Judicial Retention & Contested Race Recommendations

Only one recommendation appears for some judges: VOTE 'NO'. We do not believe these judges support traditional New Mexico values, and you can find more detail on our websites: New Mexico Business Coalition and Better Together New Mexico.

If there is no position stated, we either did not find conclusive evidence to make a recommendation or are neutral on their retention.

These are recommendations only. We encourage you to do your own research, and if you have personal knowledge about a judge, we encourage you to vote accordingly. In addition to extensive independent research, we reviewed two sites for additional information: Judge the Bench and Pretrial Detention Motions.

Retention criteria can be found at the end of this document.

Want more information? Judicial retention and contested race recommendations detail HERE.

STATEWIDE - SUPREME COURT

  • VOTE NO David K. Thomson - Supreme Court
  • VOTE NO C. Shannon Bacon - Supreme Court

STATEWIDE COURT OF APPEALS

  • J. Miles Hanisee - Court of Appeals

FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT

  • VOTE NO Francis J. Mathew, Division 1, Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, Los Alamos Counties
  • 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, and Los Alamos Counties

SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT

  • VOTE NO William E. Parnall, Division 1, Bernalillo County
  • VOTE NO Beatrice J. Brickhouse, Division 4, Bernalillo County
  • VOTE NO Alma C. Garcia Roberson, Division 7, Bernalillo County
  • VOTE NO Bruce C. Fox, Division 10, Bernalillo County
  • VOTE NO Amber Chavez Baker, Division 22, Bernalillo County
  • VOTE NO Lisa Chavez Ortega, Division 13, Bernalillo County
  • VOTE NO Jane C. Levy, Division 25, Bernalillo County
  • VOTE NO Jennifer J. Wernersbach, Division 16, Bernalillo County
  • VOTE NO Clara Moran, Division 28, Bernalillo County

THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT

  • VOTE NO Manuel I. Arrieta, Division 1, Doña Ana County
  • VOTE NO Douglas R. Driggers, Division 7, Doña Ana County

FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

  • Michael A. Aragon, Division 1, Guadalupe, Mora, and San Miguel Counties

FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

  • David E. Finger, Division 1, Eddy, Chaves, and Lea Counties
  • Michael H. Stone, Division 7, Lea, Chaves, and Eddy Counties
  • Dustin K. Hunter, Division 10, Chaves, Eddy, and Lea Counties

SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

  • VOTE NO Thomas F. Stewart, Division 1, Grant, Hidalgo, and Luna Counties
  • VOTE NO Jarod K. Hofacket, Division 4, Luna, Grant, and Hidalgo Counties

SEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

  • VOTE NO Mercedes C. Murphy, Division 1, Socorro, Catron, Sierra, and Torrance Counties

EIGHTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

  • VOTE NO Emilio Jacob Chavez, Division 1, Colfax, Taos, and Union Counties

NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

  • Benjamin S. Cross, Division 1, Curry and Roosevelt Counties
  • Donna J. Mowrer, Division 4, Roosevelt and Curry Counties

ELEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

  • Bradford J. Dalley, Division 1, McKinley and San Juan Counties
  • VOTE NO Curtis R. Gurley, Division 4, San Juan and McKinley Counties
  • Douglas W. Decker, Division 7, McKinley and San Juan Counties

TWELFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

  • Stephen P. Ochoa, Division 1, Lincoln and Otero Counties
  • Angie K. Schneider, Division 4, Lincoln and Otero Counties

THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

  • VOTE NO James L. Sanchez, Division 1, Valencia, Cibola, and Sandoval Counties
  • VOTE NO Amanda Sanchez Villalobos, Division 4, Cibola, Sandoval, and Valencia Counties
  • Christopher G. Perez, Division 7, Sandoval, Cibola, and Valencia Counties

BERNALILLO COUNTY METROPOLITAN COURT

  • VOTE NO Christine E. Rodriguez, Division 2, Bernalillo County
  • VOTE NO Joshua J. Sanchez, Division 4, Bernalillo County
  • VOTE NO Jill M. Martinez, Division 8, Bernalillo County
  • VOTE NO Brittany Maldonado Malott, Division 10, Bernalillo County
  • Jason M. Jaramillo, Division 12, Bernalillo County
  • VOTE NO Vidalia G. Chavez, Division 14, Bernalillo County
  • VOTE NO Claire Ann McDaniels, Division 16, Bernalillo County
  • Rosie Lazcano Allred, Division 18, Bernalillo County

Contested Judge Races - Recommendations

Metropolitan Court, Division 5, Bernalillo County

Ramon J. Maestas (Incumbent)

Kerry J. Morris. Vote for Kerry Morris.

Eleventh Judicial District, Division 06, McKinley County & San Juan County

Brenna Clani-Washinawatok (Incumbent)

Brian D. Decker. Vote for Brian Decker.

Retention Criteria:

Under Article VI of the New Mexico Constitution, a Supreme Court justice, Court of Appeals judge, district judge, or Bernalillo County metropolitan judge is first elected in a partisan election. If an appointment is necessary because of a resignation, the judge must run in the next partisan election. After that, the judge runs only in a nonpartisan retention election: voters mark yes or no, and there is no opponent. Retention requires at least 57 percent of the votes cast on that question.

The 2026 election is November 3. Retention filing is required; being on the bench does not automatically place a judge on the ballot.

Judicial Recommendation Details HERE.

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