San Juan County voters all but elected a new sheriff, district judge, magistrate judge and probate judge in the June 2 primary election.
The unofficial election results show that former San Juan County Sheriff Ken Christesen won a four-way race for sheriff on the Republican primary ticket. Christesen earned 43% of the vote, while San Juan County Sheriff’s Capt. Kevin Burns received 34%. San Juan County Detention Center Director Daniel Webb received 17%, and Jon Nyce received 6%. There is no Democratic challenger, which all but guarantees Christesen will be elected sheriff in November.
In the race for 11th Judicial District Judge Division 8, Stephen Wayne, who was appointed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, retained his seat with 52% of the vote, over his challenger Ned Fuller, who received 48% of the vote on the Republican primary ticket. There is no Democratic challenger in the November election.
In the race for San Juan County Magistrate Division 6, incumbent Stacey Biel earned 60% of the vote over the 40% received by Donald Naylor Mizell. There is no Democratic challenger in the November election.
Incumbent Gary Risley retained his seat as San Juan County Probate Judge in a three-way race on the Republican primary ticket. Risley, who also serves as the Chief Deputy District Attorney, received 58% of the votes, while challengers Sharon Kay Allen and Benjamin Tell Ward earned 21% each. Again, there is no Democratic challenger come November.
In the race for the state representative District 69 there were two Democratic candidates vying for the seat. Incumbent Michelle Pauline Abeyta lost to former Rep. Harry Garcia, who received 54% of the vote. There is no Republican challenger.