RPLA Elects Nine Delegates for March State Pre-Primary Convention

The Republican Party of Los Alamos has selected nine delegates to represent the county at the Republican Party of New Mexico 2026 Pre-Primary Convention on March 7 in Ruidoso. The delegation was chosen at the RPLA Pre-Primary Convention held at Fuller Lodge on January 24, and the roster appears in the party's February 2026 newsletter written by Lisa Shin, chair of the Republican Party of Los Alamos.

Lisa Shin wrote, “Nine delegates were elected at our RPLA Pre-Primary Convention: myself (Lisa Shin), Joshua and Heather Muck, David Reagor, Gary Stradling, Mike and Sondra Wyman, Ken and Valerie Shelley. These delegates will participate in the Republican Party of New Mexico 2026 Pre-Primary Convention on March 7 in Ruidoso, NM.” A post-convention photo shows Rep. Martin Zamora (District 63), second from left, chats with Heather Muck, Lisa Shin and Jolyn McTeigue following the January 24 RPLA Pre-Primary Convention at Fuller Lodge. Photo by Maire O’Neill.

The newsletter also set out near-term meeting and event details for party members. It announced: “Please mark your calendars for our bi-monthly Central Committee meeting, 6pm on Feb. 19 at Open Door Bible Church, 2101 Trinity, in Los Alamos. All registered Republicans are invited to attend. County Board of Public Utilities member Eric Stromberg is on the agenda to give an update.” For wider public programming, the newsletter stated, “I am thrilled to announce that Rep. Martin Zamora (District 63), candidate for NM CD-3, will be the guest speaker for our Legislative Update. Register here for ‘The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the 2026 NM State Legislature’ on March 28 at 11 a.m, at SALA Event Center.” The newsletter further noted: “The Los Alamos Federation of Republican Women have announced their annual Constitution Essay Contest. Details can be found at this link.”

For Los Alamos residents, the delegate selection matters because these nine individuals will take part in the state party’s pre-primary discussions and any procedural or endorsement activity that follows. State pre-primary conventions can influence ballot access, delegate slates, and intra-party rules that affect local campaigning and candidate visibility. The newsletter provides clear dates and places for local engagement but leaves several operational details unspecified. It does not list vote totals or the method used to elect the delegates, it does not name alternates, and it does not indicate whether RPLA will cover travel or lodging costs for delegates attending the March 7 convention. The March 28 Legislative Update references registration but the newsletter did not provide a link or registration contact.

Registered Republicans in Los Alamos have at least two opportunities to engage before the state meeting: the Central Committee meeting at Open Door Bible Church on Feb. 19 and the Legislative Update at SALA Event Center on March 28 where Rep. Martin Zamora will speak. The county’s voice at the state pre-primary will be shaped by the named delegates from Los Alamos; transparency about the selection process and logistical arrangements will be important for residents who want to follow how local preferences are represented at the state level.