By Jennifer Garcia
jgarcia@riograndesun.com
Managing Editor

With the Española City election in the rear-view mirror, voters can now focus on the next election slated for June 2.

Filing day for the 2026 Primary Election was March 10 and several Rio Arriba County residents declared their candidacy for various open seats.

District 40 Rep. Joseph Sanchez, of Alcalde, is running once again for the seat he currently holds.

Yolanda R. Jaramillo, a democrat from Dixon will face off against former District 41 Rep. Debbie Rodella, a democrat from Española, for the District 41 seat vacated by current Rep. Susan Herrera. Herrera decided to not run for re-election.

Division 1 Rio Arriba Magistrate Judge Joseph Madrid, a democrat, is up for re-election and has filed for the June race. He does not have an opponent. Division 2 Rio Arriba Magistrate Judge Alexandra Naranjo, a democrat from Española, is also running for re-election and she does not have an opponent.

Meanwhile, former Rio Arriba County Commissioner Barney Trujillo, of Chimayó, is seeking election to the District 1 seat once more, but will face two opponents: former Rio Arriba County commission James J. Martinez, of Chimayó, and current District 1 County Commissioner Brandon Bustos, of Fairview. All are democrats.

District 2 also has three candidates: current County Commissioner Alex Naranjo, of Española; current Española School Board member Dale T. Salazar, of Hernandez; and Kedrick Mendez, of Española. All District 2 candidates are democrats.

The Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s race has a full slate of candidates hoping to become the next sheriff. Current Sheriff Lorenzo Aguilar, of Chama, is hoping to keep the job after being appointed following the death of Sheriff Billy Merrifield last year, but will face Merrifield’s former undersheriff Monica Salazar, of Española; Manuel Valdez, of Española; current Mesa Vista School Board member Marvyn Jaramillo, of La Madera; and Robert Vigil, of Gallina. All are democrats except for Vigil, who is a republican.

Current County Assessor Joaquin Valdez will run to retain his seat but faces former chief deputy assessor Josie Valdez, of Española; and former county assessor Levi Valdez, Jr., of Velarde. All candidates are democrats.

Three are vying for probate judge: Elias Coriz, who currently holds the seat; David S. Chavez and Darlene Armijo. Coriz and Chavez are democrats, while Armijo is a republican.

Voters who wish to cast their ballots early can do so beginning May 5 through May 30 at the Rio Arriba County Clerk’s office, 1122 Industrial Park Road or 7 Main St., Tierra Amarilla. That’s also the first day that absentee ballots will be mailed. The first day of expanded early voting will be May 16. Voters have until May 23 to request an absentee ballot. Those who do not cast a ballot during early voting can vote in person from 7 a.m. t 7 p.m. June 2.