GRANTS, N.M. Even in a quiet election year, Cibola County delivered big stories in small numbers. From razor-thin city races to near-unanimous support for local taxes, here’s what the results reveal about how our neighbors voted.
1. Rural voters powered the outcome.
About 1,927 of the county’s 2,621 ballots came from outside Grants and Milan— roughly 74 percent of all votes cast. Those rural precincts pushed both the hospital mill levy (79 percent YES) and the school 2-mill tax (72 percent YES) across the finish line.
2. One vote made a winner.
In the Quemado Soil & Water District, Dustin Armstrong edged Nancy Stieg 30 to 29. A single ballot decided who manages land and water policy for western Cibola County.
3. Grants District 1 was a photo finish.
Dolores Vallejos topped Zachery Gutierrez by just three votes (133 to 130), a margin of less than one percent. Every household in that district truly counted.
4. Milan’s Precinct 028 rules the village.
That single polling place produced about two-thirds of Milan’s total votes, cementing George Knotts’ council lead and returning Mayor Felix Gonzales and Judge William Cunningham unopposed.
5. Hospital levy unity.
Support for Cibola General Hospital was overwhelming. Five precincts recorded 90percent-plus “YES” votes, and one rural box came in at 100 percent. Countywide total: 1,925 to 523.
6. School funding stayed strong—barely in Bluewater.
Voters renewed the 2mill capital-improvements tax 72 percent to 28 percent, ensuring continued support for classroom technology and facility repairs. Bluewater’s Precinct 004 was the closest at 51 percent YES to 48 percent NO, while Ramah hit 87 percent YES.
7. Local boards drew the smallest crowds.
Only 96 voters participated in the Bluewater Water & Sanitation Board race, and 59 in the Quemado Soil & Water District—proof that even the tiniest turnout can decide who manages key local infrastructure.
8. Bluewater’s 96vote election.
The Bluewater Water & Sanitation Board contest determined service for hundreds of residents. Steven McCoy defeated Michael Sands 53 percent to 47 percent.
9. Most voters live outside the cities.
Only about 694 ballots came from Grants and Milan combined, while roughly 1,927 were cast in rural areas—meaning nearly three out of every four Cibola voters live outside city limits.
10. Turnout beat expectations.
Final turnout reached 16.4 percent, slightly higher than 2023’s local cycle and stronger than many similar-sized New Mexico counties. For an off-year election, that’s impressive civic engagement.
Bottom line: From three-vote margins to 90percent mandates, Cibola’s 2025 election proved that local democracy is alive, personal, and powerful—one ballot at a time.