ALAMOGORDO, N.M. — A judge ruled Amy Barela can’t serve as the chair of the Republican Party of New Mexico while she faces a primary challenge in her race for Otero County commissioner.

District Court Judge Cindy Mercer issued the ruling Wednesday based on a hearing last week over a lawsuit against the party and some of its leaders, including Barela.

The lawsuit alleged Barela violated party bylaws by leading the party during the race and using party resources to promote candidates she endorses over their primary challengers.

The primary challenger to Barela for the District 2 Otero County commissioner, Jonathan Emery, filed the lawsuit in the 12th Judicial District Court. Joining him on the lawsuit as plaintiffs are Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez, Republican lieutenant governor candidate Aubrey Blair Dunn and two members of the state GOP’s State Central Committee.

“Her [Barela’s] position as party chair gives her a higher profile and may lend her an aura of greater party legitimacy than her challenger. Defendants… have publicly endorsed candidates in the primary. These actions constitute irreparable injuries for purposes of issuing a preliminary injunction since any disadvantage they create for Plaintiffs cannot be remedied if Plaintiffs lose the primary election,” the ruling stated.

The plaintiffs asked for an injunction, seeking to stop Barela and the alleged damage she was causing them.

“By voluntarily joining the party, Defendants agreed to be bound by its bylaws. Requiring Defendants to adhere to those bylaws cannot be considered an injury to them,” the ruling stated.

The judge ruled the plaintiffs are likely to succeed on their merits of their claims, warranting the injunction.

Now, Barela can’t serve as party chair or publicly endorse or publicly support one candidate over another in any contested primary.

We reached out to the Republican Party of New Mexico for a statement. We haven’t heard back yet.