Republicans win big in Socorro County

After months of campaigning, rural voters leaned red. As a result, Socorro County will see several new faces at the county and state levels.

Sixty-five percent of the electorate in Socorro County made their voices heard during the 2024 election cycle as 7,252 ballots were cast out of 11,078 eligible voters.

In one of the most highly contested races in the state, Democrat Tara Jaramillo of Socorro lost her re-election bid to serve as state house representative in District 38. Instead, Republican Rebecca Dow of Truth or Consequences defeated Jaramillo, 6,013 to 5,591.

Jaramillo won soundly in Socorro County over Dow, 2,243 to 1,861. However, Dow won heavily in her home county of Sierra, 1,639 to 983 as well as edging out a narrow margin of victory over Jaramillo in Doña Ana County, 2,513 to 2,365.

Republican Gail ‘Missy’ Armstrong was uncontested in her race to become the State Representative for District 49. She received 10,844 votes to return to Santa Fe. Armstrong received 4,980 votes in Valencia County, 2,234 in Sierra County, 1,963 in Socorro County and 1,667 in Catron County.

Republican Joshua A. Sanchez won handily over Democrat Tina A. Garcia, 13,555 to 9,279, to become the State Senator for District 29.

In federal races, Socorro County residents voted to return Senator Martin Heinrich (D) back to Washington as he defeated his Republican challenger Nella Louise Domenici, 3,663 to 3,353. In the race for United States Representative for District 2, Socorro County voters favored incumbent Gabriel Vasquez over his challenger Republican Yvette Herrell, 3,653 to 3,353.

Socorro County

Socorro County residents voted in favor of returning Republican Donald Trump and J.D. Vance to the White House. The Trump ticket recorded 3,639 votes, while 3,344 ballots were cast for Vice-President Kamala Harris and Tim Waltz.

Uncontested candidate Michelle Paz (D) was elected as the new County Clerk receiving 4,691 votes. District 2 Socorro County Commissioner Craig Secatero, also uncontested, received 772 votes to retain his position on the Socorro County Board of Commissioners.

Republican Gail Tripp unseated incumbent Rose Mary Rosas (D) for the position of Socorro County Treasurer. In the narrowest margins of victory, Tripp defeated Rosas by 186 votes, 3,574 to 3,388.

Two Republicans also were voted in as the newest members of the Socorro County Board of Commissioners. Daniel P. Monette (R) defeated Darryl D. Cases(D) by 154 votes to become District 4 County Commissioner and former Socorro County Sheriff Phillip R. Montoya (R) handily defeated Linda Louise Murillo by 491 votes, 1,088 to 597, to become the new District 5 County Commissioner.

District Attorney for the 7th Judicial District Republican Clint Wellborn was re-elected to his post receiving 4,980 votes.

Catron County

Republicans made their voices heard in Tuesday’s election as well as voters overwhelming agreed to send Donald Trump back to Washington. The Trump/Vance ticket received 1,745 votes while the Harris/Walz ticket picked up 562 votes.

All Republicans on the ballot won offices in Catron County. Sherry Perez was elected county clerk with 1,816 votes, Joyce Laney was elected treasurer while receiving 1,829 votes, Haydn R. Forward was elected District 3 County Commissioner with 1,679 votes and Lucinda Mae Howell was elected to the office of Probate Judge with 1,685 ballots cast in her favor.