City of Rio Rancho
Rio Rancho is the third-largest city in New Mexico, with the 2020 census reporting a population of 104,046.
March 3, 2026 is election time for Rio Rancho, which will vote for one mayor, three city councilors, and one municipal judge. Municipal elections are officially nonpartisan, but voters should discern and take seriously the party registration and political leanings of their local governance.
Please support Karissa Culbreath, candidate for District 5 councilor, and Alexandria Piland, candidate for mayor. See their information below.
Democrats, Rio Rancho Governing Body
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 2026.
Rio Rancho Governing Body: offices currently held by Republicans
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.
Current Mayor was first elected 2014 and was re-elected twice to four-year terms. The next election for mayor is March 2026.
Alexandria Piland is running for mayor. Visit her at Facebook and support her campaign!
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 2026. Unfortunately, no Democrat is standing for this position.
Visit https://www.rrnm.gov/57/District-2
Click map for full-sized image
District 3: (R)
Current District 3 City Councilor first elected 2018. The next election for the District 3 City Councilor seat is March 2026. Unfortunately, no Democrat is standing for this position.
Visit https://www.rrnm.gov/1350/District-3
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District 4: (R)
Current District 4 City Councilor first elected 2020 .The next election for the District 4 City Councilor seat is March 2028.
View https://www.rrnm.gov/1811/District-4
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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 fourth, four-year term in March 2022. The next municipal court judge election will be March 2026.