On Saturday, New Mexico Republican delegates met in Ruidoso at the MCM Elegante Lodge for the 2022 convention to advance candidates for the gubernatorial, lieutenant gubernatorial, congressional, and statewide races to get on the ballot on the June 7 primary.
GOP Congresswoman Yvette Herrell of the Second District fired up the crowd with a speech targeting the radical Democrats in Washington.
After the candidates gave their speeches, delegates voted via paper ballots after the electronic system previously announced to have been used malfunctioned. It is said this malfunction was regarding programming each individual delegate to their congressional district Therefore, the delegates gathered in lines outside three sets of doors in the convention center by congressional district to cast their votes, entering voting rooms two at a time.
Late on Saturday night, the Republican Party of New Mexico announced it would release the results from the vote on Sunday morning. The Party wrote, “The paper ballot voting went smoothly, and the results of the contests will be released once all ballots are properly and carefully counted.”
Delegates waited in lines for hours to cast their ballots with individual delegates voting first and then those who held proxies for those not in attendance voted afterward. Counting went late into the night, stopping in the 9:00 hour. The official results are below:
In the First Congressional District, Louie Sanchez garnered 66% with 181 votes, qualifying him for the primary ballot. Michelle Garcia Holmes garnered 28% of the vote (76 votes), meaning she will also qualify.
In the Third Congressional District race, Alexis Martinez Johnson qualified for the primary ballot with 185 votes or 87%.
Retired aerospace engineer Ant Thornton clinched a top spot on the ballot for lieutenant governor with 407 votes (59%) while no other candidates for the office made the ballot.
The official results show Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block got 199 votes, state Rep. Rebecca Dow got 192 votes, retired Brigadier General Greg Zanetti got 157 votes, ex-weatherman Mark Ronchetti got 110 votes, while former Cuba Mayor and executive director of the Right to Life Committee of New Mexico Ethel Maharg got 39.
According to Ronchetti’s campaign, it claims the failed U.S. Senate candidate did, indeed, make the ballot because of its “over 7,000” signatures gathered, which have not been confirmed to all be acceptable. The Republican Party of New Mexico confirmed this information that Ronchetti will be on the ballot due to his sufficient signatures.
Therefore the gubernatorial candidates who made the ballot other than Ronchetti include Block, Dow, and Zanetti.
The unopposed statewide candidates’ vote totals are below:
Secretary of State: Audrey Trujillo 100% 681 votes
Attorney General: Jeremy Gay 100% 678 votes
State Treasurer: Harry Montoya 100% 679 votes
Commissioner of Public Lands: Jeff Byrd 100% 670 votes
This is why the GOP fails, with the exception of Ant it is the same names a bunch of failed politicians.
Failed at what? Retired AF Field Grade Officers. Successful Business men and a successful County Commissioner.
Jay Block hasn’t failed anything he has attempted so far. He flipped Sandoval red, he got a resolution passed to disregard MLG’s 30/30 plan, he blocked badly drawn redistricting maps for Sandoval county, he was elected to county commission in the historically heavy blue district of corrales. The list goes on. You should consider doing a bit more research before you discount everyone.
Angus, don’t be discouraged. Jay Block can beat Lujan-Grishman. Block is tough and strong.
Northern New Mexicans are disgusted by Leger-Fernandez.
Do a little research before making a statement like that. Left will deztroy him with all of his background.
Jay Block is the only person I know that personally came to my door to ask for my vote, He talked about his political positions, his life as a as a Colonel in the military and his political life as a citizen. I could tell Jay Block is a serious man by the way he expressed his passions and convictions, and as commissioner Jay Block has done a great job in Rio Rancho. I believe Jay Block would be a great Governor for New Mexico and it’s citizens.
Friend, the Left tries to destroy Everyone who doesn’t parrot them. There are still New Mexicans who aren’t afraid to speak and people who support them.
“…with the exception of Ant it is the same names a bunch of failed politicians.”
Angus, please detail Greg Zanetti’s long history in politics.
Also, just what is the definition of a “failed politician”?
I wish I could be excited and inspired by the Republican Party in New Mexico, but “Not”! Just seems like the “same old, same old”!
Really???
Jay Block is not a failed politician! He has never lost an election and has positive results in his current position.
Signed blocks primo
I’M NEW HERE. BUT IN THIS POINT IN TIME——– NEGATIVITY NEEDS T OB4E REMOVED. WE NEED TO GO FORWARD AND HARD TO WIN. THE DENS HAVE SCREWED UP OUR STATE LONG ENOUGH. I’M HERE FOR OUR KIDS—– THEY NEED BETTER RESULTS OUT OF GOOD HONEST HARD WORKING TEACHERS. THEY ARE LEARNING NOTHING OF OUR COUNTRIES HISTORY OR OUR STATE. AS GRAND-PARENTS WE ARE TAKING OUR GRANDSON EVERY WHERE WE CAN IN THIS STATE. TO LEARN. LAST SUMMER WE WENT TO CHACO CANYON… HE KNOWS WW2 AND THE CIVIL WAR. WE NEED GOOD PEOPLE WHO WILL TURN OUR STATE AROUND . I’M SICK OF BEING ON THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST IN EVERYTHING.!!!! AND IT DOESN’T ALWAYS TAKE MONEY TO DO IT.!!!
No to block