVERNORandLIEUTENANTGOVERNOR GOBERNADORyTENIENTEGOBERNADOR VOTE FOR ONE/ VOTE POR UNOKAREN EVETTE BEDONIE and / y EFREN GALLARDO, JR LIBERTARIAN PARTY / PARTIDO LIBERTARIO MARK V RONCHETTI and / y ANT L THORNTON REPUBLICAN PARTY / PARTIDO REPUBLICANO MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM and / y HOWIE C MORALES DEMOCRATIC PARTY / PARTIDO DEMÓCRATASECRETARYOFSTATE SECRETARIODEESTADO VOTE FOR ONE / VOTE POR UNOMAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER DEMOCRATIC PARTY / PARTIDO DEMÓCRATA AUDREY TRUJILLO REPUBLICAN PARTY / PARTIDO REPUBLICANO MAYNA ERIKA MYERS LIBERTARIAN PARTY / PARTIDO LIBERTARIO ATTORNEYGENERAL PROCURADORGENERAL VOTE FOR ONE / VOTE POR UNORAÚL TORREZ DEMOCRATIC PARTY / PARTIDO DEMÓCRATA JEREMY MICHAEL GAY S REPUBLICAN PARTY / PARTIDO REPUBLICANO STATEAUDITOR AUDITORDEESTADO VOTE FOR ONE / VOTE POR UNOJOSEPH M MAESTAS DEMOCRATIC PARTY / PARTIDO DEMÓCRATA TRAVIS STEVEN SANCHEZ LIBERTARIAN PARTY / PARTIDO LIBERTARIO STATETREASURER TESORERODEESTADO VOTE FOR ONE / VOTE POR UNOHARRY B MONTOYA REPUBLICAN PARTY / PARTIDO REPUBLICANO JUDICIALRETENTION RETENCIÓNJUDICIAL LAURA M MONTOYA DEMOCRATIC PARTY / PARTIDO DEMÓCRATA

COMMISSIONEROFPUBLICLANDS COMISIONADODETIERRASPÚBLICAS VOTE FOR ONE / VOTE POR UNOJEFFERSON L BYRD REPUBLICAN PARTY / PARTIDO REPUBLICANO

STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARD DEMOCRATIC PARTY / PARTIDO DEMÓCRATA Declared Write-In Candidate Candidato Declarado Por Escrito STATEREPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTANTEDEESTADO DISTRICT 46 / DISTRITO 46 VOTE FOR ONE / VOTE POR UNOJAY C GROSECLOSE REPUBLICAN PARTY / PARTIDO REPUBLICANO ANDREA D ROMERO DEMOCRATIC PARTY / PARTIDO DEMÓCRATA JUSTICEOFTHESUPREMECOURT POSITION1 JUEZDELACORTESUPREMAPOSICIÓN1 VOTE FOR ONE / VOTE POR UNOTHOMAS C MONTOYA REPUBLICAN PARTY / PARTIDO REPUBLICANO JULIE J VARGAS DEMOCRATIC PARTY / PARTIDO DEMÓCRATA JUSTICEOFTHESUPREMECOURT POSITION2 JUEZDELACORTESUPREMAPOSICIÓN2 VOTE FOR ONE / VOTE POR UNOKERRY J MORRIS REPUBLICAN PARTY / PARTIDO REPUBLICANO BRIANA H ZAMORA DEMOCRATIC PARTY / PARTIDO DEMÓCRATA JUDGEOFTHECOURTOFAPPEALS POSITION1 JUEZDELACORTEDEAPELACIONESPOSICIÓN1 VOTE FOR ONE / VOTE POR UNOBARBARA V JOHNSON REPUBLICAN PARTY / PARTIDO REPUBLICANO GERALD EDWARD BACA DEMOCRATIC PARTY / PARTIDO DEMÓCRATA SOPHIE I COOPER LIBERTARIAN PARTY / PARTIDO LIBERTARIO JUDGEOFTHECOURTOFAPPEALS POSITION2 JUEZDELACORTEDEAPELACIONESPOSICIÓN2 VOTE FOR ONE / VOTE POR UNOKATHERINE ANNE WRAY DEMOCRATIC PARTY / PARTIDO DEMÓCRATA STEPHEN P CURTIS LIBERTARIAN PARTY / PARTIDO LIBERTARIO GERTRUDE LEE REPUBLICAN PARTY / PARTIDO REPUBLICANO MAGISTRATEJUDGE JUEZMAGISTRADO DIVISION 1 / DIVISIÓN 1 VOTE FOR ONE / VOTE POR UNODAVID A SEGURA DEMOCRATIC PARTY / PARTIDO DEMÓCRATA MAGISTRATEJUDGE JUEZMAGISTRADO DIVISION 2 / DIVISIÓN 2 VOTE FOR ONE / VOTE POR UNODEV ATMA SINGH KHALSA DEMOCRATIC PARTY / PARTIDO DEMÓCRATA

MAGISTRATEJUDGE JUEZMAGISTRADO DIVISION 3 / DIVISIÓN 3 VOTE FOR ONE / VOTE POR UNOJOHN A RYSANEK DEMOCRATIC PARTY / PARTIDO DEMÓCRATA OFFICIALGENERALELECTIONBALLOT/BOLETAOFICIALDEELECCIÓNGENERAL November8,2022-8denoviembre,2022 SANTAFECOUNTY-CONDADODESANTAFEINSTRUCTIONSTOVOTERS: To vote, completely fill in the oval to the LEFT of your choice, like this ( ) . To vote for a declared write-in candidate, write the person's name in the write in space and fill in the oval. INSTRUCCIONESPARALOSVOTANTES: Para votar, rellene completamente el óvalo a la IZQUIERDA de su selección, así ( ). Paravotar por escrito por un candidato declarado, escriba el nombre de la persona en el espacio de votación por escrito y llene el óvalo.BallotStyle04 SANT_PCT090 MAGISTRATEJUDGE JUEZMAGISTRADO DIVISION 4 / DIVISIÓN 4 VOTE FOR ONE / VOTE POR UNODONITA O SENA DEMOCRATIC PARTY / PARTIDO DEMÓCRATA COUNTYSHERIFF ALGUACILDELCONDADO VOTE FOR ONE / VOTE POR UNOADAN MENDOZA DEMOCRATIC PARTY / PARTIDO DEMÓCRATA TIDO DEMÓCRATA O DEMÓCRATA MY MICHAEL GAY GAY ICAN PARTY / PARTIDO REPUBLICANO BLICANO AMSAMSTA DEE TRAVIS STEVEN SANCHE IS STEVEN SANCHETARIAN PARTY / PARTIDO LIBERT RIAN PARTY / PARTIDO LIBERT COUNTYASSESSOR ASESORDELCONDADO VOTE FOR ONE / VOTE POR UNOISAIAH F ROMERO DEMOCRATIC PARTY / PARTIDO DEMÓCRATA PROBATEJUDGE JUEZDESUCESIÓNES VOTE FOR ONE / VOTE POR UNOCORDILIA M MONTOYA DEMOCRATIC PARTY / PARTIDO DEMÓCRATA Shall MICHAEL E VIGIL be retained as Justice of the Supreme Court? ¿Retendremos a MICHAEL E VIGIL como Juez de la Corte Suprema? YESSÍ NO NO Shall JANE B YOHALEM be retained as Judge of the Court of Appeals? ¿Retendremos a JANE B YOHALEM como Juez de la Corte de Apelaciones? YESSÍ NO NO

LURT P REMAPOSICIE / VOTE POR UNO MORRIS PARTY / PARTIDO REPUBLICANO ARTY / PARTID PL REPUBLICAN PARTY / PARTIDO REPAGERALD EDW DEMOCRATIC PAR SO MP

SENA TY / PARTIDO EDEMOCRATIC PARTY / PARTIDO LE

Secretary of State:

With more than a decade under her belt as an elections official, Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver has proven up to the challenges, and she has the knowledge and experience to both oversee the office’s myriad responsibilities and push for improvements, such as the current overhaul of its campaign finance information system. She intends to re-champion several of the important facets of election bills that failed to pass in the Legislature’s 2022 session, including the reinstatement of voting rights for the formerly incarcerated; codifying the Native American Voting Rights Act into the state’s election laws; and creating a single sign-up concept allowing voters to always receive absentee ballots in the mail if they choose.

Attorney General:

Bernalillo County District Attorney Raúl Torrez handily defeated state Auditor Brian Colón for the Democratic nomination for the $95,000-a-year job to lead 200 employees with a $35-million annual budget. We recommend Torrez, a Harvard and Stanfordeducated New Mexican with experience in the state’s most populated district.

Auditor:

Former two-term Santa Fe City Councilor Joseph Maestas earned political cred as a councilor, then mayor in Española and is a retired engineer wrapping up a term on the Public Regulation Commission.

Treasurer:

Former Sandoval County Treasurer Laura Montoya is most prepared for the job after serving in that elected post and representing the Treasurer’s Affiliate at the Legislature.

Land Commissioner:

Incumbent Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard’s first term in that office follows three successful terms as a state legislator. A former teacher, the Los Alamos resident has applied diligence to public lands administration.

New Mexico House District 46:

Incumbent Democrat Rep. Andrea Romero’s articulate advocacy for cannabis legalization was particularly impressive, and her overall experience is valuable to Santa Fe’s representation.

The judiciary:

SFR is not making recommendations in judicial races this year. The New Mexico Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission has evaluated the Supreme Court races and recommends Justice Michael Vigil for retention. Judge Jane Yohalem has not served long enough to get a JPEC review.

Appointed Supreme Court justices Brianna Zamora and Julie Vargas, both Democrats, are on the ballot against Republicans Kerry J. Morris and Thomas C. Montoya, respectively. On the Court of the Appeals, 2021-appointed Judge Gerald E. Baca, a Democrat, is running for election against Republican Barbara Johnson and Libertarian Sophie Cooper for position 1; and Democrat Katherine Anne Wray, also appointed last year, faces Libertarian Stephen Curtis and Republican Gertrude Lee for the position 2 seat.

Constitutional Amendments:

Lawmakers vetted these proposals before sending them to the ballot and SFR’s research leads us to recommend yes for all three.

Land Grant Permanent Fund:

The proposal would increase disbursement cash from the investment of this fund from 5% of proceeds to 6.25% to benefit early-childhood education, public schools and other programs.

Appointed judges re-election:

Currently, appointed judges are up for election at the next general election after appointment. The proposal would ensure they have at least one year before standing for election.

Anti-donation clause:

The amendment would add infrastructure that provides essential services such as internet, energy, water or wastewater as another exception to the anti-donation clause.

New Mexico Bonds:

Should the state issue bonds for various projects, then repay them through property tax revenue? We recommend yes on all three. 1: $24.5 million for senior centers 2: $19.3 million for public libraries

3: $215 million for public higher education, special public schools and tribal schools

Santa Fe County Bonds:

We recommend a yes vote on questions 1 and 2, both important financing tools that are key for road and water projects across the 2,000-square-mile county. But when it comes to giving the county more leeway to use public funds for open space in question 3, we recommend voting no. Santa Fe County has done a poor job of keeping promises it made to southwest city residents and we don’t have faith in the next round. More than 20 years ago, these funds paid for what was supposed to be preserved open space off South Meadows Road. A developer owns it now and wants to build housing there. We hope the county adopts meaningful review and accountability in its open space plans.

Question 1: $13 million to acquire, construct, design, equip and improve roads

Question 2: $7 million to acquire real property and necessary water rights for, and to construct, design, equip, rehabilitate and improve water and wastewater projects Question 3: $5 million for open space, trails and parks.

EXPANDED EARLY VOTING

Noon-8 pm, Weds-Fri, Nov. 2-4 10 am-6 pm, Sat, Nov. 5 In Santa Fe: Christian Life Church, 121 Siringo Road; Santa Fe County Fair Building, 3229 Rodeo Road; Southside Library, 6599 Jaguar Drive Out of town: Max Coll Corridor Community Center, 16 Avenida Torreon, Eldorado; Pojoaque Satellite Office, 5 W. Gutierrez, Ste. 9; Plaza Abedon Lopez Comm. Center, 155 Camino De Quintana, Española; Town of Edgewood Administration Building, 171A NM-344, Edgewood

At the County Clerk’s Office:

102 Catron St., 8 am-5 pm, Mon-Fri; 10 am-6 pm, Sat, Nov. 5. ELECTION DAY: 7 am-7 pm, Tues, Nov. 8. For a full list of polling places: santafecountynm.gov/clerk/ elections/pollinglocations