New Mexico
Otero County commissioner elected to lead New Mexico Republican Party • Source New Mexico
Members of the New Mexico Republican Party over the weekend elected Otero County commissioner Amy Barela as their statewide party chair.
Barela got 157 votes in the party’s convention on Saturday in Truth or Consequences, more than all four of the other candidates combined.
Barela did not respond to a request for comment on her win on Monday morning. In an interview before the convention, she said she has an “aggressive plan” to flip New Mexico red by registering more voters and building the party from the bottom up.
She said that includes “correctly messaging” to all New Mexicans about “what we’re trying to do: help lower prices with good legislation, and lower regulation so that we have businesses attracted to New Mexico.”
She added that the party should ensure it supports elected officials with those same ideas. “I would like to update the party platform, but that’s going to take the new elected officials to work on that,” she said.
Barela is the District 2 commissioner for Otero County in southern New Mexico. Her district includes the northern part of Alamogordo, Tularosa, Holloman Air Force Base and lands bordering the Mescalero Apache Reservation.
President-elect Donald Trump in November won Otero County by a 27-point margin.
Barela was the state party’s first vice chair. That role is now filled by Roswell City Attorney Hessel Yntema, who won with 69% of the vote in a three-way race against Gary Person and Leanna Derrick.
Sandoval County Republican Party Chair Mike Nelson won second vice chair of the statewide party with 41% of the vote in a three-way race with Andrea Moore and Craig Degenhardt.
In the only contested race for a congressional district party vice chair seat, congressional candidate Sharon Clahchischilliage beat Española City Councilor Sam LeDoux.
Outgoing chairman Steve Pearce said the party has “a strong and committed team of leaders and fighters who will continue the hard work of turning New Mexico red for the long term.”
SALT LAKE CITY — A missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Utah has passed away in his sleep unexpectedly Saturday in New Mexico, according to a news release from The Church.
Elder Caleb Gene Martin, 21, died from a medical cause that has not been determined, Church spokesman Sam Penrod said in a statement.
According to The Church, Martin had been serving in the New Mexico Farmington Mission since May 2024. He was from Salem, Utah.
Elder Caleb Gene Martin, 21, died in his sleep on Jan. 3 from a medical cause that has yet to be determined. He was serving in the New Mexico Farmington Mission. (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fellow missionaries. We pray they will find comfort and strength through their faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ and feel the Savior’s love as they honor Elder Martin’s life and devoted missionary service,” the statement said.
According to the release, an autopsy is planned.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
Southeastern New Mexico will see some snow while other places will generally see cooler, more winter-like temperatures. See the latest conditions at KOB.com/Weather.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Some notable cities in New Mexico could see multiple inches of snow, along with possible wind and cooler temperatures Sunday into Monday.
There is going to be snow across the southeast. A winter storm advisory is in effect all throughout areas like Ruidoso and out toward the Texas state line. A winter storm warning for Carlsbad and even a blizzard warning for the Guadalupe Mountains. These advisories and warnings indicate it’s going to continue until Monday at 6 p.m.
How much snow might there be? Ruidoso could see a few inches, along with other higher-elevation areas. Carlsbad might even see as much as two inches and Roswell has a very good chance of snow.
Wind gusts ranged from 23 mph for Hobbs and Clovis, 25 in Santa Rosa and similar readings in other places. Temperatures could hit sub-freezing temperatures in places like Ruidoso, Roswell, Carlsbad and Hobbs. Meanwhile, Gallup and Grants could get into the single-digits. Plus, places like Albuquerque and Santa Fe will be in the 20s but the big “winner” is Alamosa, Colorado, with 2 degrees.
Chief Meteorologist Eddie Garcia shares all the details in his full forecast in the video above.
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