Voters in Rio Rancho won’t be wanting for choices in the upcoming state primaries.Several candidates have thrown their hats into the ring to represent a part of Rio Rancho.

Five Democrats and two Republicans are running for the U.S. Congressional seat for District 1. Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich; New Mexico Department of Health Secretary Michelle Lujan Grisham; attorney Robert Pidcock; former Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Garon; and former aide to Gov. Bill Richardson, Jessica Wolfe, are vying for the Democrat nomination.

Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White and state Sen. Joe Carraro are competing for the Republican nod.To represent District 3, six Democrats want your vote, while two Republicans want the nod.Competing for the donkeys are attorney John Adams, New Mexico Public Regulation commissioner for District 3 and son of the New Mexico House of Representatives Speaker Ben Ray Lujan; attorney Rudy Martin; Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya; former state Indian Affairs Secretary Benny Shendo Jr., who is also a Rio Rancho resident and the first American Indian to run for Congress in New Mexico; and, developer and green energy champion Don Wiviott.

Rio Rancho resident and construction company owner Dan East, and Marco Gonzalez compete for the elephants.

For the U.S. Senate seat to replace the retiring Pete Domenici is candidate hopeful Heather Wilson, who currently represents District 1 in Congress. Wilson is competing against District 2 House of Representatives Steve Pearce for the Republican nomination.

Tom Udall is running unopposed for the Democrats.

Rep. Jane Powdrell-Culbert, R-Corrales, has no competition in the primary. Democrats Lisa Cour, Gary Van Valin and Dennis Montoya will run in the Democrat primary. Rep. Eric Youngberg, R-Albuquerque, faces Corrales Democrat Benjamin Rodefer in November for House of Representatives District 23. Tom Swisstack, who was recently elected mayor of Rio Rancho, is vacating his District 60 house seat.

And, Sandoval County Commissioner and Democrat, Jack Thomas, is competing for that soon to be vacated District 60 seat. Former superintendent of Jemez Valley Public Schools and Carrizozo Municipal schools and Republican, Paula Papponi, will face-off against Thomas in November.

Senate District 23 will have new representation as long-time Senator Joe Carraro has opted to run for Congress. Republicans David Pyne and Sander Rue, both of Albuquerque, will vie for the seat in June. Sen. Steve Komadina, R-Corrales, will face Barry Bitzer in the primary. The winner faces John Sapien in November. Sen. John Ryan, R-Albuquerque, faces Rio Rancho Republican Robert Sikes in the June primary. The winner faces Albuquerque Democrat Joel Davis in November. Democrats dominate Senate District 22 as three candidates try to knock off incumbent Democrat Lynda Lovejoy in June. Democrat Sandoval County Commission Chairman Joshua Madalena, Everett Chavez and Bill Moore are the hopefuls.

Locally, Sandoval County District 2 Commissioner Don Leonard, Democrat, has competition from Kim Rytter, Republican. Democrat Sylvia Martinez looks to replace current Sandoval County Commissioner Jack Thomas in District 4.

Glenn Walters will run unopposed in the Republican primary. For District 5, five Democrats want Joshua Madalena’s vacated seat: Darryl Madalena, Kenneth Kiesling, Watson Castillo, Robert Johnson and Stanley Pino. Running for the Republicans is Leonard Armijo. In the race for county clerk, incumbent Democrat Sally Padilla faces Republican Mary Kwapich. For county treasurer, incumbent Democrat Lorraine Dominguez faces Republican Charles Mellon.

Absentee voting starts for the primary election and voting registration ends May 9. The respective Republican and Democrat primaries are June 6. You must be a member of the party to vote. Voting registration re-opens June 12. To determine your voting districts and precinct, call the Sandoval County clerk at 867-7577.