New Mexico DA who charged Alec Baldwin in ‘Rust’ shooting wins Democratic primary
New Mexico District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies Emerges Victorious in Democratic Primary
After a hard-fought battle, Mary Carmack-Altwies, the district attorney responsible for indicting actor Alec Baldwin for a fatal movie-set shooting in 2021, has triumphed over her Democratic primary challenger, Marco Serna. In a decisive victory, Carmack-Altwies secured 62% of the vote, cementing her position as the Democratic candidate for the upcoming November general election. Her jurisdiction covers the heavily Democratic First Judicial District of New Mexico, encompassing Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, and Los Alamos Counties.
Her opponent, Marco Serna, previously held the district attorney seat from 2017 to 2020 but decided to challenge Carmack-Altwies in this election cycle. However, her commitment to justice and public safety resonated with voters, leading to her commanding win.
Carmack-Altwies gained national attention for overseeing Baldwin’s indictment on involuntary manslaughter charges related to the tragic incident on the set of the film “Rust.” She withdrew from the case three months before the trial was set to commence, appointing special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis to take over the proceedings.
In a statement following her primary win, Carmack-Altwies expressed her gratitude and dedication to serving her community: “As I celebrate tonight with my family, I couldn’t be more honored to have the trust of voters in JD1. I have worked tirelessly to professionalize the office of the District Attorney and to bring justice and safety to our communities.”
At the time of her withdrawal from the “Rust” case, Carmack-Altwies emphasized her commitment to addressing broader public safety concerns in the First Judicial District of New Mexico. She stated, “My responsibility to the people of the First Judicial District is greater than any one case, which is why I have chosen to appoint a special prosecutor in the ‘Rust’ case.”
Alec Baldwin, the well-known actor at the center of the controversy, faced two counts of involuntary manslaughter following the fatal shooting that claimed the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza. The incident occurred when live ammunition was mistakenly loaded into a prop gun fired by Baldwin during a rehearsal on the film set in New Mexico.
In January 2021, Baldwin entered a plea of not guilty to the charges against him, denying allegations that he directly caused the tragic death of Hutchins. Despite the legal battle, prosecutors dropped the firearms enhancement initially included in the charges against Baldwin in February 2023, with Carmack-Altwies overseeing the filing of the paperwork.
The upcoming November general election will now see Mary Carmack-Altwies as the Democratic candidate, continuing her work to uphold justice and public safety in New Mexico’s First Judicial District.
