Joseph Maestas

Joseph Maestas (Democratic Party) is the New Mexico State Auditor. He assumed office on January 1, 2023. His current term ends on January 1, 2027.

Maestas (Democratic Party) ran for election for New Mexico State Auditor. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022.

For two years before becoming state auditor, Maestas was an elected member of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, where he worked on policies to expand the adoption of solar energy systems. He is also a former city councilor and mayor of Espanola, New Mexico, and a former city councilor in Santa Fe, New Mexico.^[1]^[2]

Biography

In addition to his political career, Maestas worked for the Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and as a business development manager with Souder, Miller & Associates, a private engineering company. He is a registered professional engineer in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. He has been the president of the New Mexico Municipal League; vice-chair of the board for the Conservation Voters of New Mexico; chair of the New Mexico Voices for Children; and a board member at the National League of Cities.^[3]^[4]^[5]

Maestas is a native of New Mexico, born in Santa Fe and raised in Santa Cruz on a family farm. His father was a science teacher, his mother a homemaker. The family also owned a liquor store. Maestas graduated from Española Valley High School in 1978. He then attended the University of New Mexico-Albuquerque, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, and Arizona State University, where he graduated with a master’s degree in civil engineering. He was previously married to Martha Vazquez, a judge on the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico.^[6]^[7]^[8]

Political career

Public Regulation Commission (2021-present)

Maestas was elected to the commission in November 2020 and assumed office in January 2021.

Elections

2022

General election

General election for New Mexico State Auditor

Joseph Maestas defeated Travis Sanchez in the general election for New Mexico State Auditor on November 8, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Joseph Maestas (D)	61.9	399,810
	Travis Sanchez (L)	38.1	245,725

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 645,535
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Robert Vaillancourt (L)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for New Mexico State Auditor

Joseph Maestas defeated Zackary Quintero in the Democratic primary for New Mexico State Auditor on June 7, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Joseph Maestas	57.3	74,701
	Zackary Quintero	42.7	55,732

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 130,433
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Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for New Mexico State Auditor

Robert Vaillancourt advanced from the Libertarian primary for New Mexico State Auditor on June 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Robert Vaillancourt (Write-in)	100.0	284

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 284
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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