Mark Ronchetti wins GOP primary for New Mexico governor

By MORGAN LEE
Associated Press

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Mark Ronchetti has won the Republican primary for governor to challenge incumbent Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. The former television meteorologist on Tuesday defeated four other candidates including state Rep. Rebecca Dow. Ronchetti’s campaign emphasized concerns about crime, illegal immigration, high rates of unemployment and underperforming schools. He pledged to deploy 150 state law enforcement personnel to the state’s remote international border with Mexico to combat illegal migration and drug and human trafficking. The Democratic nomination for attorney general was won by Albuquerque-based District Attorney Raúl Torrez. Torrez defeated State Auditor Brian Colón to vie in an open race against Republican Jeremy Michael Gay.