City of Rio Rancho
Rio Rancho is the third-largest city in New Mexico, with the 2020 census reporting a population of 104,046.
Municipal elections are officially nonpartisan, but voters should discern and take seriously the party registration and political leanings of their local governance.
Rio Rancho Governing Body: offices currently held by Democrats
Only two of seven possible governing positions are held by Democrats. See info on Republican held positions.
District 1: Deborah Dapson
Email: ddapson@rrnm.gov
Councilor Dapson was elected as District 1 City Councilor in April 2024, via a runoff election, to a four-year term.
The next election for the District 1 City Councilor seat is March 2028.
District 5: Karissa Culbreath
Email: kculbreath@rrnm.gov
Councilor Culbreath was appointed in 2020. First elected March 2022. The next election for the District 5 City Councilor seat is March 2030.
Click to view full-sized map.
Rio Rancho Governing Body: offices currently held by Republicans
Republicans hold the majority of offices in Rio Rancho’s governing body: Mayor and four of six council seats.
Mayor: (R)
Rio Rancho’s Mayor presides over Governing Body meetings and represents the city in intergovernmental relationships, as well as exercising legislative, administrative, and executive powers. The next election for mayor is March 2030.
District 2: (R)
Current District 2 City Councilor appointed 2019. First elected 2020. The next election for the District 2 City Councilor seat is March 2030.
Visit https://www.rrnm.gov/57/District-2
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District 3: (R)
Current District 3 City Councilor first elected 2018. The next election for the District 3 City Councilor seat is March 2030.
Visit https://www.rrnm.gov/1350/District-3
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District 4: (R)
Current District 4 City Councilor was elected mayor April 2026. An interim councilor will be appointed to serve out the term. The next election for the District 4 City Councilor seat is March 2028.
View https://www.rrnm.gov/1811/District-4
Click map for full-sized image.
District 6: (R)
Current District 6 City Councilor appointed 2023. First elected 2024. The next election for the District 6 City Councilor seat is March 2028.
View https://www.rrnm.gov/1812/District-6
Click map for full-sized image.
Municipal Court
Rio Rancho’s municipal court has one elected judge, with two alternate judges that fill in during the elected judge’s absence.
Current municipal judge was elected to his fifth, four-year term in March 2026. The next municipal court judge election will be March 2030.