McKenna and Clark to run for Senate District 9

Brenda Grace McKenna

Democrat Brenda Grace McKenna will face Republican John Stahlman Clark in the New Mexico Senate District 9 race this fall, according to unofficial primary election results.

District 9 incumbent John Sapien of Corrales, known as a moderate Democrat, decided not to run for another term. Three Democrats and three Republicans were vying for his seat in Tuesday’s election.

Business owner Clark had 55.1 percent of the Republican vote. His opponents, Sandoval Economic Alliance director of business development Bridget E. Condon and business owner Tania Arletha Dennis, received 32.1 percent and 12.8 percent, respectively.

“I’m just very honored that the people in the Ninth District who are Republican voted for me, and I look forward to winning the race and working hard for my district,” Clark said.

In the Democrat race, as of press time, McKenna, a field

John Stahlman Clark

representative for U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland, was winning with 49.8 percent of the vote. That left

small-business owner Ben Rodefer with 25.7 percent and Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin David Lucero with 24.5 percent.

“I am honored that so many voters of District 9 have expressed their confidence in our campaign to represent them at the Roundhouse,” McKenna said. “I entered this race because I believe public service is honorable, and I want to use my experience in Rep. Haaland’s office to serve the district.

“New Mexico cannot continue business as usual. What needs to be immediately addressed is protecting our local businesses due to job losses and closings because of the coronavirus and its aftermath, fully fund education and diversify our economy.

“I’m looking forward to continuing the conversation in the general election and am eager to learn from members of our community about their priorities and their ideas on how to address them.”

Results are unofficial until canvassed.

The other legislative seats representing the Rio Rancho area had uncontested primary races, although most candidates face opponents in November. Those general election races are:

• N.M. Senate District 10: Republican incumbent Candace Thompson Gould of Albuquerque will face Democrat Katy M. Duhigg of Albuquerque.
• N.M. Senate District 22: Democrat incumbent Benny Shendo Jr. of Jemez Pueblo will face Republican Susan E. Aguayo of Rio Rancho.
• N.M. Senate District 40: Republican incumbent Craig Brandt of Rio Rancho has no opposition.
• N.M. House of Representatives District 23: Democrat incumbent Daymon B. Ely of Corrales will face Republican Ellis C. McMath of Albuquerque.
• N.M. House District 44: Republican incumbent Jane E. Powdrell-Culbert of Corrales will face Democrat Gary J. Tripp of Rio Rancho and Libertarian Jeremy B. Myers of Rio Rancho.
• N.M. House District 57: Republican incumbent Jason Harper will face Democrat Billie Ann Helean; both are Rio Ranchoans.
• N.M. House District 60: Republican incumbent Tim Lewis of Rio Rancho faces no opponent.