According to a fundraiser recently sent out by Ricardo Samaniego for an upcoming fundraiser and a request for access to voter data, we can confirm that Ricardo Samaniego is running for reelection. We can also confirm that Lauren Zimmerman, who ran Renard Johnson’s mayoral campaign, will be running Samaniego’s campaign.
This is what we know.
Samaniego sent out a fundraiser invitation earlier this week. The invitation invites political campaign contributors to contribute to Samaniego’s re-election campaign. The fundraiser is scheduled for next Wednesday, April 9.
We also reviewed information that the former campaign manager for Renard Johnson’s mayoral campaign, Lauren Zimmerman, is assisting Samaniego with his fundraiser. The information we reviewed also suggests that Zimmerman will likely assume the role of Samaniego’s re-election campaign manager.
We reached out to Zimmerman for comment but have not received a response as of this morning. Should Zimmerman respond to our request for comment, we will update the story to include her comments.
We also reached out to Gracie Cain Viramontes, a principal in the Emajj Public Relations and Marketing firm for comment. Emajj has been handling Samaniego’s public relations. Cain did not respond to our request for comments.
Samaniego Faces Uphill Battle To Keep His Seat
On March 17, the county commissioners postponed an agenda item calling for the issuance of $54 million in certificates of obligation, which is public debt without voter approval, because Samaniego was absent.
On April 22, 2024, Ricardo Samaniego missed the county commissioners meeting because he was involved in an altercation with his girlfriend that involved law enforcement response.
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On March 24, 2025, the county commissioners voted to approve their intention to issue $54 million in certificates of obligation without the approval of the voters. Jackie Buttler, David Stout and Samaniego voted to issue the public debt. Iliana Holguin was the sole dissenter, voting against issuing the dept without voter approval. On May 12, the county commissioners will then vote on issuing the certificates of obligation. The non-voter approved debt is intended to fund roadway construction with $16 million, $2.5 million for a storm water project in Canutillo, $2 million for heating and cooling for the Youth Services Center and $3.5 million for water and wastewater projects.
County taxpayers can sign a petition to force the county commissioners to take the bond measure to the voters before issuing the debt, like they did in 2022 to stop the county commissioners from issuing $345.7 million with 35,000 signatures presented to them by the Libre Initiative.
In 2023, the county commissioners voted to give themselves a pay raise. In defending his vote on giving himself a pay raise, Samaniego said that the 16% pay raise and tax increase was “that the hardest benefit of the [tax] increase” is because those that live in the colonias “pay the least amount of taxes, but they are going to get the services.”
Bankruptcy, Renard Johnson And Poll Results
In 2018, Samaniego ran for county judge touting his business experience and being the cousin of El Paso Sheriff Leo Samaniego. Samaniego was running for the seat being vacated by Veronica Escobar who ran for the congressional seat being vacated by Beto O’Rourke.
Six years before, Samaniego filed for bankruptcy reporting over $500,000 in debt, including $14,643 in unpaid property taxes.
A February poll of active El Paso voters showed that Samaniego faces an uphill battle for re-election should Oscar Leeser enter the race. Although Leeser has been rumored to want to run for county judge in 2026, he has not said that he will. Attempts to reach Leeser for comment were unsuccessful.
On January 6, Ricardo Samaniego swore in Renard Johnson as the new mayor. Samaniego also endorsed Johnson for mayor, stating that Johnson “is really what we need in El Paso going forward.” Zimmerman, who ran Johnson’s mayoral campaign is helping Samaniego with his fundraiser and is likely to be his campaign manager according to documents reviewed by El Paso News.