New Mexico's Alexis Johnson wins GOP House nomination

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Alexis Johnson of Santa Fe has won the Republican primary nomination in New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District.

Johnson emerged victorious Saturday in the three-way primary amid a surge in absentee balloting that took several days to tally in the district’s most populous county.

Johnson will compete in the general election against Santa Fe-based attorney Teresa Leger Fernandez, a Democrat, to succeed U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan as he runs for U.S. Senate. Sen. Tom Udall is retiring.

Johnson defeated Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya and Navajo Nation member Karen Evette Bedonie of Mexican Springs.