Democratic Party of Valencia County

09/02/2026

"Rickie A. Gonzales for New Mexico House District 7 — Valencia County, mostly east of the river and into Belen and Los Lunas to Carson Park.
If you want a voice in Santa Fe… run with me. → rag4nm.com"

09/02/2026

Happy Labor Day to Valencia County Democrats!
Labor Day is more than just a day off. It is a day to honor workers. Many people can’t take off and continue making our country run but for some people it is a moment of respite, a time when the kids are back in school, the stressors of summer vacation are behind us and we get ready to move into the autumn holidays.
Please come to our 1st Annual Labor Day Picnic and let’s celebrate together Valencia County workers and Union Leaders.

09/02/2026

Join the Valencia County Federation of Democratic Women for a Sunday brunch with Democratic candidates from across Valencia County on Sunday, September 20, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Carino’s Farmhouse Café & Event Center, 2105 NM 314 in Los Lunas.

This will be a relaxed opportunity to spend time with our local candidates, connect with fellow Democrats, and enjoy brunch together as we head into the final stretch of election season. Candidates scheduled to attend include Rickie A. Gonzales, Katherine Gauer, Michelle Paulene Abeyta, Sharalaina Piro-Rael, Karla J. Laurie, Alan Montano, Torres Leyba, Rorik Rivenburgh, and Pedro Rael.

The event will also feature a silent auction, with Lt. Governor candidate Stephanie Garcia Richard joining as a special guest and Lt. Gov. Howie Morales invited to attend.

Come hungry, bring a friend, and enjoy a Sunday afternoon supporting and getting to know the Democratic candidates working to represent our communities!

09/02/2026

🎺 THIS YEAR, WE’RE TRADING THE GALA FOR MARIACHI! 🎶

Join the Democratic Party of Valencia County for an unforgettable evening of music, community, and celebration at the Los Lunas Mariachi Concert Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary!

📅 Friday, October 23
⏰ 7:00–9:00 PM
📍 Los Lunas High School Auditorium

Enjoy performances by Mariachi Tenampa, Mariachi Amigos de Nuevo México, Rafael Trujillo, and more, while supporting great causes right here in Valencia County.

💙 This concert is serving as DPVC’s major fundraiser in place of our annual gala, helping us continue organizing, reaching voters, supporting Democratic candidates, and building our local party.

Reserved seating is available, so get your tickets early for the best selection.

⚠️ Please purchase through DPVC’s ticket link so your ticket is credited toward our fundraising efforts!

Bring your friends, bring your family, and come spend an evening celebrating New Mexico music and our Valencia County community. 🇺🇸🎺🎶

👇 Tickets and full details at the link below!
https://www.ticketor.com/jsharp/Event/los-lunas-mariachi-concert-365059?treferrer=DPVC

09/01/2026

📣 Mark your calendar for the Valencia County Candidate Forum!

Join community members from across Valencia County for an opportunity to hear directly from candidates for statewide office and learn more about the people seeking to represent New Mexicans.

📅 Thursday, September 10, 2026
🚪 Doors Open: 5:30 PM
🎤 Forum Begins: 6:00 PM
📍 Los Lunas Transportation Center Auditorium
101 Courthouse Road, Los Lunas

This community conversation is free and open to everyone. Candidate forums are a great opportunity to hear directly from those on the ballot, compare their priorities, and head into election season as an informed voter.

We hope to see a strong Valencia County turnout! 🇺🇸🗳️

Please share and help spread the word.

08/31/2026

🎺 THIS YEAR, WE’RE TRADING THE GALA FOR MARIACHI! 🎶

Join the Democratic Party of Valencia County for an unforgettable evening of music, community, and celebration at the Los Lunas Mariachi Concert Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary!

📅 Friday, October 23
⏰ 7:00–9:00 PM
📍 Los Lunas High School Auditorium

Enjoy performances by Mariachi Tenampa, Mariachi Amigos de Nuevo México, Rafael Trujillo, and more, while supporting great causes right here in Valencia County.

💙 This concert is serving as DPVC’s major fundraiser in place of our annual gala, helping us continue organizing, reaching voters, supporting Democratic candidates, and building our local party.

Reserved seating is available, so get your tickets early for the best selection.

⚠️ Please purchase through DPVC’s ticket link so your ticket is credited toward our fundraising efforts!

Bring your friends, bring your family, and come spend an evening celebrating New Mexico music and our Valencia County community. 🇺🇸🎺🎶

👇 Tickets and full details at the link below!

Los Lunas Mariachi Concert (Celebrating America's 250th Anniversary) on Oct 23, 19:00 at Los Lunas High School Auditorium - Information and tickets on J Sharp Music jsharp

08/31/2026

The Montaño Mixup
This is a guest post by George Colombo, you can find more of his writing on his Substack: https://georgecolombo.substack.com/

If you’re a voter here in Valencia County, you need to make sure you avoid the Montaño Mixup in November. Haven’t heard of it? Well, let me explain.

In November there will be not one but two candidates with the last name of Montaño on Valencia County ballots and they’re running in different races. One is Alan Montaño and one is Eric Montaño and it’s extremely important to not get them confused because they are very, very different candidates. Let’s take a look at both of them because there’s good news here and there’s bad news…

We’ll start with the good news. Alan Montaño is the Democratic candidate for Valencia County Sheriff. Alan Montaño has served in law enforcement for over 28 years. He’s served in Corrections as Commander of the Maximum-Security Unit at the New Mexico Corrections Department. He’s also been a Sheriff’s Deputy with the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office.

Alan is an experienced law enforcement professional and is the only candidate for Sheriff who is committed to doing whatever he can to protect Valencia County residents and their families from ICE and its illegal overreach into immigrant communities. He’s running to make Valencia County law enforcement more effective, more respected, and more focused on the community’s needs.

The bad news involves the Republican candidate for Magistrate Judge in Division III: Eric Montaño. And the story is a real mess. Eric Montaño is accused of lying about his criminal history, about his job history. He’s also been accused of improper campaigning and soliciting. But don’t take my word for it. It was a headline story in The Valencia County News Bulletin.

Let’s not forget that we’re talking about a Magistrate Judge position here. Valencia County residents don’t need a sitting judge who is surrounded by public questions of misbehavior like this. Valencia County deserves better than a candidate who is so flawed that his own party is scrambling for ways to distance itself from his campaign.

So, don’t fall for the Montaño mixup. ALAN Montaño is an outstanding candidate for Valencia County Sheriff who opposes ICE and who has great ideas about making law enforcement more effective.

ERIC Montaño is trying to outrun credible allegations that are disqualifying for a candidate for Magistrate Judge.

This year, I’m voting for ALAN Montaño for Sheriff. And I’m NOT voting for ERIC Montaño for Magistrate Judge in Division III… or anything else.

08/31/2026

With ongoing court challenges and uncertainty surrounding new federal rules affecting mail-in voting, this is an election where making a voting plan early matters. While we continue to defend every eligible voter’s right to cast a ballot by the method that works for them, voters who are able to vote in person can remove one uncertainty from the equation by voting early.

Early in-person voting in Valencia County begins October 6 at the Valencia County Administration Offices in Los Lunas. Beginning October 17, additional early voting locations will open in Belen, Bosque Farms, and at the Pueblo of Isleta, giving voters more opportunities to cast their ballots before Election Day. Early voting ends October 31.

Our message to Democrats is simple: don’t wait for Election Day if you don’t have to. Make your plan, bring a friend or family member, and vote early in person. Then spend the rest of election season helping someone else make their plan.

Every vote matters. Let’s bank our votes early and make sure Valencia County is heard. 💙🗳️