The Ballot Brief
Sandoval County, New Mexico

Sandoval County Sheriff

Rodriguez and Trujillo were on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Names follow official Sandoval County election filings. Certified results will appear here once the election office certifies the count. New Mexico certifies the general election by November 24, 2026; county canvasses are due November 13. Official results: electionresults.sos.nm.gov.

About this race

2 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Sandoval County Sheriff, per the New Mexico Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election Contest/Candidate List.

What this office does

Sheriff. The sheriff runs the county's law enforcement agency, operates the county jail, provides courthouse security and serves court papers such as warrants, subpoenas and evictions. In many counties the sheriff's office is the primary police force for areas outside city limits. The sheriff hires deputies and manages the office's budget within what the county board approves.

This race. Every voter in Sandoval County votes on this seat.

This list comes from official election records but may be incomplete. It can miss, for example, late or petition candidates and some city, school and district races. Your official sample ballot is the final word.

We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.

New Mexico › Sandoval County › Sandoval County Sheriff

Who won? The official answer comes November 24.

New Mexico makes results final in three steps.
✓
Done · Nov 3
Votes were cast and counted
Election night totals are a first count, not the final one.
2
Happening now · by Nov 13
Sandoval County double-checks its count
The county reviews mail ballots, provisional ballots and any recount, then sends official totals to the state.
3
Next · Nov 24
New Mexico makes it official
The State Canvassing Board certifies the result. The winner appears on this page that day.

What local news is reporting

Not official yetUpdated November 4, 2026

This report is cited to the outlet that published it. We do not call races. Official running count: New Mexico official results.

Sandoval County Sheriff
No report found yet

Reports are checked daily until New Mexico certifies on November 24; a certified winner replaces the report on that day.

Victor J. Rodriguez

Republican

Biography

Victor J. Rodriguez is a lieutenant with the Pueblo of Zia Police Department and a former Belen police chief, per the Santa Fe New Mexican, and has also served as a lieutenant at the Sandoval County Sheriff's Office and as interim warden and deputy director of administrative services for the Sandoval County Detention Center. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

John Paul Trujillo

Democrat

Biography

John Paul Trujillo previously served as Sandoval County Sheriff from 2003 to 2010, per the Santa Fe New Mexican, and has 28 years of law enforcement experience with Sandoval County, having graduated from the State Law Enforcement Academy and the FBI National Academy and attended the National Sheriffs' Academy, per the Rio Rancho Observer. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Next on the ballotSandoval County Commissioner, District 1

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Voting info and more

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Sandoval County Sheriff in 2026?

2 candidates were tracked for Sandoval County Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Victor J. Rodriguez and John Paul Trujillo. Candidate information follows official Sandoval County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Sandoval County Sheriff election in New Mexico?

Election Day was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Certified results will appear on this page as the election office certifies them. New Mexico certifies the general election by November 24, 2026; county canvasses are due November 13. Official results: https://electionresults.sos.nm.gov/. Voting rules for New Mexico are on the New Mexico election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Sandoval County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Who won the Sandoval County Sheriff race?

Not yet reported by the outlets we checked; New Mexico certifies on November 24. We do not call races.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Sandoval County and state election office filings, last verified October 24, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official New Mexico election office, or see the full Sandoval County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Sandoval County ballot

17 tracked races in Sandoval County, New Mexico. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on the November 3 ballot
Sandoval County Commissioner, District 3Sandoval County Probate JudgeSandoval County Magistrate Judge, Division 1See all 17 Sandoval County races
Candidate profiles
Victor J. Rodriguez, full profileJohn Paul Trujillo, full profileOfficial New Mexico election office