Raul Turrieta is a four-term Grant County Assessor and Silver City community institution challenging the Republican incumbent in HD-39. Support Raul directly — donations to the candidate are the most effective way to make your opinion count!
Donate » Volunteer » Campaign website »Raul Turrieta is the Grants County Deputy Chief Assessor with 40 years of service in the assessor's office, having served as the elected county assessor for four terms with increasing responsibility throughout his tenure. Silver City locals know him as a community radio announcer and activist who has served on numerous boards and committees throughout the region. For his case in his own words, see his Albuquerque Journal interview.
Last week Raul updated his supporters with a letter distributed widely throughout House District 39 — Silver City and nearby. "Why I've spent my life showing up" — see it here.
The Race
HD-39 covers Catron, Grant, and Hidalgo Counties in southwestern New Mexico. Republican incumbent Luis Terrazas won the seat in 2021 from Democratic incumbent Rudolpho Martinez and held it in 2024 against Democrat Gabby Begay (53.5% to 46.5%). Raul's deep roots in Grant County and 40 years of public service in the county assessor's office make him a formidable challenger. Raul ran unopposed in the June 2 primary and faces Terrazas in the general — as a first-time candidate, he's already essentially matched Terrazas's fundraising ($76,587 to $75,690) with more than 2.5× the donor base (167 to 64).
This is the only race on New Mexico's legislative ballot that could flip a seat from red to blue. The Santa Fe New Mexican profiles Raul's race — "campaigning with a fallen son in mind."
Read Raul's Memorial Day message to his voters — a reminder of why this seat and this service matter.
Raul can flip this seat and get us near a super-majority — that's when a chamber can override a Governor's veto. We'd need one in the Senate too, of course, but we're getting there. And if both Raul and Chriselle Martinez (HD-57) win, we will have flipped two seats from R to D and will have a stronger majority than ever.
The DLCC — the national organization of Democrats that work to elect our party members to state legislatures in all 50 states — has named Raul one of their endorsees. See his announcement here. And Raul's a nice guy, but the time has come to ramp up the contrast with his incumbent opponent. The Sierra Club's endorsement is the occasion — if you've ever doubted that a good campaign manager makes a big difference, this is that difference in action.
The Opponent
Republican incumbent Luis Terrazas has held this seat since 2021. Compare Rep. Terrazas' website. See his donors on MoneyTrail NM — the oil-and-gas connections are telling. We studied Terrazas's record in the NM House and it's appalling — read it here.
Latest Updates
Support
- Campaign website
- DLCC — Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee endorsement
- Sierra Club — endorsement