The State Canvassing Board met Tuesday in Santa Fe and ordered a recount in the contest between incumbent Democrat Ray Powell and Republican Challenger Aubrey Dunn.
The latest totals provided by the secretary of state's office show Dunn with a 704-vote lead.
Dunn carried Luna County by nearly that margin.
County Clerk Andrea Rodriguez said challenger Dunn received 2,662 votes in Luna County while incumbent Powell received 2,005 votes – a difference of 657 votes.
Those numbers will be the focus of the recount.
Rodriguez said Luna County will hold the recount on Monday, December 8th, beginning at 8 a.m.
This will be the first recount in a contest for a statewide office since New Mexico enacted a law in 2008 for automatic recounts when the margin between the top two candidates is less than one-half of 1 percent.