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Voters reelected one incumbent and ousted another on the sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Public Schools Board of Education on Tuesday.

School Board President Danielle Gonzales lost her District 3 seat, earning 39% of the vote, according to early unofficial results reported as of 10:30 p.m. Her challenger, the sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Teachers Federation-endorsed Rebecca Betzen, earned 51% of the vote.

Teachers union-backed candidates now make up the majority of the board.

鈥淗opefully, we can support our teachers a little bit more than what we have done, because I know that listening to the board right now, several of them feel like they鈥檙e doing a really good job of supporting the teachers, but when I talk to the teachers, they don鈥檛 feel that way,鈥� Betzen said.

Gonzales鈥� biggest ally on the board, fellow business community-backed member Courtney Jackson, a Republican, won her race, garnering 57% of the vote from her Northeast Heights constituents. Her challenger, union-backed Democrat Kristin Wood-Hegner, earned 43% of the vote.

鈥淚 am so grateful to all of the supporters who turned out, who voted, who rallied and got behind a campaign that was focused on students and on their outcomes,鈥� Jackson said.

However, Jackson described the win as bittersweet because of Gonzales鈥� loss.

鈥淚 am certain that she will continue to fight for students and will continue to be an asset in other ways to our community,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淪he is a true gift to sa国际传媒官网网页入口 and to New Mexico, and I am, I鈥檓 sad that she鈥檚 not going to be on the board.鈥�

On the West Side, Joshua Martinez commandingly won his District 5 race with 68% of the vote, replacing business-backed Crystal Tapia-Romero, who announced she would not seek a second term and endorsed him back in May. He beat Brian Laurent Jr., who ran without the endorsement of either the chamber or the union and earned 32% of the vote.

鈥淚鈥檝e been involved on the West Side for a number of years, I鈥檝e served in different capacities and different groups,鈥� Martinez said. 鈥淢y community knows me and trusts me, and (I鈥檓) very appreciative of that, and again, just want to continue my service and serving our people.鈥�

In District 6, where Josefina Dom铆nguez was the only teachers union-backed candidate to prevail in 2021, the union hung on to the seat with candidate Warigia Bowman earning 61% of the vote. Her challenger, David Ams, earned 39% of the vote. Dom铆nguez opted not to seek a second term.

鈥淚鈥檓 very happy that we have a functioning majority on the board, and I鈥檓 looking forward to collaborating with my fellow board members,鈥� Bowman said. 鈥淟et鈥檚 not exaggerate how powerful the board is, but I鈥檓 hoping we can get some traction on some key goals that we agree on.鈥�

The other three board seats not up for reelection are occupied by Heather Benavidez in District 4 and Ronalda Tome-Warito in District 2. Both were backed by the teachers union and won their seats in 2023. District 1 board member Janelle Astorga also won her seat in that election cycle without endorsements from the chamber or teachers union, making her a swing voter.

鈥淚 congratulate Rebecca Betzen, Joshua Martinez, Margaret 鈥榃arigia鈥� Bowman and Courtney Jackson on their election to the Board of Education,鈥� APS Superintendent Gabriella Blakey said in a statement. 鈥淚 am eager to collaborate with them to improve outcomes for all our students. To all the candidates who ran, I extend my sincere gratitude for their dedication to public education and the passionate campaigns they ran.鈥�

APS bond

Voters within APS boundaries also voted to approve a $350 million bond that looks to modernize the cooling units at 20 campuses, build a center that would serve special needs students on the West Side and builds a new facility to teach students careers in trade jobs like plumbing, welding and carpentry.

The bond passed with support from 75% of voters. In recent years, most bonds the district puts on the ballot have passed.

鈥淲e are incredibly grateful to voters for approving our General Obligation Bond,鈥� Blakey wrote. 鈥淥n behalf of our students and staff, I want to thank everyone who voted and everyone who helped us get the word out about what this important capital election means for our schools and our kids.鈥�

CNM board

Running unopposed, Thomas Swisstack, the incumbent for the Central New Mexico Community College board, held on to his District 3 seat with 100% of the vote.

Fellow incumbent Nancy Baca won her race with 74% of the vote against challenger Ken Pascoe who earned 26% of the vote for the District 5 seat.

In District 7 incumbent Robert Schoenfelder also held on to his seat with his challenger Ronald Dauk earning 42% of the vote to Schoenfelder鈥檚 58%.

And a fresh face will serve on the board for New Mexico鈥檚 largest community college, with Elizabeth Alarid earning 68% of the vote to replace outgoing District 1 representative Charles Ofelt. Randal Peters earned 32% of the vote.