<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1SfgWS_1H3F9sJU00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1SfgWS_1H3F9sJU00" width="1000" height="665" ><figcaption>Maleonor Palacios proudly casts her first vote after becoming a U.S. citizen in September. Originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, she celebrates an important milestone as a new citizen and first-time voter at Rio West Mall on Nov. 3. Photo Credit: Kayla McHale</figcaption></figure>New Mexico elects first Native American woman governorThe 2026 midterm elections brought some major changes to the U.S., with many governors making history and Democrats winning control of the chambers of the U.S. Congress.And in other major, first-time news, a woman won the Navajo Nation presidential race.Crystalyne Curley and her running mate, Christopher C. Deschene, won the race for the Office of the President and Vice President with 32,094 votes, according to unofficial results released by the Navajo Election Administration.The unofficial results, comprising votes from the 110 chapters, show presidential candidate Justin Jones and his running mate, Emily Ellison, receiving 30,979 votes.Now, to break down the New Mexico election. Over 726,000 New Mexicans voted in the 2026 election, which is about 48.4% of almost 1.5 million eligible voters. Locally, over 20,000 McKinley County residents voted. Over 48,000 people are eligible to vote in McKinley County.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1us8BI_1H3F9sJU00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1us8BI_1H3F9sJU00" width="500" height="613" ><figcaption>Governor elect Deb Haaland</figcaption></figure>GOVERNOR’S RACEDeb Haaland won the gubernatorial race, with 57% (412,834 votes) of the statewide vote. Her Republican opponent Gregg Hull won 43% (308,315 votes). Locally, 14,455 people voted for Haaland, and 5,496 voted for Hull.Haaland, who is an enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo, will be the first Native American female governor. She served in Congress before becoming the Secretary of Interior under former President Joe Biden from 2021 to 2025. She made history in those roles too—as one of the first Native American women elected to Congress and the first Native American cabinet secretary.“Tonight, our state proved that Democrats are entrusted to fight for our home. For New Mexico. Not New America,” Haaland said during her victory speech. “New Mexico’s brightest days are ahead of us. Because I believe in a New Mexico that works for ALL New Mexicans.”Hull wrote a concession statement on Facebook, thanking his supporters.“I wish tonight had ended differently, and I know how much so many of you put into getting us here,” he said. “I respect the decision New Mexicans made, and I wish our next governor well.”<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1WcyAr_1H3F9sJU00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1WcyAr_1H3F9sJU00" width="500" height="500" ><figcaption>Republican gubernatorial candidate Gregg Hull</figcaption></figure>UNITED STATE SENATORNew Mexico remains blue, with incumbent Sen. Ben Luján retaining his Senate seat. In McKinley County, 15,700 people (79%) voted for Luján, while 4,260 (21%) voted for his Republican opponent Larry Marker. Statewide, Luján won 63% of the vote (455,165 votes), while Marker won 37% (265,557 votes).U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 1Democrat Melanie Stansbury retained her seat, beating out Republican nominee Ndidiamaka Okpareke with 178,261 votes (64%) compared to Okpareke’s 102,301 votes (36%).U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 2As for one of the districts that represents McKinley County, Democrat incumbent Gabriel Vasquez won over Republican Gregory Cunningham, with 123,113 votes (59%) to Cunningham’s 86,650 (41%).Local voters also chose Vasquez over Cunningham, with 82% (1,602 votes) compared to 18% (356 votes).U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 3Democrat Teresa Leger Fernández also held on to her seat, with 61% of the overall vote (139,967 votes) to her opponent Martin Zamora’s 39% (87,653 votes).Leger Fernández also won in McKinley County, by a higher margin—74% of the vote (13,177 votes) to Zamora’s 26% (4,581 votes).SECRETARY OF STATEFellow Democrat Amanda López Askin will replace Maggie Toulouse Oliver after she defeated Republican Ramona Goolsby for the Secretary of State position in Santa Fe. According to unofficial results on the Secretary of State website, López Askin received 61% of the 700,942 statewide votes. She received 73% of the 20,195 votes in McKinley County.ATTORNEY GENERALRaúl Torrez won a second term as attorney general, defeating his Republican challenger, private attorney Samuel Kane.Torrez won 63% (450,371 votes) in the statewide election, and 75% of the McKinley County vote.STATE AUDITOR AND TREASURERDemocratic incumbents Joseph Maestas and Laura Montoya kept their seats against Republican challengers.Both Democrats won 60% of the statewide votes. Maestas’ opponent Joshua Lawerence received 280,397 votes and Montoya’s opponent James Ellison pulled in 285, 923 votes.In McKinley County, the incumbents won by even higher margins, with Maestas winning 71% of the vote and Montoya winning 73%.COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC LANDSRepublican Mike Perry lost out to Democrat Juan De Jesus Sanchez III at both the statewide and local level. Seventy percent of McKinley County voters voted for Sanchez, while he received 430,427 votes statewide.STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 5Incumbent candidate Doreen Wonda Johnson won 100% of the vote in McKinley County. She ran unopposed.STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 6Incumbent Martha Garcia won against her opponent Republican Paul Spencer. Garcia won 77% of the vote (3,768 votes) while Spencer received 1,124 votes.STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 9Rep. Patty Lundstrom, D-Gallup, will serve her 14th term as a state representative in the New Mexico House. She ran in the 2026 midterm election unopposed, receiving 5,419 votes.STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 69Democrat Michelle Abeyta ran unopposed for the District 69 seat in the House of Representatives. She received 1,023 votes, and will serve her second term.JUDGE OF THE COURT OF APPEALS POSITION 1Democrat Kris Houghton ran unopposed, receiving 15,363 votes. PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 5Republican Sharon Clahchischilliage ran unopposed, receiving 11,559 votes.DISTRICT COURT JUDGE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT DIVISION 02Judge Bradley Keeler ran unopposed, receiving 15,515 votes. He ran as a Democrat.DISTRICT COURT JUDGE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT DIVISION 06The Division 06 race saw some competition, with Republican Brian Decker ultimately losing to Democrat Brenna Clani-Washinawatok. Decker won 31% of the vote (5,921 votes) while Clani-Washinawatok won 69% (12,963 votes).DISTRICT COURT JUDGE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT DIVISION 08Republican Stephen Wayne ran unopposed for this seat, receiving 10,757 votes.MAGISTRATE JUDGE – MCKINLEY DIVISION 1Democrat Rochelle Garnenez ran unopposed for this seat, receiving 15,223 votes. Garnenez fills the spot that was vacated by former Judge Brent Detsoi after he was permanently removed from the bench by the New Mexico Supreme Court in February for violations of the Judicial Court of Conduct.MAGISTRATE JUDGE MCKINLEY DIVISION 2Incumbent Democrat Virginia Yazzie ran unopposed for this seat, receiving 15,159 votes.MAGISTRATE JUDGE MCKINLEY DIVISION 3The Division 3 race saw some competition, with Democrat Raymond Calderon and Republican Steve Hester both vying for Judge Cythina Sanders’ seat. Calderon won the race with 73% of the vote (13,549 votes).MCKINLEY COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1After multiple Democrats put their names into the ring during the June primaries, Ernest C. Becenti came out on top. He received 5,993 votes in the general election Nov. 3. No Republican candidate ran against him.MCKINLEY COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 2After multiple Democrats put their names in the ring during the primaries, including incumbent Commissioner Walt Eddy, Genevie Jackson came out on top. Jackson ran unopposed in the general election, receiving 5,024 votes.Jackson previously served on the Commission. MCKINLEY COUNTY SHERIFFIncumbent Sheriff James Maiorano III, a Democrat, faced off against Republican Jeremy Shirley. Maiorano ultimately won with 71% of the vote (113,643 votes). Shirley received 5,568 votes.MCKINLEY COUNTY ASSESSORIncumbent Edward Becenti Jr., a Democrat, won another term, receiving 15,415 votes. He ran unopposed.PROBATE JUDGEDemocrat Monica Martinez ran unopposed, receiving 15,035 votes. JUDICIAL RETENTIONAll six judges seeking retention received “yes” votes from McKinley County.CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 1Constitutional Amendment 1 asked constituents whether state law should require bills to become law if the governor does not sign or veto them within the required timeframe, eliminating the governor’s pocket veto.Seventy-five percent of statewide voters voted “yes,” on the amendment, for a total of 494,437 votes. McKinley County voters aligned with the entire state, with 74% (13,528) voting yes.CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2Constitutional Amendment 2 asked whether or not to repeal the constitutional provision requiring that school elections be held at different times from partisan elections.Sixty-five percent of statewide voters said the provision should be repealed, for a total of 423,872 votes. McKinley County voters aligned with the entire state, with 65% (11,826 voting yes.CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 3Constitutional Amendment 3 proposed making changes to the Board of Regents, including establishing nominating committees to provide lists of candidates, provide that student members are appointed from a list provided by student governing body, and prohibit non-student members from changing political party 12 months preceding appointment.Seventy percent of statewide voters said “yes” to making those changes, for a total of 441,916 votes. McKinley County sided with the rest of the state, with 73% of voters voting “yes,” for a total of 12,464 votes.CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 4Constitutional Amendment 4 was the decision on whether or not to establish a salary for state legislators equal to the annual median household income of the state.Sixty-three percent of statewide voters said “yes,” to allowing state legislators to have a salary, for a total of 415,498 votes. McKinley County voters agreed, with 12,464 “yes” votes on the matter.BOND QUESTION 1Bond Question 1 asked constituents if they wanted to authorize $30 million in general obligation bonds for senior citizen facility improvement, construction, and equipment acquisition projects, funded by a statewide property tax.Seventy percent of voters (450,605 voters) voted “yes” on the matter. In McKinley County, 13,178 people (77% of voters) voted “yes.”BOND QUESTION 2Bond Question 2 asked constituents if they wanted to authorize up to $20 million in general obligation bonds for academic, public school, tribal, and public library resource acquisitions, funded by a statewide property tax.Sixty-six percent of voters (424,393 people) voted “yes” on the matter. McKinley County voters agreed, with 12,407 people (73% of the vote) saying “yes.”BOND QUESTION 3Bond Question 3 asked constituents if they wanted to authorize up to $230 million in general obligation bonds for capital improvements and acquisitions at higher education institutions, special schools, and tribal schools, funded by a statewide property tax.Sixty-four percent of statewide voters voted “yes,” for a total of 412,945. McKinley County voters agreed, with 13,077 voters (76%) voting “yes.”UNM-GALLUP GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDMcKinley County voters were also asked whether or not the University of New Mexico-Gallup campus should be allowed to borrow up to $10 million in bonds to build, remodel, and equip its campus facilities and technology (excluding sports stadiums).A majority (78%) said yes, for a total of 12,087 votes. Almost 3,500 (or 22%) of voters said “no.”DEMOCRATS FLIP THE SENATENationally, Nov. 3 was a historical election night. Democrats flipped seven Senate seats and gained a majority. Before this election, the Democrats last held the Senate majority during the 118th Congress from 2023 to 2025 under Biden.Democrats were projected to flip seats in Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Kansas, and Iowa, winning in states which had become surprisingly competitive in the final stretch of the campaign, while holding on to seats in Georgia and New Hampshire.MAKING HISTORYWhen it comes to gubernatorial races, voters in nine other states besides Haaland in New Mexico made history.Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, who won her race to be Georgia’s next governor, will be the country’s first Black woman elected governor in any state. The 56-year-old served as mayor of Atlanta from 2018-2022 sand then as an adviser to Biden. Her defeat of Republican billionaire health care executive Rick Jackson makes Lance Bottoms the first Democrat to win a governor’s race in Georgia in more than two decades.Democrat Xavier Becerra will be the first elected Latino governor of California when he takes office, while Democrat Gina Hinojosa will be the first Latina governor of Texas.Becerra, a former California attorney general and former member of Congress who served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Biden administration, will succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom after handily defeating Republican Steve Hilton, a political outsider.Hinojosa, a Texas state representative, defeated incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, one of the country’s most influential governors and an ally of President Donald Trump. Hinojosa’s win follows a demographic shift in the state, which has seen a surge in its Latino population. Hinojosa will be Texas’ first Democratic governor in more than 30 years.Voters in Florida, Nevada, and Wisconsin elected the first Black governors in their states—Republican Byron Donalds in the Sunshine State, Democrat Aaron Ford in the Silver State, and Democrat David Crowley in the Badger State.Women gubernatorial candidates notched historic wins in three states.Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn is the first woman to win a gubernatorial race in Tennessee.Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar will become the first woman to be governor of Minnesota. She defeated Republican Lisa Demuth, the speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. In one of the bigger upsets of the election, Democrat Amy Acton is poised to become the first woman elected governor of Ohio and the first Jewish governor of the state. She will be the first Democrat to serve in the office in two decades.</div></body>

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New Mexico elects first Native American woman governor. The 2026 midterm elections brought some major changes to the U.S., with many governors making history and Democrats winning control of the chambers of the U.S. Congress. And in other major, first-time news, a woman won the Navajo Nation presidential race. Crystalyne...

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New Mexico elects first Native American woman governor. The 2026 midterm elections brought some major changes to the U.S., with many governors making histo

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Historic midterm elections flip Senate

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