Supreme Court denies request to delay recount in NM primary race

The New Mexico Supreme Court on Thursday denied a request for a delay in a recount of a southwest New Mexico primary race for a Republican seat in House District 32.

Scott Chandler, the polarizing owner of the Tierra Blanca Ranch, trailed opponent Vicki Chavez by 16 votes after the June 7 primary votes were counted.

Since the race finished with a margin of less than 1 percent, a recount is automatically triggered under state law. The House District 32 race is one of two races statewide that will be recounted.

Chandler had petitioned the Supreme Court to delay the recount, saying there were questions as to the procedures involved in a recount.

But the Supreme Court’s denial of the petition means the recount will go ahead Friday as planned.

Missy Sousa, Gov. Susana Martinez’s former campaign manager, runs Advance New Mexico Now, which, along with other political action committees, sent out a barrage of mailers in the days before the election to remind voters of Chandler’s saga at Tierra Blanca.

Chandler set off the state’s largest-ever Amber Alert in 2013 when he took several teens from the ranch when New Mexico State Police officers showed up to rescue the teens, who were allegedly tortured, beaten and starved. He has never been charged with a crime in that incident, but faces multiple lawsuits.