County Sheriff - Lea
Lea County, New Mexico
My vote power
Below average
Election date
November 3, 2026 · General election
How do we calculate my vote power?
What goes into the rating: Representation: how much weight one vote carries here compared with a statewide vote — the smaller the district, the more each vote counts. Decisiveness: how likely this race is to be close, based on past results or current analyst ratings, plus the number of candidates.
Representation: Normal · 65 out of 100
This district covers a large share of its state, so each vote carries about average weight — like a vote in a statewide race. About 73,733 people live here.
Show the representation math
score = 50 + 50 × ln(state population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(50,000) = 50 + 50 × ln(2,120,246 ÷ 73,733) ÷ ln(50,000) = 65.52, measured against a statewide vote in NM (grades: 66+ high, 33+ normal, otherwise low; a statewide race is the 50 baseline)
Decisiveness: None · only 1 candidate
One candidate is running unopposed, so votes can't change the outcome.
Normal representation + an uncontested race → My vote power: Below average.
About this office
- Running police patrols and deputies in the county
- Running the county jail
- Carrying out evictions, warrants, and other court orders
Affects: Immigration, Public Safety and Crime Control, Gun Control,
Candidates
Republican · declared
Mark Timothy Rhoads is the Republican candidate for Lea County Sheriff in the 2026 New Mexico general election. The official county directory identifies Corey Helton as the current sheriff; no reliable prior public office or official campaign website was established in this pass.
Sources: leacounty.net2