Amanda López Askin wins Doña Ana County Clerk primary

Amanda López Askin, a Las Cruces Democrat who’s been running the Doña Ana County Clerk’s Office since 2018, won the Democratic nomination Tuesday night.

López Askin beat Andrew Ostic, a former county clerk employee and manager of a local call center, who also mounted a failed primary challenge against her in 2020. López Askin faces Cheryl De Young, a Republican who challenged López Askin in 2020 as well. 

Appointed in 2018, López Askin won her own four-year term in 2020 and is seeking re-election in November. 

The Bulletin called the election around 9 p.m., after López Askin had received 6,850 votes (87 percent) and Ostic had received 1,043 (13 percent). 

“I would like to express my deep gratitude to the voters of Doña Ana County for their decisive show of support in this primary election,” López Askin said in a statement sent to the Bulletin. “It continues to be one of the honors of my life to serve in this role as County Clerk.”

The clerk’s office oversees elections, a pivotal point in managing democratic procedures. The clerk’s office oversees all elections in Doña Ana County. And as fake conspiracies about election fraud have become common talking points, the public has focused more intently on the office. 

The clerk’s office also records and stores resolutions, ordinances, deeds and marriage licenses. It also issues several types of permits and licenses and serves as the clerk of the probate court in handling informational proceedings. 

The primary is the second time López Askin has beat Ostic and the Nov. 5 general election will be the second time she faces De Young. In their first contest, López Askin pulled 47,205 votes (59 percent), while De Young received 32,596 (41 percent). 

López Askin continued, “I’m looking forward to the general election, which offers opportunities to talk with voters and stakeholders about my commitment to our community. Thank you!”

The Bulletin has reached out to Ostic.