Wards are the local organizing division of the Democratic Party in Santa Fe County. The County’s 179 precincts are divided into 19 wards, with three or four wards in each of the county’s five county commission districts. Thus Wards 1A-1D, 2A-2C, 3A-3D, 4A-4D, and 5A-5D. While precincts are a creation of the county government, wards are created by, and only used by, the Democratic Party.

You can see a map of the Santa Fe County wards here.

Following each general election, in late February or early March of each odd-numbered year, registered Democrats in each ward meet to elect ward leaders and members of the County Central Committee (CCC) for a two year term. Each ward elects a Chair and Vice-Chair. Some wards also choose other officers such as Secretaries or Treasurers. Wards are also encouraged to elect a Chair for each precinct. Ward and Precinct Chairs are automatic members of the CCC.

Each ward elects one member of the CCC for every 100 Democratic votes received in the ward, averaged over the last two general elections, plus the Ward Chair. For the upcoming elections the number of CCC members from each ward range from 14 to 46. The CCC, in turn, will meet in late March or early April to elect the County chair and vice chairs and our County’s 56 representatives on the State Central Committee (SCC). In addition, the CCC is the body that governs the County Party, approving any bylaw changes, the County party platform, and any policy resolutions.