Chief Deputy DA Gary Risley seeks reelection as San Juan probate judge

Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary E. Risley announced Feb. 25, 2026 that he is seeking re-election as San Juan County probate judge, the Tri‑City Record reported. The announcement, made this week as candidate filing activity accelerates, positions Risley publicly in the early contest over the 2026 probate bench.

Risley’s filing announcement appeared in the Tri‑City Record on Feb. 25, 2026, signaling his intent to pursue another term in the probate judgeship during a period when local candidates are beginning formal steps to enter races for county offices. San Juan County election activity is moving toward the 2026 cycle as filing windows and candidate recruitment increase across county positions.

As Chief Deputy District Attorney, Gary E. Risley brings a law‑enforcement title to the campaign filing pool, a fact highlighted in the record of his announcement on Feb. 25, 2026. Risley’s declaration this week adds a name with prosecutorial experience to the list of people publicly engaged with the 2026 local election calendar, which is now drawing attention from voters and prospective challengers in San Juan County.

The Tri‑City Record report on Feb. 25, 2026 is the first public notice this week of Risley’s bid for re‑election to the probate court, and it arrives as filing and candidate activity ramp up ahead of the 2026 elections. With the filing season underway in many jurisdictions across New Mexico, Risley’s announcement places the San Juan County probate race on a short list of local contests to watch this year.

Residents tracking San Juan County government will now see Gary E. Risley’s name in the mix as the 2026 calendar progresses; his Feb. 25, 2026 announcement via the Tri‑City Record makes his intention to seek another term an early and explicit part of the county’s upcoming electoral cycle. The next weeks of filing activity will show whether other candidates enter the probate race alongside Risley as San Juan County moves toward the 2026 elections.