Former state legislator Steve Fischmann defeated incumbent Sandy Jones to win the Democratic nomination to serve District 5 in New Mexico's Public Regulation Commission. Fischmann garnered a little more than 52 percent of the vote, while Jones received just over 47 percent.
The race received wide attention, due in part to a political action committee running television ads smearing Fischmann's record in the state legislature. The ads were funded by a political action committee with a sole contributor: PNM Resources, the parent comany of PNM, New Mexico's largest public utility. PNM Resources donated $440,000 to the PAC "New Mexicans For Progress," a group that registered with the New Mexico Secretary of State in May.
Fischmann is expected to face former District 5 PRC commissioner Ben Hall. Hall won the Republican nomination with 36 percent of the vote. Chris Mathys received just under 36 percent, which could trigger a recount.