Montoya, Trejo headed to runoff in Dem DA race

Dave Burge
·2 min read
Montoya, Trejo headed to runoff in Dem DA race

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Public defender James Montoya and retired Judge Alma Trejo are headed for a runoff in the Democratic race for El Paso district attorney (34th Judicial District), according to final unofficial results that were released at 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, March 5.

Montoya, a former assistant district attorney, led most of the night and finished with 37.59 percent of the vote or 12,949 votes. Trejo, a lawyer and retired judge, was second with 35.53 percent or 12,240 votes. Nancy Casas, former assistant county attorney and former assistant district attorney, trailed with 26.88 percent or 9,259 votes.

The runoff is scheduled for May 28.

The winner will face Republican incumbent Bill Hicks who is running unopposed in that party’s primary. Hicks was appointed to fill the vacancy when previous DA Yvonne Rosales resigned in December 2022.

The big issues have been the handling of the state’s case against Walmart shooter Patrick Crusius and how the DA’s Office is administered and run. Crusius has already pleaded guilty to federal charges in the 2019 Walmart massacre.

Crusius killed 23 people and wounded more than 20 others on Aug. 3, 2019.

During Rosales’ tenure, she came under repeated fire for cases being dropped and other administrative issues that raised questions about competency.

The district attorney for the 34th Judicial District oversees the prosecution of state criminal cases in El Paso, Culberson and Hudspeth counties.

In the county attorney race, Christina Sanchez, an assistant county attorney, is the unofficial winner with 69.01 percent or 22,898 votes. Sergio Saldivar, a lawyer in private practice, trailed with 30.99 percent or 10,281 votes.

Incumbent Jo Anne Bernal is not running for re-election. Bernal was first appointed to the job in 2009 and has been re-elected every four years starting in 2012.

There are no Republicans or third-party candidates running for county attorney.

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