Las Cruces, N.M. captured Aug. 31, 2021. Las Cruces is part of House District 53, which is seeking a new Democratic candidate to replace Jon Hill, who stepped down from the race Aug. 5, 2024. (Photo by Santana Ochoa for Source NM)
UPDATE Thursday, Aug. 22, at 5:15 p.m. — This story has been updated to reflect that the day to select the candidate has changed. Voting by Democratic Party of New Mexico members begins Friday, Aug. 23, to select a new House District 53 candidate. A meeting with the candidates and State Central Committee members will still be held on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024.
Seven New Mexico Democratic party members will select a replacement candidate on Friday from a pool of three people running to replace Jon Hill on the ballot for House District 53.
After winning the primary for the Southern New Mexico House seat with 58% of the vote, Hill stepped down in early August, saying he’d fallen ill and was waiting on a diagnosis. He died on Aug. 16. A career educator, Hill is remembered as “not just a candidate” on his campaign website , but as a dedicated community member.
As he withdrew from the race, he backed Sarah Silva, a longtime Las Cruces organizer and now coach, saying she shared his vision “for long-term economic and social growth.”…