Republican Wins N.M. Congressional Race

Republican Bill Redmond, aided by a strong showing of a third-party candidate and solid voter turnout in GOP-friendly counties, won an upset Tuesday night to become northern New Mexico’s next 3rd District congressman.

It marked the first time since the district was created in 1982 that it will be represented by a Republican. It also marked the second GOP upset in a major race in three years, coming on the heels of Republican Gary Johnson’s upset of incumbent Democrat Bruce King in the 1994 gubernatorial race.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting, unofficially Redmond had 42 percent of the vote to 40 percent for Democrat Eric Serna. Green Party candidate Carol Miller received 17 percent of the vote in the eightcandidate field.