Democrat Daisy Ann Maldonado secured the open District 1 seat on the Doña Ana County Commission on Tuesday, winning 8,245 votes (59.8%) to Republican Samantha R. Barncastle Salopek’s 5,542 votes (40.2%). The victory fills the vacancy left by Commissioner Christopher Schaljo-Hernandez, who chose not to seek a second term.
Election results and certification
Unofficial returns from the New Mexico Secretary of State’s office reported a total of 13,787 votes cast in the district, giving Maldonado a margin of 2,703 votes. The Doña Ana County Clerk’s Office announced that the Absent Voter Election Board would resume counting absentee ballots at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4. Results remain unofficial until state certification.
District profile and voter concerns
District 1 stretches from downtown Las Cruces into the Mesilla Valley, encompassing the neighborhoods of Picacho Hills, Fairacres, San Miguel, La Mesa and Mesquite. Residents in the district’s unincorporated areas rely on the county for essential services such as road maintenance, water delivery and public safety.
Both candidates highlighted infrastructure, water resources and public participation as top issues. Maldonado, who previously directed the Empowerment Congress of Doña Ana County and served on New Mexico’s Sustainable Economy Advisory Council, pledged to prioritize road and infrastructure projects based on safety and need, especially in communities that have waited longest for improvements.
Policy proposals
Maldonado also proposed using county contracts to encourage local hiring and to require living wages for workers on county projects. She vowed not to sign nondisclosure agreements with companies seeking commission approval and called for independent assessments of potential water impacts before large developments receive approval.
Barncastle Salopek, a water and natural resources attorney who has represented the Elephant Butte Irrigation District, emphasized her experience securing federal grants for irrigation improvements. She suggested using town halls and public notices to explain major proposals before commissioners vote, and expressed openness to the proposed Project Jupiter data center in Santa Teresa, while urging more information for residents.
Community engagement
Maldonado promised weekly office hours throughout the district and bilingual outreach through established community organizations to ensure residents have direct access to their commissioner. Both candidates expressed concern about how the County Commission communicated with the public regarding Project Jupiter, underscoring the importance of transparency.
What’s next for the commission
The election fills one of two open seats on the five‑member Doña Ana County Commission. The other open seat in District 3 featured three candidates, including a qualified write‑in. With the new composition, the commission will continue to address critical issues such as road maintenance, water infrastructure, and economic development across the county.
Organ Mountain News reached out to both candidates for comment, but neither responded before publication.
Original reporting: Organ Mountain News (Las Cruces / Doña Ana County) — read the source article.
