Realists knew Santa Fe's mayoral election was over only 20 minutes after the polls closed.

The first returns were so lopsided, it was clear to the candidates that City Councilor Michael Garcia would ascend to the city's top political office. Garcia broke to a sizable lead, taking 38% of the first 12,505 votes counted. That total amounted to about half of all the votes.

With the addition of second-place ballots, Garcia eventually exceeded the 50% threshold to win the election. Santa Fe residents who'd hoped for drama on election night had to find it in televised coverage of high-profile elections in Virginia, New Jersey and New York City. In Santa Fe, Garcia owned the night from beginning to end.

Oscar Rodríguez was solidly positioned in second place in the mayoral race when he sauntered

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