Rio Rancho mayor favorite for governor at GOP pre-primary convention

RUIDOSO — Several hundred delegates to the state Republican Party’s pre-primary convention selected candidates for the June 2 primary ballot Saturday afternoon. For governor, a clear majority backed Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, though Doug Turner of Albuquerque also earned a ballot spot and at least one other contender, Duke Rodriguez of Albuquerque, said he had enough petition signatures to secure a ballot line as well.

Convention voters also threw their support heavily behind Rio Rancho pharmacist and businesswoman Ndidiamaka “Didi” Okpareke with 98 votes, ahead of Steve Jones, who received 16, in the 1st Congressional District race.

State Republicans gathered at the Ruidoso Convention Center this weekend as they aim for state and federal victories in November after years of Democratic governance: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is finishing her second four-year term; her fellow Democrats hold statewide offices and majorities in both chambers of the Legislature; and southern New Mexico’s congressional seat, once a Republican stronghold, is held by a Democrat seeking a third term.

“This weekend’s pre-primary convention proved that we have a group of outstanding candidates who will fight for the values New Mexicans care about,” state GOP chairwoman Amy Barela said in a news release after the convention adjourned Saturday. “The state of our party is incredibly strong. New Mexico Republicans are more unified than ever before, and we are committed to showing New Mexico voters why Republicans are worthy of their trust this November. It’s time we take our great state back.”

Candidates who did not receive at least 20% of delegate votes this weekend will have to submit additional signatures to secure a place on the June ballot, with thresholds varying by office.

Three of the five Republicans seeking the party’s nomination for governor participated in a Friday night debate: former Public Regulation Commissioner Jim Ellison of Cedar Crest took part along with Hull and Turner.

State Sen. Steve Lanier of Aztec and Rodriguez, from Albuquerque, both sat out the debate after questioning a $2,000 pledge requirement. Rodriguez, who has survived two legal challenges to his candidacy alleging he does not meet residency requirements, said he also objected to debate rules on the content of his remarks.

“If I want to criticize the Republican Party for its lack of success, that is totally my prerogative,” he told the Journal. He argued the pre-primary vote of a few hundred delegates was not a predictor of the eventual Republican nominee.

“The convention is one room, and the primary is the entire state,” he said.

Hull won 239 votes according to results announced near the end of the convention. Turner earned 104. Rodriguez won 39 votes, Lanier took 31 and Ellison won seven votes.

State Sen. David Gallegos of Eunice made the ballot with the greatest share of votes for lieutenant governor, with 278, surpassing 77 for Aubrey Blair Dunn and 61 for Manuel Lardizabal.

The remaining contested position was for the southern New Mexico congressional seat held by U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, a Democrat, since 2023. Gregory Cunningham of Albuquerque was the convention favorite with 114 votes ahead of Jose Orozco, also of Albuquerque, with 17 votes.

State Rep. Martin Zamora of Clovis, who did not have a Republican rival, will challenge Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández for the House of Representatives seat in New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District.

Other candidates running unopposed for the primary ballot were Ramona Goolsby of Rio Rancho for secretary of state; Las Cruces attorney Samuel Kane for attorney general, who will challenge Democratic incumbent Raúl Torrez; and Michael Jack Perry of Roswell for public lands commissioner.

Carol Ness, the Sierra County Republican Party treasurer and a returning delegate, said convention business had gone smoothly and she and her fellow Republicans were confident they would elect Republicans in November.

“If I had to say anything about why I’m a Republican is that it makes common sense,” Ness said. “We, the people, put restrictions on government, when government is trying to put restrictions on us.”

Goolsby, who is running for secretary of state, said it was her first time attending a political convention. She is currently a member of the Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District Board, with a background as a family nurse practitioner.

She said the experience was an eye-opening view into the “machine” of party politics; yet she vowed to stay focused on public service and listen to voters.

“What I’ve heard from people is, they are tired of people within the machine continually not representing them,” she said. “I know there is a purpose for the machine, except when the machine loses track of the people.”

Algernon D’Ammassa is the Journal’s southern New Mexico correspondent. He can be reached at adammassa@abqjournal.com.