Mark Ronchetti Wins NM GOP Gubernatorial Primary Election 2022: AP

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Former meteorologist Mark Ronchetti won the Republican primary for governor Tuesday and will face incumbent Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in the general election.

Ronchetti campaigned on crime, illegal immigration, high rates of unemployment and underperforming schools. He held a lead Tuesday night with about 59 percent of the votes.

Polls remained open until 7 p.m. Tuesday. On Republican ballots, statewide offices were on the ballot, including governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general and state auditor.

Ronchetti celebrated in a tweet Tuesday night, writing, "On to the General!"

In the gubernatorial race, Ronchetti and state Rep. Rebecca Dow were seen as the front-runners heading into Tuesday, while Greg Zanetti, Jay Block and Ethel Maharg were seen as having an outside chance at winning.

Zanetti in a tweet thanked his supporters and called for his party to rally around Ronchetti.

"I called Mark Ronchetti, congratulated him on his victory and offered him my full endorsement," Zanetti tweeted. "We must unite around @MarkRonchettiNM, defeat MLG and turn New Mexico RED this November!"

For the Libertarian Party, voters cast ballots for either Karen Bedonie or Ginger Grider, a write-in candidate.

Lujan Grisham ran unopposed and seeks a second term.

Below is a brief breakdown of the candidates and live election results.

Live Election Results

Precincts fully reporting (as of 7:43 a.m. Wednesday): 2163/2163

Precincts partially reporting (as of 7:43 a.m. Wednesday): 0/2163

Republican Party

• Jay Block: 12,388 (11%)
• Rebecca Dow: 18,105 (15%)
• Greg Zanetti: 16,292 (14%)
• Ethel Maharg: 1,828 (2%)
• Mark Ronchetti: 68,270 (58%)

Libertarian Party

• Karen Evette Bedonie: 967 (94%)
• Ginger Grider (write-in): 65 (6%)

Meet The Candidates

Republican Party

Jay Block

• US Air Force Reserve (1989), transferred to Air National Guard in North Dakota (1990)
• Political science degree (1995), master’s degree in international relations (2001)
• Served over two decades as a nuclear weapons officer
• Volunteered for combat tour in Afghanistan
• Retired in 2016 as a lieutenant colonel from Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico
• Stayed in Rio Rancho, won his district’s seat on the Sandoval County Commission in 2016, re-elected in 2020.
• Criticized Biden Administration's stoppage of building border wall, vowed to redeploy National Guard personnel to the border

Rebecca Dow

• Represented District 38 in the New Mexico House since 2017, relinquishing seat to run for governor
• Founder of AppleTree Educational Center (self-employed)
• Associate degree in early childhood, bachelor's degree in business management
• Lives in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
• Proponent of finishing border wall

Greg Zanetti

• Grew up in Albuquerque, graduated from Valley High School (1976), lives in Albuquerque
• Graduated from West Point (1980), master's degree in business
• Six years of active duty
• Worked as financial advisor and joined New Mexico Army National Guard
• Served as deputy commander at Guantanamo Bay, retired member of U.S. Army
• Served on New Mexico Right to Life board for 15 years, chairman of New Mexico Chapter of U.S. Term Limits and New Mexico Right to Work, twice elected chair of Bernalillo County GOP
• Opened Zanetti Financial to manage money for friends and family
• Questioned how others would pay for increased staffing at border

Ethel Maharg

• Born in Cuba, New Mexico, served as first female mayor
• Received degree in business administration from University of Phoenix
• Has owned and operated several small businesses. Also worked as an educator and managed two bank branches
• Serves on the Leadership Team for Women’s Leadership Development and the board of New Beginnings Church of God, where she is an active member and commissioned AACC lay counselor
• Served at Care Net Pregnancy Center of Albuquerque as the client services director
• Coordinated Convoy of Hope for Albuquerque in 2018
• Has supported finishing border wall

Mark Ronchetti

• Lives in Albuquerque
• Graduated from Washington State University (1996)
• Worked at a TV station in Colorado, moved to New Mexico (1998) to work in Albuquerque
• Became certified meteorologist, then chief meteorologist for Albuquerque’s CBS and FOX affiliates.
• Ran for U.S. Senate in 2020, losing to Democrat Ben Ray Luján
• Leading GOP candidate in recent Albuquerque Journal poll
• Criticized Biden Administration over border policy, called for increased federal personnel

Libertarian Party

Karen Bedonie

• Navajo Nation member, lives in McKinley County
• Initially sought GOP nomination for governor
• Changed party affiliation Jan. 27
• Self-described "constitutionalist"
• Proponent of finishing border wall, boosting law enforcement

Ginger Grider

• Born in Las Cruces, grew up in Portales
• Attended Eastern New Mexico University and Clovis Community College
• Owns small businesses with husband, including construction business
• Work with Parents Reaching Out, participated in Family as Faculty program at Eastern New Mexico University, helped co-teach Intro to Special Education for the program
• Activist for medical cannabis patients
• Became Libertarian in 2016 during Johnson/Weld campaign, held positions of volunteer coordinator, social media director, affiliate support, and development for party
• Served on executive committee as 2nd vice-chair and on central committee as chair of Roosevelt County Libertarian Party, where she still serves
• Ran for secretary of state (2018)