Valencia County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
21 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 13 Valencia County races, led by the Valencia County Assessor contest.
County offices
AssessorTorres G. Leyba (D) · Burgandy Bree Casias (R)
Torres G. Leyba (D) and Burgandy Bree Casias (R) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Valencia County Assessor.
Torres G. Leyba
Torres G. Leyba works as a political analyst and holds an associate of applied science degree from the University of New Mexico, per the Valencia County News-Bulletin. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Burgandy Bree Casias
Burgandy Bree Casias works as a mortgage loan officer, per the Valencia County News-Bulletin. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
2 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Valencia County Assessor, per the New Mexico Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election Contest/Candidate List.
Full race pageSheriffAlan Fredrick Montano (D) · Joseph Eugene Rowland (R)
Alan Fredrick Montano (D) and Joseph Eugene Rowland (R) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Valencia County Sheriff.
Alan Fredrick Montano
Alan Fredrick Montano works for the Valencia County Sheriff's Office and has more than 28 years of law enforcement experience, including 13 years with the Valencia County Sheriff's Office and time as a probation and parole officer, per the Valencia County News-Bulletin. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Joseph Eugene Rowland
Joseph Eugene Rowland is a lieutenant with the Valencia County Sheriff's Office, holding an associate of science degree in criminal justice from Cochise College and a diploma from the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, per the Valencia County News-Bulletin. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
2 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Valencia County Sheriff, per the New Mexico Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election Contest/Candidate List.
Full race pageCommissioner, District 1Christopher K. Williams (R) · Sharalaina Piro-Rael (D)
Christopher K. Williams (R) and Sharalaina Piro-Rael (D) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Valencia County Commissioner, District 1.
Christopher K. Williams
Christopher K. Williams works as an emergency planner and holds a seat on the University of New Mexico-Valencia advisory board, per the Valencia County News-Bulletin. Williams has an associate degree in nuclear engineering technology, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Sharalaina Piro-Rael
Sharalaina Piro-Rael works as a music store manager and holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of New Mexico, per the Valencia County News-Bulletin. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
2 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Valencia County Commissioner, District 1, per the New Mexico Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election Contest/Candidate List.
Full race pageCommissioner, District 3Karla J. Laurie (D) · Sharon L. Smith (R)
Karla J. Laurie (D) and Sharon L. Smith (R) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Valencia County Commissioner, District 3.
Karla J. Laurie
Karla J. Laurie is a retired first responder and a member of Phi Theta Kappa, per the Valencia County News-Bulletin. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Sharon L. Smith
Sharon L. Smith is retired from the New Mexico Department of Corrections, per the Valencia County News-Bulletin. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
2 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Valencia County Commissioner, District 3, per the New Mexico Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election Contest/Candidate List.
Full race pageMagistrate Judge, Division 1Miles Ross Tafoya (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Miles Ross Tafoya
Miles Ross Tafoya is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Valencia County Magistrate Judge, Division 1, per the New Mexico Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election Contest/Candidate List. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Miles Ross Tafoya is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the New Mexico Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election Contest/Candidate List.
Full race pageMagistrate Judge, Division 2John R. Chavez (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
John R. Chavez
John R. Chavez is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Valencia County Magistrate Judge, Division 2, per the New Mexico Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election Contest/Candidate List. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
John R. Chavez is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the New Mexico Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election Contest/Candidate List.
Full race pageMagistrate Judge, Division 3Eric Montano (R) · Rorik S. Rivenburgh (D)
Eric Montano (R) and Rorik S. Rivenburgh (D) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Valencia County Magistrate Judge, Division 3.
Eric Montano
Top priorities
- Fairness, justice and accountability on the bench
- Ensuring victims have a voice in the courtroom
Per the campaign site.
About Eric Montano
Eric Montano served 20 years in the United States Air Force and has more than 30 years of combined civilian law enforcement experience, per his campaign site. Montano holds a bachelor's degree in Business Management and a Master's degree in Business Administration with a focus on law enforcement and corrections, and is a small business owner, per his campaign site.
Rorik S. Rivenburgh
Rorik S. Rivenburgh retired from UPS after 30 years and currently works as a tour guide, holding a bachelor of science degree in business management, per the Valencia County News-Bulletin. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
2 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Valencia County Magistrate Judge, Division 3, per the New Mexico Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election Contest/Candidate List.
Full race pageSchool board
Public Education Commission District 6Stewart Alan Ingham (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Stewart Alan Ingham (Republican) is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Public Education Commission District 6.
Stewart Alan Ingham
Stewart Ingham, raised in Albuquerque, earned a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from the University of New Mexico in 1992 and obtained his contractor's license in 1986, per the New Mexico Public Education Department. He served as Construction Manager at Albuquerque Public Schools from 2007 until his retirement in October 2022, overseeing projects including Atrisco Heritage and Del Norte High Schools, and was elected to the Public Education Commission as a write-in candidate in 2019, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Incumbent Stewart Ingham is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot for the Public Education Commission District 6 seat, per the New Mexico Secretary of State's certified candidate list. The name still appears on the ballot; the race is uncontested.
Full race pageJudges
Probate JudgeWendy Emily Wallace (R) · Pedro Rael (D)
Wendy Emily Wallace (R) and Pedro Rael (D) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Valencia County Probate Judge.
Wendy Emily Wallace
Wendy Emily Wallace is the sitting Valencia County Probate Judge, currently serving her first term, per Valencia County. Wallace has worked for more than 30 years as a real estate qualifying broker and small business owner, and attended the University of Phoenix, per the Valencia County News-Bulletin. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Pedro Rael
Pedro Rael is an attorney who is semi-retired from the New Mexico Department of Transportation Aviation Division, per the Valencia County News-Bulletin. Rael is a former district court judge for the Thirteenth Judicial District and a former Valencia County commissioner, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
2 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Valencia County Probate Judge, per the New Mexico Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election Contest/Candidate List.
Full race pageBy address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Valencia County is split across 4 New Mexico House districts.
Find your districts by addressNew Mexico House: 4 districtsDistricts 7, 8, 49, 69
New Mexico House District 7Rickie Allen Gonzales, II (D) · Tanya R. Mirabal Moya (R)
Rickie Allen Gonzales, II
Rickie Allen Gonzales, II works as a graphic designer and visual communicator, per the Democratic Party of Valencia County. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Tanya R. Mirabal Moya
Tanya R. Mirabal Moya has represented House District 7, covering Valencia County, since 2023, per the New Mexico Legislature member page, which lists her occupation as teacher. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Rickie Allen Gonzales, II (D), Tanya R. Mirabal Moya (R) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for New Mexico House District 7. Tanya R. Mirabal Moya is the sitting member, per the New Mexico Legislature's member roster. Party nominees were chosen at the June 2, 2026 primary, per the New Mexico Secretary of State's 2026 General Election candidate list.
Full race pageNew Mexico House District 8Brian G. Baca (R) · Katherine Joanna Gauer (D)
Brian G. Baca
Brian G. Baca has represented House District 8, covering Valencia County, since 2022, per the New Mexico Legislature member page, which lists his occupation as educator. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Katherine Joanna Gauer
Top priorities
- Supports property tax oversight and assessor's office accountability
- Supports food assistance programs including SNAP, WIC and free school lunches
Per the campaign site.
About Katherine Joanna Gauer
Katherine Joanna Gauer's professional background includes retail management, co-founding two small businesses and sexual assault advocacy work, per Gauer's campaign site. Gauer holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from New Mexico State University and is pursuing a master's degree in social work, per the campaign site.
Brian G. Baca (R), Katherine Joanna Gauer (D) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for New Mexico House District 8. Brian G. Baca is the sitting member, per the New Mexico Legislature's member roster. Party nominees were chosen at the June 2, 2026 primary, per the New Mexico Secretary of State's 2026 General Election candidate list.
Full race pageNew Mexico House District 49Gail "Missy" Armstrong (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Gail "Missy" Armstrong
Top priorities
- Supports balancing water rights across affected parties
- Supports agriculture with fewer regulations
- Supports rural economic development and local school board autonomy
Per the campaign site.
About Gail "Missy" Armstrong
Gail Armstrong has represented House District 49, covering Catron, Sierra, Socorro and Valencia counties, since 2017 and serves as Minority Floor Leader, per the New Mexico Legislature member page.
Gail "Missy" Armstrong (R) is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for New Mexico House District 49; unopposed candidates still appear on New Mexico ballots, so the race is on the ballot but is not contested. Gail "Missy" Armstrong is the sitting member, per the New Mexico Legislature's member roster. Party nominees were chosen at the June 2, 2026 primary, per the New Mexico Secretary of State's 2026 General Election candidate list.
Full race pageNew Mexico House District 69Michelle Paulene Abeyta (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Michelle Paulene Abeyta
Top priorities
- Supports child protection reforms including an independent Office of the Child Advocate
- Supports expanding health care access and behavioral health services
Per the campaign site.
About Michelle Paulene Abeyta
Michelle Paulene Abeyta has represented House District 69 since 2025, per the New Mexico Legislature member page, which lists her occupation as lawyer. Abeyta is a member of the Navajo Nation from To'hajiilee and holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Arizona, per Abeyta's campaign site.
Michelle Paulene Abeyta (D) is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for New Mexico House District 69; unopposed candidates still appear on New Mexico ballots, so the race is on the ballot but is not contested. Michelle Paulene Abeyta is the sitting member, per the New Mexico Legislature's member roster. Party nominees were chosen at the June 2, 2026 primary, per the New Mexico Secretary of State's 2026 General Election candidate list.
Full race pageSee your full ballot
Voting info and more
Voting info and more
Verify your ballot with the official election office.
Cross-check every race and candidate with the official election office. Official sources are the final word.
New Mexico's field is the Secretary of State's candidate portal list for the November 3, 2026 general election. Party nominees were chosen at the June 2 primary. All 70 state House seats are up; state senators serve four-year terms and are not on the 2026 ballot except where a special election fills a vacancy. The governor and lieutenant governor run as a ticket. Unopposed candidates still appear on the ballot.
Who is on the ballot in Valencia County, New Mexico on November 3, 2026?
Valencia County sample ballot 2026: see where the county assessor, county sheriff and county commissioner candidates stand on the budget and schools. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in New Mexico?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for New Mexico are listed on the New Mexico election hub. New Mexico election hub →
How do I see my exact Valencia County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup for the statewide and congressional races on every ballot in the county, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location. Look up your ballot →
New Mexico statewide racesEvery New Mexico race on this county's ballot.All New Mexico ballot measures7 statewide ballot measuresNew Mexico judges3 tracked judges on the retention ballotCandidate roster last updated Sep 25, 2026 from official election sources.