
(Deming) – It was an incumbent sweep once again for Luna County candidates, and Delaney bested Hofacket for District Judge.
Unofficial results show Jennifer DeLaney with 56% of the tri-county vote to Jarod Hofacket’s 44%.Hofacket won the Luna County vote with 3,838 votes to DeLaney’s 3,331, and he won Hidalgo County with 979 votes to DeLaney’s 818, but DeLaney easily won Grant County with 7,204 votes to Hofacket’s 4,214.
The other contest generating interest was the three-way race for Luna County Commissioner from District Three, and incumbent Javier Diaz easily defeated Republican Philip Skinner and Independent Martha Long. Diaz received 1,135 or 48.6% percent of the vote, to Long’s 601 or 25.7%, and Skinner’s 598 or 25.6%.
Incumbent District 35 State Senator Democrat John Arthur Smith of Deming received 67% or 4,824 Luna County votes, while challenger Republican Russell Allen of Las Cruces received 33% or 2,390.
And Incumbent District 32 State Representative Democrat Dona Irwin received 64% or 4,618 Luna County votes to challenger Republican Thomas Guerra’s 36% or 2,599 votes.
Both Smith and Irwin, who represent multiple counties, will be returning to Santa Fe.
Democrat Francesca Estevez received 4,012 votes in Luna County to Republican George Zsoka’s 2,990 for the position of Sixth Judicial District Attorney.Estevez easily won her tri-county race as well.
And on the ballot unopposed were Democrat Andrea Rodriguez for Luna County Clerk, and incumbent Democrat Dora Madrid for Luna County Treasurer.
County Clerk Karen Smyer said voter turnout for this general election was 60%, with 34% voting early or absentee.
Smyer said the count was down from 2008 – the last presidential election – when Luna County saw a total voter turnout of 68%, 41% of those voting early or absentee.
Luna County has 12,612 registered voters.
All numbers are unofficial until the county canvass Friday afternoon at 3 in the commission chambers on the third floor of the Luna County Courthouse.