Candidate Filed as Democrat for Sheriff After Switching to Republican

Democratic primary voters choosing Valencia County's next sheriff on June 2 will find a registered Republican on their ballot.

Gabriel Trujillo, 50, filed for the Democratic nomination for sheriff on March 10, one of 32 candidates who filed countywide that day. Voter registration records at the Valencia County Clerk's Office show he had already changed his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican in February, weeks before he filed.

State law explains the apparent contradiction. When the New Mexico Secretary of State published the official 2026 election proclamation on Jan. 26, the law froze each candidate's party registration at that moment. Anyone who switched parties after that date carries their pre-proclamation label on the June ballot, regardless of their current registration. Because Trujillo was still enrolled as a Democrat on Jan. 26, his ballot designation is locked in.

The timing creates an uneven dynamic in the sheriff's race. Four Republicans are competing for their party's nomination, while Trujillo is one of just two candidates on the Democratic side. Incumbent Sheriff Denise Vigil, who won reelection in 2022 with more than 14,700 votes, is finishing her second term and is not seeking reelection.

Trujillo lists himself as self-employed and, separate from the ballot question, faces an ongoing civil complaint and a third-degree felony charge of bribery or intimidation of a witness for allegedly threatening a person named Herrera. Asked about those matters, Trujillo said "this is where Valencia County is dirty" and warned that the newspaper "will be sued so quick" if it reported on his past charges. "You are dealing with something above your pay grade," he added. "Make sure you have your ducks in a row before you do it."

The practical effect falls on Democratic voters across Belen, Los Lunas, Bosque Farms, Peralta and Rio Communities who may not realize their only contested sheriff primary involves a candidate now enrolled in the opposing party. Under current state rules, there is no mechanism to remove Trujillo from the Democratic ballot; the Jan. 26 proclamation date is the governing deadline, and it has passed.

Voters who want to confirm their own registration or review official candidate filings can contact the Valencia County Clerk's Bureau of Elections at 444 Luna Ave in Los Lunas or check the New Mexico Secretary of State's candidate portal online. Early in-person voting begins May 5; absentee ballot requests must reach the clerk's office by 5 p.m. on May 19.