As Election Night pushes on, Democrat Michael E. Vigil is ahead of Republican New Mexico Supreme Court incumbent Gary L. Clingman by about 12 percent, according to the Office of the New Mexico Secretary of State.
The Democrats also lead in the NM Court of Appeals.
Court of Appeals Democrats Jacqueline Medina and Briana H. Zamora have a 14 percent leg up on Republican incumbents Henry Bohnhoff and Emil Kiehne, respectively.
Meanwhile, Democrat Megan Duffy is ahead of Republican incumbent Daniel Gallegos by eight percent.
In the closest race of the night, Democrat Kristina Bogardus has a sliver of a lead — roughly two percent — over Republican incumbent Stephen French.
Incumbent Democrat Jennifer Attrep and Republican J. Miles Hanisee are also in good standing.
This year, all five incumbent appellate judges are running for an additional term. The incumbents much receive at least 57 percent of the vote in order to serve another term.
When it comes to the Supreme Court, there are no justices up for retention, according to Ballotpedia — instead, Daniels and Democrat Jimenez Maes will serve until their terms expire on December 31.
The winner of the gubernatorial race — Michelle Lujan Grisham — will appoint replacements for Daniels and Jimenez Maes. “The newly appointed judge must run in the next general election to serve out the remainder of the unexpired term. To win further full terms, the judge must stand for retention by voters thereafter,” according to Ballotpedia.
New Mexico’s Pivot Counties — which voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and then for Donald Trump in 2016 — include: Colfax County, Hidalgo County and Valencia County, according to Ballotpedia.
Continue to follow the New Mexico News Port for updates.
Elizabeth Sanchez can be contacted on Twitter @Beth_A_Sanchez.
