Hot Primaries Ahead for Grant County Commission Seats

Five Democrats vie for District 1 seat as incumbent Eloy Medina faces challenger Gilbert Guadiana in District 2

Mar. 12, 2026 at 1:00am

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The upcoming Grant County Commission elections will feature contested Democratic primaries for both the District 1 and District 2 seats. In District 1, five Democrats - Jenny Ferranti, Patrick Snedeker, Andres Gomez, Lonnie Sandoval, and Simon Sotelo - are vying for the open seat, while in District 2, incumbent Eloy Medina faces a challenge from Gilbert Guadiana. The November general election will also see contested races for Grant County Sheriff and the District 39 state representative seat.

Why it matters

The Grant County Commission races are important as the commission oversees key local issues like budgets, infrastructure, and community development. With several open seats and competitive primaries, these elections will shape the future direction of the county's leadership and policies.

The details

The District 1 County Commission seat is open due to term limits, attracting a crowded field of five Democratic candidates. In District 2, incumbent Eloy Medina is facing a challenge from Gilbert Guadiana, who currently serves on the Cobre Consolidated Schools Board of Education. The November general election will also feature contested races for Grant County Sheriff, with incumbent Raul Villanueva facing Republican Wayne Oliver, and the District 39 state representative seat, where incumbent Republican Luis Terrazas will take on Democrat Raul Turrieta, who works in the Grant County Assessor's Office.

  • Candidate filings took place on Tuesday, March 11, 2026.
  • The Democratic primaries for the County Commission seats will be held on June 2, 2026.
  • The November general election is scheduled for November 5, 2026.

The players

Chris Ponce

The current Grant County Commission Chairman who is term-limited and cannot run again.

Eloy Medina

The incumbent Grant County Commissioner in District 2 who is running for reelection.

Gilbert Guadiana

A member of the Cobre Consolidated Schools Board of Education who is challenging Eloy Medina for the District 2 County Commission seat.

Luis Terrazas

The incumbent Republican state representative for District 39 who is running for reelection.

Raul Turrieta

A Democrat who works as the chief deputy and commercial appraiser in the Grant County Assessor's Office and is challenging Luis Terrazas for the District 39 state representative seat.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

Write-in candidates for the primary will file on March 17, 2026. For the November general election, minor party, independent and write-in candidates will file on June 25, 2026.

The takeaway

The Grant County Commission races will be hotly contested, with multiple Democrats vying for open seats and incumbents facing challenges. These elections will be important in shaping the county's leadership and policies for the coming years.