SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) Democratic Rep. Mary Helen Garcia of Las Cruces is contesting primary election returns that showed her losing in a three-way contest. Garcia announced Tuesday she had filed a lawsuit in Dona Ana County challenging her loss by 17 votes to Bealquin “Bill'' Gomez of La Mesa. Garcia contends that signatures on absentee ballots don't match the signatures of registered voters.
Statewide primary election results are about to become final. The state Canvassing Board is scheduled to meet Tuesday in the Capitol to certify official returns from the June 3 primary election. According to unofficial returns, about 201,000 New Mexicans cast ballots in the election. That represents about 20 percent of the registered Democratic and GOP voters in the state down from 28 percent voter turnout in 2010.
