The Ballot Brief
Otero County, New Mexico

New Mexico 12th Judicial District Court, Division II

One candidate is tracked for New Mexico 12th Judicial District Court, Division II on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Lori L. Willard. Candidate information follows official Otero County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Lori L. Willard is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot for this seat on the Twelfth Judicial District, per the New Mexico Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list. Lori L. Willard is the sitting judge in this division, per https://twelfthdistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/judges/. Every voter in Lincoln and Otero counties elects this seat, since New Mexico district judges are elected district-wide across the 12th Judicial District (the New Mexico Courts' Courts by District page). New Mexico district judges run in a partisan election the first time they seek the seat, then stand later on a separate nonpartisan retention question; this is that partisan race.

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. The sitting officeholder, Lori L. Willard, is on the ballot. One name is on the ballot for this seat.

New Mexico › Otero County › New Mexico 12th Judicial District Court, Division II

Lori L. Willard

Republican Incumbent

Biography

Lori L. Willard currently serves as the Division II judge of the 12th Judicial District Court, covering Lincoln County, per the court's own website. No campaign website was found as of September 25, 2026.

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Questions about this race

Who is running for New Mexico 12th Judicial District Court, Division II in 2026?

One candidate is tracked for New Mexico 12th Judicial District Court, Division II on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Lori L. Willard. Candidate information follows official Otero County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the New Mexico 12th Judicial District Court, Division II election in New Mexico?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for New Mexico are on the New Mexico election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Otero County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Otero County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official New Mexico election office, or see the full Otero County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Otero County ballot

7 tracked races in Otero County, New Mexico. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
New Mexico House District 51New Mexico House District 53New Mexico House District 54See all 7 Otero County races
Candidate profiles
Lori L. Willard, full profileOfficial New Mexico election office