Doña Ana County voters elected two new commissioners in Tuesday's election, a result that signals a significant shift in local politics. Daisy Maldonado, a former director of the Empowerment Congress of Doña Ana County, won the open seat in District 1. She is a well-known opponent of the Project Jupiter hyperscale AI-training data center located in Santa Teresa. Her candidacy drew the endorsement of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a prominent figure in progressive politics.
Maldonado emerged as an early critic of the massive data center project, frequently questioning developers at town halls and commission meetings. She focused on the environmental costs, including the project's high water demand and potential air emissions. She stated that she was inspired to run for office after the commission approved a record $165 billion industrial revenue bond and other incentives for the project on a tight deadline, even though the agreement terms were still being negotiated.
Her campaign highlighted the need for local communities to be central to decisions regarding industrial development. This stance resonated as data center projects expanded nationwide and community opposition grew throughout 2026. A data dashboard tracking ballot measures in 12 states noted that voters called for moratoriums or local regulations in at least 38 elections. New Mexico Governor-elect Deb Haaland said she would order a moratorium on large-scale data centers on her first day in office, pending new legislative guardrails to protect water, land, and air.
In neighboring Texas, voters also elected Democrat Gina Hinojosa as governor, the first Democrat to win that office in 35 years. Hinojosa called for an immediate moratorium on data center development while the state implements local protections. Maldonado told the Albuquerque Journal during her campaign that people's health should not be sacrificed for county revenue. She argued that billion-dollar companies were set to profit on the backs of county residents.
According to unofficial results reported Wednesday, Maldonado won 60 percent of the 13,807 votes cast in District 1. Her Republican opponent, Samantha Barncastle Salopek, received 40 percent. The district includes the town of Mesilla, parts of Las Cruces, and agricultural communities such as La Mesa, San Miguel, and Mesquite. Maldonado thanked her supporters on her campaign Facebook page, describing the result as a victory for the people and communities that deserve to be heard.
The election also saw the ouster of Commissioner Susie Kimble, an independent who represented District 3. Former state Representative Willie Madrid, a Democrat from Chaparral, won the seat with 60 percent of the 11,902 votes cast. Madrid secured the victory without participating in candidate forums, and his campaign finance reports indicated no fundraising or spending. Kimble, a Las Cruces resident, received 38 percent of the vote. Julia Brown, a former county commissioner and manager who ran as a write-in candidate, drew 2 percent of the unofficial count.
Kimble had been appointed to the seat in February after the resignation of Commissioner Shannon Reynolds in 2025. Her time in office was marked by the aftermath of the Project Jupiter approval and the departure of County Manager Scott Andrews following a special audit of county management and workplace culture. Although Kimble was not opposed to the data center itself, she consistently criticized the project's community outreach and transparency to county leadership.
Maldonado's presence on the commission will introduce a critical voice as the board hears updates from developers and considers amendments to the industrial revenue bond. Last month, commissioners notified Project Jupiter of a potential breach regarding a proposed power purchase agreement with El Paso Electric. The new commissioners will now navigate these ongoing issues as the project continues to develop.
