SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Democratic Party leaders rallied behind state Rep. Melanie Stansbury as the nominee to defend an Albuquerque-based congressional seat left open by newly confirmed Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. Stansbury on Wednesday edged out state Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez by four votes in runoff balloting among 200 members of the state central committee on the nomination. The second-term legislator will confront Republican state Sen. Mark Moores in a June 1 special congressional election. Democrats have held the 1st Congressional District seat since 2009. Republican Heather Wilson won the district's last special election more than two decades ago.
From DPNM:
201 Democratic State Central Committee (SCC) members in CD-1 cast their final votes today to determine who will be the Democratic nominee for the first Congressional District seat recently vacated by Secretary Deb Haaland.
Candidates in today's runoff included State Senator Antoinette Sedillo Lopez and State Representative Melanie Stansbury. Candidates must receive 50% plus 1 vote in order to secure the nomination.
The results are as follows:
Melanie Stansbury - 103 votes, 51.24%
Antoinette Sedillo Lopez - 97 votes, 48.26%
In addition, one person wrote in “ABSTAIN”
Therefore, Melanie Stansbury has received 51.24% of the votes and is the Democratic nominee in the CD-1 general election, which will take place on June 1, 2021.
“We are so grateful for all of our incredible candidates and the strong campaigns they’ve run over the last few months,” said DPNM Chair Marg Elliston. “This has been a fantastic opportunity to hear from so many of our leading Democrats about the issues that matter most to voters. Every campaign ran a great race, and now we look forward to coming together to put our full support behind Melanie Stansbury.”
State Central Committee members voted remotely, in accordance with Democratic Party of New Mexico (DPNM) rules, and had the option to submit an electronic, paper, or phone ballot. The voting system was secured according to DPNM procedures, and the ballots are available to anyone who requests them for the next 90 days.