Voters’ Guide to Judicial Election & Retention (New Mexico, revised)

New Mexico GOP ^ | September, 2026 | New Mexico GOP

[CedarDave]

The importance of judicial elections cannot be overstated. The current crime crisis in New Mexico is not solely a criminal or law enforcement issue, it also involves the judiciary. Judges play a significant role in the outcomes of criminal cases and have discretion when it comes to ‘catch and release’ issues that plague our state. Voters should make informed decisions about who is elected and/or who is retained as a judge. Your NO vote is important in that a judge must gain 57% of votes to be retained. This listing shows only judges not recommended for retention. The second listing shows all judges on the ballot including those with NO recommendations.

2026 NM GOP JUDICIAL RETENTION RECOMMENDATIONS

STATEWIDE – SUPREME COURT

• VOTE NO • David Thompson — Supreme Court
• VOTE NO • Shannon Bacon — Supreme Court

FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT

• VOTE NO • Francis J. Mathew — Division 1 – Santa Fe County
• VOTE NO • T. Glenn Ellington — Division 7 – Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, Los Alamos counties
• VOTE NO • Kathleen McGarry Ellenwood — Division 10 - Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, Los Alamos Counties

SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT

• VOTE NO • William E. Parnall — Division 1 – Bernalillo County
• VOTE NO • Alma Cristina Garcia Roberson — Division 7 – Bernalillo County
• VOTE NO • Bruce C. Fox — Division 10 – Bernalillo County
• VOTE NO • Lisa Chavez Ortega — Division 13 – Bernalillo County

THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT

• VOTE NO • Manuel Isaac Arrieta — Division 1 – Dona Ana County
• VOTE NO • Douglas R. Driggers — Division 7 – Dona Ana County

FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

• VOTE NO • Michael A. Aragon — Division 1 – Mora County

SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

• VOTE NO • Tom F. Stewart — Division 1 – Grant County

ELEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

• VOTE NO • Douglas W. Decker — Division 7 – Mckinley County

THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

• VOTE NO • Amanda Connie Sanchez Villalobos — Division 4 – Cibola County
• VOTE NO • Christopher George Perez — Division 7 – Sandoval County

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TOPICS: New Mexico; Issues; Parties; State and Local
KEYWORDS: judges; newmexico

[CedarDave]

This is a revision of an earlier thread posted this afternoon but with a listing of judges from the 2024 election.

The link below from a second source (Better Together New Mexico) provides specific information on all 2026 retention and contested race judges with details on why they should not be retained.

New Mexico Judicial Retention & Contested Race Recommendations

[CedarDave]

This is a revision of an earlier thread.

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[KitJ]

In Colorado, we can vote on judges. They’re all appointed by the governor.

The choice is “retain” or “do not retain”.

I simply vote ‘no’ on every one. “do not retain”. It doesn’t matter. I’m not aware of any judge that has been voted off the bench since 1990.

I’m willing to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Most don’t vote for judges. Three votes for “retain” overcomes two votes for “do not retain”.

It really doesn’t matter because even if a State judge is thrown out, they’ll be replaced by someone worse.

[bosco24]

Thanks. Early voting tomorrow.

[bosco24]

Thanks. Early voting tomorrow.

[CedarDave]

There are four constitutional amendments on the November 3 ballot. The below is a listing to the proposed amendments and arguments for and against them as prepared by the New Mexico Legislative Council Service.

Summary Of and Arguments For and Against the Constitutional Amendments Proposed by the New Mexico Legislature in 2025 and 2026

[CedarDave]

A link to info on NM Constitutional Amendments is provided at #6