Valencia County Clerk Accepts June Primary Filings March 10, Write-Ins March 17

The Valencia County Clerk’s office will accept candidate filings for the June 2 primary from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, and will accept write-in filings during the same hours on Tuesday, March 17, Julia M. Dendinger reported in the News-Bulletin on March 5, 2026. “Candidates actually have two opportunties to file to run in the primary — from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, as a regular candidate or during the same time period on Tuesday, March 17, as a write-in candidate,” the advisory said.

“It’s time for a potential changing of the guard in local elected offices,” the News-Bulletin advisory opened, noting that “Since it’s an even-numbered year, the partisan races will be on the ballot, including Valencia County sheriff, two Valencia County commission seats, Valencia County assessor and probate judge, as well as all three Valencia County magistrate judge divisions and New Mexico state representatives.” The county primary is set for Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

Several incumbents will not be automatic favorites. “Current Sheriff Denise Vigil, a Republican, cannot run again as the seat is limited to two consecutive terms, leaving the field wide open,” the News-Bulletin noted. The advisory also reported that “In District 1 Republican Gerard Saiz currently holds the seat and is also not eligible to run again, since he is finishing his second consecutive term.” The county’s District 3 commission seat remains occupied by “The current commissioner for District 3, Republican Morris R. Sparkman, is in his first term.” The News-Bulletin also recorded that “The District 69 seat is held by Michelle Paulene Abeyta, a Democrat.”

Prospective candidates for magistrate judge and state representative must prepare nominating petitions. “Candidates declaring for magistrate judge and state representative must gather signatures on nominating petitions to present on filing day,” the News-Bulletin said, and clarified the calculation: “The number of signatures required are calculated from the total votes cast for all the party’s candidates for governor at the last preceding primary election at which the party’s candidate for governor was nominated.”

Voters should note Election Day and early-vote logistics posted by the Valencia County Bureau of Elections. “Primary Election Day is Tuesday, June 2nd. All voting sites will be open 7:00AM - 7:00PM. The 15 voting sites for Valencia County are:” followed in county materials by the following locations and addresses as listed in the bureau excerpt: Ann Parish Elementary School - 112 Meadow Lake Rd, Los Lunas; Belen Community Center - 305 Eagle Ln, Belen; Belen Public Library - 333 Becker Ave, Belen; Bosque Farms Public Library - 1455 W Bosque Lp, Bosque Farms; Century High School - 32 Sun Valley Rd, Los Lunas; Del Rio Senior Center - 351 Rio Communities Blvd, Belen; Don Jose Dolores Cordova Cultural Center - 426 Jarales Rd, Jarales; El Cerro Mission Community Center - 309 El Cerro Mission Rd, Los Lunas; Logsdon Hall - 19676 Hwy 314, Belen; Los Lunas Schools Admin - 119 Luna Avenue, Los Lunas; Meadow Lake Community Center - 100 Cuerro Ln, Los Lunas.

The county’s elections page also sets absentee and early-voting windows: “\PLEASE NOTE\ For the 2026 Primary Election, the first day the Clerk's office can mail ballots to voters is Tuesday, May 5th, 2026. The last day to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Requests must be received in the clerk's office by 5:00pm on that day.” Early voting is scheduled “Monday through Saturday, 10am-6pm, beginning Saturday, May 16th. Early voting ends at all sites on Saturday, May 30th.” Same Day Registration will be available at the Valencia County Admin Building voting location and at all early voting sites beginning 28 days prior to the election, with voters required to show picture ID and proof of Valencia County residency such as a utility statement or bank statement.

“Filing takes place both days at the Valencia County Clerk’s office, 444 Luna, Ave., Los Lunas,” the News-Bulletin advisory states; candidates and campaigns seeking to enter the June 2 primary should plan to appear at that address during the March 10 regular filing hours or the March 17 write-in window.