Independent Filings Reshape Otero County’s November Ballot

ALAMOGORDO, NM — June 25, 2026 — New Mexico’s statewide candidate filing day for independent, minor-party, write-in, and judicial retention candidates closed this afternoon at 5 p.m., and the additions to Otero County’s roster have turned several races that looked settled after the June primary into genuine contests heading into the November general election.

Four new candidacies were filed today with the Otero County Clerk’s office, all but one as Declined-to-State (DTS), commonly referred to as independent, candidates. Combined with the field that emerged from the June 2 primary, here is how the November ballot is shaping up.

New Contested Races

State Representative, District 51

Incumbent Republican John Block ran unopposed in the primary and looked set for an easy path back to Santa Fe. That changed this afternoon when Grace A. Nagamine filed as a DTS/independent candidate at 2:17 p.m., setting up a Block-vs-Nagamine matchup in November.

County Commissioner, District 2

Republican Jonathan T. Emery secured his party’s nomination in the primary. Today, Evan Christopher Lambert filed as an independent candidate just after 3 p.m., meaning Emery will face a general-election challenge rather than coasting to the seat unopposed.

County Sheriff

Republican Geraldine Yazza Martinez emerged from a three-way GOP primary to claim her party’s nomination. She’ll now face independent candidate Roderick A. Saint, who filed shortly before noon today, in a race that had appeared likely to end with the primary.

Other Likely Matchups

County Commissioner, District 1

This race was already shaping up as competitive out of the primary and remains the county’s clearest party-line contest: Republican Christopher Wayne Glidden against Democrat Alan David Gonzalez.

Judicial Retention — Twelfth Judicial District, Division 4

District Court Judge Angie K. Schneider filed today for a retention election, in which voters will decide a simple yes-or-no on whether she keeps her seat. Retention races are nonpartisan and unopposed by design.

Likely Uncontested Races

Several Republican primary winners did not draw a challenger by today’s deadline and appear headed to the general election unopposed:

• State Representative, District 53 — Ben Luna Jr.

• Magistrate Judge, Division 1 — John Robinson Secrest III

• Magistrate Judge, Division 2 — Joseph W. Cutts

• County Assessor — James M. Bowman

• Probate Judge — Jessica Lynn Suggs

What Happens Next

Today’s filings are still pending verification. The Secretary of State’s office and the Otero County Clerk will confirm petition signatures and qualification documents before certifying the final ballot. Barring disqualifications, however, Otero County voters can expect at least three newly competitive races — state representative, county commissioner, and sheriff — when they head to the polls on November 3.

Filing information is drawn from the New Mexico Secretary of State’s 2026 General Election Contest/Candidate List for Otero County.

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