Haaland (New Yorker)

If Deb Haaland has any plans to run for governor--and all signs say she does--an encyclopedic profile from the liberal but authoritative New Yorker Magazine on her life, times and trials and tribulations will only ramp up the pressure on Sen. Martin Heinrich to publicly put aside any '26 gubernatorial aspirations he harbors.

The over 9,000 word piece (you read that number right) is a gift for Haaland, 63, the first Native American Secretary of the Interior in the nation's history who remains noncommittal about her future even as her friends and operatives here appear to be laying the groundwork for her to seek the Democratic Guv nomination in 2026. Ditto for Heinrich.

The powerfully written profile of Haaland comes close to canonizing her as it details her difficult early life, her jagged path up the power ladder and the milestones achieved as the overseer of a department with sweeping powers over the American West.

Unfortunately, Haaland was not asked directly about the governorship or, if she was, it was not included. Here's what did come out: 

Haaland is committed to staying at Interior through the election in November, but she is circumspect about her plans after that, even if Biden is reëlected. A few months after her term began, she married her boyfriend, Skip Sayre, a widowed gaming-and-hospitality executive who was then the marketing director for the Laguna Development Corporation. They own a condo not far from Haaland’s office, along with an adobe home outside Albuquerque, where they have two rescue dogs, Winchester and Remington. Haaland, now sixty-three, still runs marathons, and the pair enjoy hiking together. It is harder, these days, for Haaland to return to her ancestral home in Mesita, but she was there after her mother died, during her first year at Interior, and she sees her family often. She still hopes to get her ­master’s degree from U.C.L.A. and recently finished her thesis. She has spent more than three hundred and sixty-five days on the road during her time as Secretary.

The New Yorker finds her tenure as Interior Secretary as vindication of long-ignored Native American rights and as instrumental in redefining its mission to include social justice for Natives--most of whom live on federal lands controlled by Interior.

In taking over the department, Haaland, like all her predecessors, was tasked with overseeing one of the most diverse and unruly agencies in the federal government, so sprawling that it is sometimes called the Department of Everything Else. She has also embraced a possibly impossible challenge: not only running the Department of the Interior but redeeming it. 

That redemption includes Haaland establishing a Missing and Murdered Unit in the BIA, pursuing justice by forming the Federal Indian Boarding School initiative to investigate horrible wrongdoing against  Native youths and being "an integral player in a conservation plan pushed by Biden, called “30 by 30”—an attempt to conserve thirty per cent of the country’s land and water by 2030."

PERSONAL POWER

It's the unarguably compelling personal history of Haaland that has the most political punch in the magazine's elongated narrative as it unpacks that background with a simplistic force sure to resonate on any campaign trail Haaland chooses to step onto:

Mary and John were married in 1958, and the third of their four children, Debra Anne, was born in 1960, while her father was stationed in Okinawa. He went on to earn two Purple Hearts and a Silver Star in Vietnam. During his deployments and temporary duty assignments, Haaland’s mother would bring the children back to her parents—at first to a house in Arizona, but soon to her mother’s ancestral homeland, in Mesita, where they all lived together in a one-room stone dwelling. That house, which is smaller than the office where Haaland and I were talking, is one of the few places she has ever thought of as home. Throughout her extremely peripatetic childhood—she attended thirteen public schools in as many years—she spent summers and other long spells getting a different kind of education from her grandmother on the Pueblo of Laguna. She and her siblings helped chop firewood, bake bread in a mud oven, cook huge pots of beef posole and deer stew, and pluck worms from the stalks of corn in the fields during the summertime. Whatever the season, they bathed in a galvanized washtub with water they heated on the stove after carrying buckets from the only well in the village, and they sometimes slept together on the floor. Before bedtime, their mother would do last call for the outhouse. Once they were ready for bed, their grandmother would turn out the only light in the house.

Heinrich has already come under pressure from his GOP opponent, Nella Domenici, for not knocking down rumors that, if re-elected, he will turn right around and run for Governor. And if he wins, he would then appoint Gov. Lujan Grisham to his vacant Senate seat. 

That meme is menacing for Heinrich as he faces Domenici's unanticipated and well-funded challenge. Now there's this glowing article giving Haaland's halo extra luster that may have his own party applying pressure on him to back off from any Guv run. 

The 9,000 plus words take much weight from Haaland's shoulders not by glossing over her foibles but by effectively placing them in the context of her entire life's journey. The mountain of verbiage is easily translated into political language and thus places much weight on the shoulders of the state's senior senator. Stay tuned.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.  

Progressive legislative candidates are striking back against the new kid on block--the self-described anti-progressive PAC The NM Project--that seeks to elect conservative and moderate legislative Democrats and that is headed up by businessman and Dem politico Jeff Apodaca. 

He announced here last week that the group has raised "close to" $1 million to battle the left of his party but donors remain anonymous and that amount can't be confirmed. 

Our sources say the group may not be all that close to the $1 million but the coffers are ample and could pose a threat to progressives on the June 4 primary ballot. 

But the PAC is also presenting opportunity to progressives to rally their troops and raise more money of their own. 

In District 30, comprised of four counties, Acoma Pueblo resident and progressive Dem Angel Charley, faces the NM Project endorsed Clemente Sanchez, a former conservative Dem senator. He was ousted in the '20 Dem primary and is now trying to get back to the Roundhouse. Charley aims to slow his stride with this fund-raising message:  

Dear Neighbors, There’s a new corporate PAC. . .and our opponent is one of their top candidates. We’re really going to need your help to push back against this special interest PA. . . This is exactly what happened four years ago when Chevron formed a PAC to help then-Senator Clemente Sanchez keep his seat. Now, some of those same interests are yet again working to get him back to the Senate. And why are the oil and gas industry, Big Pharma, payday loan companies, and insurance companies so invested in Clemente Sanchez winning? For them, they like his record. As a state Senator, Clemente Sanchez voted against increasing oil and gas royalty rates, and he voted for keeping payday loan interest rates high for people in dire financial straits. 

O'NEILL VS. O'MALLEY

In the ABQ metro former BernCo Commissioner Debbie O'Malley is glad to have The NM Project as her money-raising foil. She is taking on District 13 incumbent Dem Senator Bill' ONeill in the primary who was endorsed by group. O'Malley came with this:

Dear Neighbors, . . .I have made the list of candidates that a corporate PAC led by failed gubernatorial Democratic candidate Jeff Apodaca has targeted for defeat. The PAC. . .laughably says they are defending Hispanic traditional values… and for that reason, they are somehow backing my opponent, Bill O’Neill.  We don’t exactly know who the donors to this new PAC are. . . After the election, we will undoubtedly come to find out this new PAC is being funded by the oil and gas industry, insurance companies, NAIOP, and the realtors. That’s no surprise. Let's be clear: this new PAC targeting me is not about race or defending Hispanic values, but about corporate special interests not liking my record. If this were about race, why would they target me, a Hispanic, native New Mexican, over an Anglo candidate originally from Ohio? I am a committed progressive Democrat who sides with families and neighborhoods over corporate special interests. Please give. . . whatever you can to help me fight back against this dark money PAC.  

But hold on. Sen. O'Neill--"The Fighting Irishman"--not known for being either a conservative or a Hispanic--is firmly rejecting the Apodaca group's endorsement as he battles to survive. He says of The NM Project endorsement:

I just want  say no thank you. . . I am proud of my progressive track record. I'm proud to be endorsed by Planned Parenthood. Conservation Voters and Equality New Mexico. 

O'Neill's problem isn't that he's not progressive enough. It's that his district has radically changed in redistricting and no longer includes many of the enclaves he could count on. Large new portions are near downtown ABQ and surrounding areas that favor O'Malley because she has represented them on the commission and ABQ City Council. 

O'Malley says after the election donors to The NM Project will become known. Perhaps. But contributions to such 501(c)4 groups are not required do disclose them. However, the assumption that oil and gas is a large donor is not without reason. 

MORE ETHNIC DIVIDE

Now down to Las Cruces and House District 53 where ethnic politics is also flaring. Anglo Dem state Rep. Joanne Ferrary turned away from fellow Dem Rep. Willie Madrid and endorsed his primary opponent, Jon Hill, and held a fund-raiser for him over the weekend. She says: 

I look forward to working with Jon on so many shared visions for a better New Mexico! His experiences and Doctorate as an educator and Superintendent in rural schools is invaluable! I appreciate his great concerns for the environment and his dedication to protect women’s right to choose!

So what's the deal with Madrid and abortion? There's an implication in Ferrary's letter that he is on the wrong side of the choice question. But Madrid secured the '22 endorsement of Planned Parenthood and voted to repeal an outdated abortion law that was the chief worry of abortion proponents.   

But the anti-progressive The NM Project found Madrid to their liking and have endorsed him which denotes his conservative approach to business legislation.

Ferrary's backing of Hill over Madrid drew a scalding response from ABQ Dem Rep. Miguel Garcia, first elected in 1996, and now the senior Democratic member of the House:

Willie Madrid is one of our most dedicated and hardest working legislators. . .Willie is a loyal Democrat and unlike some conservative Democrats in the House, he has never engaged in coalition politics with the Republicans. House District 53 is the most vulnerable of all swing seats. Willie’s past victories over Republican candidates were in the single digits. Willie Madrid is currently under attack by Chairperson Joanne Ferrary (chair of Consumer and Public Affairs and two interim committees). Representative Ferrary is blatantly supporting Willie’s primary opponent. Being a Chair of a committee is an honorable position. It denotes leadership in our Caucus. Blatantly supporting the primary opponent of Representative Madrid is malfeasance at its worst. I urge Speaker Martinez to put a tourniquet on the unethical breach by Representative Joanne Ferrary and strip her of her three chair positions. 

Garcia is a progressive but he also happens to be a leader of the native Hispanic community. Hispanic men of all political stripes are feeling left out of the Democratic tent and resentful of primary challenges to their candidates. This resentment is seen in the polling in the presidential race and now a point of contention in the NM June primary.

Rep. Madrid

Hill can use Ferrary's help. His latest campaign report showed just $4,500 in cash and he has loaned himself over $5,000. Madrid had a cash balance of $39,000.

Madrid is seeking a fourth House term. As Rep. Garcia noted, the  Dem primary isn't the only obstacle he has to overcome. He won in '22 in a close 51-49 race in this swing district. The GOP will be back again against the Dem primary winner with Elizabeth Lee Winterowd who opposed Madrid in that nail-biter. 

District 37 Rep. Ferrary used to run tight races in her own District 37 but broke away as the area became more progressive and is now seeking her fourth term. She has no primary challenge but faces Republican Ronnie Sisneros in November.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.  

Time for another timely and always highly anticipated edition of Reader Vox Populi. 

We start with that hot as a pistol race for state Senate District 15 in ABQ's NE Heights where Dem Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto faces a primary challenge from progressive Heather Berghmans.

Reader Barbara Gay writes:

I have worked within the Legislature for many years and had always respected Sen. Ortiz y Pino’s demeanor during the sessions. However, I was disappointed to read his post on your April 4 blog, particularly his accusations that potential donors are resorting to fabrication in trying to defeat Daniel Ivey-Soto. 

While it is true that Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto has not been found guilty of the credible claims of sexual harassment, bullying and ethics violations, he also was not found innocent and the independent investigator found probable cause to move forward. Ivey-Soto’s behaviors are the worst-kept secret in the legislature. I witnessed his bullying events in the halls of the Capitol when I was working in another legislator's office, the most offensive of which was when he was striding down the hall toward his office yelling at another legislative staffer. I also remember that during a floor session in March of 2021 he was berating and yelling at Sen. Mimi Stewart to the point that the Speaker at the time had to stop the proceedings and he walked out on the debate. I always considered Sen. Ortiz y Pino a staunch supporter of women, but by taking this stance and not supporting these women, he has now made it more difficult for women who have been attacked to come forward. I was deeply disappointed to see his comment.

Reader Paul Stokes sees it another way:

I have worked with Daniel for over fifteen years on election issues. Daniel is without peer when it comes to legislation that he introduces or needs to vote on. The legislation that he introduces is very well thought out, and from what I have seen, it addresses important issues that only Daniel has recognized and thought important enough to merit legislation. Daniel also considers legislation that has been introduced by others and that he needs to vote on to be similarly investigated and sometimes discussed in hearings. I can see how Daniel irritates his colleagues, because he not only researches and knows the issues and facts addressing them better than most, he also tends to spend more time than my be necessary on the relevant details, and that can sound know-it-all-ish. I know of no one more credible than Jerry Ortiz y Pino regarding Daniel’s tenure in the Legislature. 

SPACEPORT BLUES

Our blogging this week on the dire financial straits of Virgin Galactic and the impact that could soon have on the NM Spaceport brought in the email.  Reader Brent Eastwood in DC writes:

I just went on the Spaceport web site and there hasn't been a news release since February. The next event, a student rocketeering competition, is not until June. That leaves all of May a blank slate. Could someone explain exactly what people at Spaceport do all day? Because it appears there is nothing going on. There needs to be some form of accountability for all the taxpayer money that has been spent on this boondoggle. The people of New Mexico have been ripped off and it's really sad. I have been talking about this abysmal failure for 12 years now and nobody wants to fix it. They have told me to be patient. Well we are all sick of being patient. All the politicians pretend Spaceport is not a problem. Well it is a problem and the people should demand action and solutions because the current situation is unacceptable. 

Reader Alan Schwartz writes: 

Remember when the Spaceport was to be this fantastic tourist attraction? You can file that one with the 400 flights per year from multiple Spaceports world wide. At this point the only real expectation is that they will introduce designer going out of business flight suits. 

Dan Warren near the Spaceport in T or C comes with this:

Factors affecting their continued existence include recently being sued by Boeing for $25 million for money Virgin Galactic failed to pay them. Virgin Galactic responded by counter-suing Boeing, claiming Boeing's work for them was shoddy. 

To make things more difficult, as Virgin Galactic plans their last flight in New Mexico during the second quarter they are under a grounding order from the FAA. This happened after their January flight when an alignment pin broke off and fell to the ground. Most reports about the broken alignment pin never mentioned that the result was being grounded. Virgin Galactic will need to redesign (?) and repair the broken part and get FAA approval before they can fly the last flight of the Unity Spaceship, which is supposed to fly in the next 75 days and they said it would.  Also, I recently learned that the Spaceport is going to spend over $1 million to fix the Spaceport roof which has skylights leaking. The Reception Center is on track to be built at the Spaceport for a cost of $60 million dollars -- taxpayer dollars, not Virgin Galactic dollars.  

ANTI-PROGRESSIVE MOVE

The formation of the anti-progressive group, The NM Project, by ABQ businessman Jeff Apodaca had Arcy Baca writing:

Joe, The moderate Democrats the group is supporting voted against family medical leave! How is that helping the working poor and middle class? Yet they voted to give themselves a 50 % raise on their pensions. They were all at the trough for that bill, Democrats, Republicans, moderates, liberal and right wingers! During elections you hear the terms progressive, moderates, right wingers but once they get to the legislature they all take care themselves!

A CHANGING DISTRICT

Rep. Rehm

Michael Corwin writes of the GOP House District 31 June 4 primary in ABQ's far NE Heights. Rep. Bill Rehm is retiring and three Republicans are running in the GOP primary in what is the only House District in ABQ that has a GOP state rep:

 Hey Joe, In 2004, when I ran in that district as a Democrat in a spirited campaign against my now friend and then-Republican Greg Payne, the Democratic voting performance was only 31%. I still managed to garner 42% of the vote. And I did that despite Greg out raising and outspending me 5-1. The demographics have changed significantly since I ran. The registered Dems have closed the gap quite a bit with the GOP and the independent numbers have exploded. Democrats can win that district. But they have to put in the hard work of door to door canvassing. My campaign focused on GOP crossover votes and meeting them in person helped me to get a fair amount of them. I didn’t run again after 2004, but no Democratic candidate for the district since then ever knocked on my, or my neighbors’ doors. I would urge the Democrats to not just run someone, but run to win, Get the candidate the resources necessary to make the contacts with the voters. 

In that GOP primary the candidates are Nicole Chavez, Sarah Jane Allen and Patrick Huested. The lone Democrat running in the primary is Vicky Estrada-Bustillo.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.  

Jeff Apodaca

An advocacy group called The New Mexico Project is unleashing vigorous attacks against the state's progressive Democrats and advocating for a field of conservative candidates in the June 4 primary. 

Their message is that the dominant progressives have failed to improve the state despite having the reins of power in Santa Fe and elsewhere and in the process have sidelined Hispanic voices.

The group is the brainchild of businessman Jeff Apodaca, son of former Gov. Jerry Apodaca who served one term ('75-'79). 

Jeff Apodaca, a moderate Democrat like his father, unsuccessfully sought the 2018 Dem gubernatorial nomination. 

In an interview he unloaded the frustration that conservative and moderate Dem Hispanics (or Latinos) have expressed among themselves. However, Apodaca says his group is nonpartisan and represents not only Hispanic Dems but also frustrated Republicans and independents:

Progressives have been attacking Latinos and electing candidates in the last three elections that do not reflect our communities. I give them credit for getting their vote out but their policies have caused more crime, fewer job opportunities and a failure to deliver on healthcare. They are attacking our Latino candidacies, culture and legacy and it's time for us to respond by getting our vote out not just in presidential elections but all elections. 

The NM Project is organized as a federal 501(c)(4) which limits how much political activity they can conduct but the regulations for that have been interpreted loosely.

Apodaca says the group has already raised "close to $1 million," all from within the state. That can't be fact-checked because money flowing to the group is not required to be reported to the state or FEC as is the case for the many dark money progressive groups operating here. 

Says Apodaca:

The vast majority of the progressive money attacking our Latino candidates is coming from out of state and it appears the various groups--including Better Future for NM) run by consultant Amanda Cooper--will raise $2 million or more for the primary.

ON THE AIR

The NM Project is already up with 60 second radio ads narrated by Apodaca. A sample:

Our political landscape in New Mexico has been increasingly divided by the far-left progressives and the ultra-right pulling us in opposing directions. But there's a powerful force waiting to be unleashed--the moderate Latino voter. We are the majority. We make up 53 percent of the voters when we vote. Whether you identify yourself as moderate Democrat, Republican or independent, it's a must we come together to support candidates that reflect our shared values--like pro-healthcare, business, education and public safety.

The ultra-liberal progressive agenda pushed by outsiders has neglected the needs of the Latino community. The far-right rhetoric has brought further division, threatening our heritage. But we, the Latino voter, have the power to shape the future of our state by voting in the upcoming primaries. We can elect leaders in New Mexico who will bridge the political divide.

Apodaca says recent polling reveals that healthcare--and specifically the lack of doctors--is the top issue among Hispanic voters with crime, job opportunities and education next. 

He says the Project's legislative agenda includes increased Medicaid payments for doctors, a revamp of the gross receipts tax to aid small business and support of a pre-trial detention bill that has stalled out in Santa Fe and that he says would cut crime

He adds that the group is also supportive of the oil and gas industry, noting that "forty-four percent of the workers in that industry are Latino." 

THE SLATE

Posted is the slate of candidates that the Project will be working to advance in the June 4 primary. (Click to enlarge).

They include Dem Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto who is locked in a heated battle with progressive Heather Berghmans in ABQ and Rep. Ambrose Castellano from the Las Vegas area who is being challenged by progressive Anita Gonzales. Rep. Patty Lundstrom, the de facto leader of the House conservatives, is also getting aid from the group for her primary challenge.

Apodaca sees local elections as the key to reversing progressive dominance by having an influx of moderate Latino voters. He singled out Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber because, he says, Webber has been attentive to the needs of the Anglo, wealthy and progressive Eastside but not the city's Hispanic majority. 

Apodaca says MLG and the Legislature have given the cities plenty of money to figure out the crime problem but progressive policies have thwarted any success,

There are mayoral elections in Santa Fe and ABQ next year. Webber is term limited but ABQ Mayor Keller is running for a third term. Apdoaca says his group hopes to be involved in both elections.

Progressives rose to the peak of their power following the 2020 primary elections where they ousted several longtime conservative Democratic senators including John Arthur Smith. Since then the Senate has drifted more liberal but nothing like the House where progressives took a commanding lead. 

The defeat of a family medical leave bill in the House his past session gave rise to conservative Dem hopes that the progressive era has peaked and there will be a swing back toward the middle.

The NM Project has the money and the message to push such a change. Whether the voters are ready is the question.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.  

New Mexico's 20 year waiting game with Virgin Galactic and Spaceport America may be about to end in a crash landing.

The stock of billionaire Richard Branson's company dived below a dollar a share Monday, an all-time low. If the stock stays under a buck for 30 days it risks being delisted from the NASDAQ which would dramatically impact its ability to raise desperately needed funding.  

Facing this stark scenario, what does VG do? It tries emergency life support to keep the stock above a buck:

Virgin Galactic will ask shareholders to approve a reverse stock split intended to boost the falling share price of the suborbital spaceflight company. . .One proposal will ask shareholders to perform a reverse stock split of between 1-for-2 and 1-for-20. That would convert anywhere from 2 to 20 existing shares of Virgin Galactic stock into one new share. The reverse split would have the effect of increasing the share price. 

A reverse stock split is the opposite of an ordinary stock split. Instead of giving you more shares, it leaves you with fewer. Investors are upset at this prospect -- even though it won't affect the actual value of an investment in Virgin Galactic. Whether you own 1,000 shares of stock worth $1 each or 50 shares of stock worth $20 each, you own $1,000 worth of stock.

Another sign that the death rattle may be near for VG and its space tourism flights from Spaceport America near T or C is Branson's declaration that he is through dumping cash into the struggling venture:

Branson said that his business empire will not be putting more money into Virgin Galactic, which recently fleshed out its near-term growth strategy. “We don’t have the deepest pockets after COVID, and Virgin Galactic has got $1bn, or nearly. It should, I believe, have sufficient funds to do its job on its own,” he said. 

NM Spaceport

But does VG really have "sufficient funds?" At the end of last year it listed $982 million in cash and marketable securities after losing $502 million in the same year and $500 million in '22. Most of the cash is from well-off potential space tourists who have ponied up as much as $400,000 a pop to secure their dream of being launched into suborbital space.

Investors continue to run for the hills, crashing the stock Monday nearly 13 percent leaving it at a meager seventy-five cents a share. 

That price values the company at about $300 million, a whole lot less than VG says it has in cash. 

Investors are clearly saying (and warning) that they believe VG is going to burn through the cash they have before they can restart regular space launches that are in abeyance while the company builds a new spacecraft. 

Before halting flights the company had launched 19 customers.

VG's slogan is turning the "impossible into the inevitable." Sadly the inevitable appears to be a going out of business sign.

Sure, the company's demise has been prematurely forecast before but never has Branson acted like a pallbearer as he is now.

The honchos at Spaceport America seem to see what's coming. They've been leaning on the Legislature for a couple of million a year in subsides to keep the taxpayer-built Spaceport going. In their new ten year plan they say they will seek many more tenants as they try to diversify away from the dependence on VG.

Meantime, the political powers that be here continue to play ostrich, seeing and speaking little on the subject. Soon there will be something to open their eyes as VG comes in for a landing on a wing and a prayer--and maybe only a prayer.  

MORE VG COVERAGE

Reader Dan Warren in Sierrra county has been on the VG watch:

Hi Joe, Factors affecting their continued existence include recently being sued by Boeing for $25 million for money Virgin Galactic failed to pay them. Virgin Galactic responded by counter-suing Boeing, claiming Boeing's work for them was shoddy. 

To make things more difficult in coming months as Virgin Galactic plans for their last flight in New Mexico during the second quarter is a grounding order by the FAA. This happened after their January flight when an alignment pin broke off and fell to the ground somewhere. Most stories about the broken alignment pin never mentioned that the result was being grounded. Virgin Galactic will need to redesign (?) and repair the broken part and get FAA approval before they can fly the last flight of the Unity Spaceship, which is supposed to fly in the next 75 days and they said they would. 

 KUDOS TO HAALAND

Chavez and Haaland

An interesting email from former ABQ Mayor Martin Chavez in reaction to the Monday blog wherein Sec. of Interior Deb Haaland was mentioned as a possible '26 Dem Guv candidate as well as Sen. Martin Heinrich. Is the former three term Mayor taking sides in the early going? You be the judge:

Joe, Kudos to Secretary Haaland and Senator Heinrich for their good work regarding Placitas and gravel mining. Lost somewhere in the news, however, is the truly historic Final Public Lands Rule announced last week by the Department of Interior which elevates clean energy and conservation to at least equal status with fossil fuel extraction on public lands. Assuming it overcomes the legal challenges which are sure to ensue, New Mexico's Deb Haaland will go down as one of the most impactful Secretaries of Interior of all time. We all knew that hers was an historic appointment but this new rule will forever change how public lands are managed. And all by our own Deb Haaland! 

Haaland's base in the state Dem party is progressive but former Mayor Marty is a keeper of the flame for moderate Dems and Hispanics. As we said, interesting.

CLOSING IN

The June 4 primary is closing in. The SOS comes with this:

Registered voters in New Mexico can now request an absentee ballot for the 2024 Primary Election at NMVOTE.ORG. This year, voters can also voluntarily opt-in to be part of the permanent absentee list when requesting their absentee ballot. When a voter chooses this option they will receive an absentee ballot in the mail for every subsequent election. Voters can remove themselves from the permanent absentee list at any time.  The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the Primary Election is Tuesday, May 21, 2024. If mailing back an absentee ballot, voters should allow 7-10 days for their ballot to be delivered back to their County Clerk’s office.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.  

Sec. Haaland (Bush, Journal)

It's true. Your blog is at the head of the parade when it comes to monitoring a possible 2026 Guv run by Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland. We're not shying away from that beat either as top state Democrats have been quietly chattering for months over Haaland's intentions. 

That includes a longtime Dem consultant with ties to Haaland who sends along this photo of a smiling Haaland in ABQ signing a public land order putting 4,200 acres of federal land near Placitas off limits to mining. They captioned the pic: "Looking Like A Governor."

Public speculation thus far has centered on Sen. Martin Heinrich who has made it clear that a Guv run could be in the cards, if he is re-elected to a third Senate term this November.

But Heinrich now has his hands full--unexpectedly so--with a name and monied opponent in Nella Domenici who is already attacking him for entertaining thoughts of becoming Governor which would mean not finishing any next term

A solid run by Domenici could spoil Heinrich's daydream. More than that, Haaland, if she does run, could be a lock for the Democratic nomination because of her appeal to Dem progressives and her identity as the first Native woman who would be elected to the governorship.

Senior Alligators (trusted sources) and top Dems don't foresee a Heinrich-Haaland primary, believing that only one of them will be standing at the end of the day.

Soon after the fall election the fog surrounding the '26 Dem Guv chase will begin to break. That's when to expect Haaland to figure prominently. 

As the late great Ernie Mills would opine: "Don't say we didn't tell you."

JAVIER AND MIMI

Sen. Stewart

House Speaker Javier Martinez is supporting all House Dems in their re-election bids as he puts aside any disagreements the progressive leader has with his conservative colleagues. But that doesn't apply to the state Senate. Martinez's personal campaign account gave $5,500 to Dem Senate candidate and progressive Heather Berghmans who is challenging moderate Dem Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto in the June primary. 

Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart appears to be staying out of that testy contest--at least financially. We spot no donations to Berghmans from Stewart's personal campaign or her leadership PAC in the latest campaign reports. 

In 2022 Ivey-Soto, under pressure from Stewart, resigned his rules committee chairmanship amid sex harassment charges dating from 2015 leveled against him by progressive lobbyist Marianna Anaya.

However, another prominent Dem Senator, ABQ's Katy Duhigg who has also tangled with Ivey-Soto, isn't shy about the race. Her campaign donated $5,500 to Berghmans.

In another Dem senate primary featuring a progressive versus a moderate, the name of famed retired newsman Sam Donaldson pops up. He gave $5,500 to Heather Balas, the centrist Democrat facing progressive Cindy Nava in the Rio Rancho/Corrales District 9 race. 

(Senate Prez Stewart gave $2,500 to Nava.) 

Donaldson is a longtime middle of the roader, hanging with moderate Dems like Jeff Apodaca since returning to the state. The broadcaster who aced the White House beat for ABC news lives in ABQ and is now 90. 

ANOTHER SAM

Another well-known Sam--Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman--continues to fight off a primary challenge from fellow Dem and former US Attorney Damon Martinez. The gloves are coming off fast as Martinez tries to put into play the APD-DWI scandal. He gets some help from J.R. Davis, a retired Supervisory Agent with the Department of Homeland Security:

A recent comment by former US Attorney David Iglesias indicates that DA Bregman should have recused himself from the dismissed DWI cases because, when he was a defense attorney, he himself had DWI cases dismissed involving one of the main APD officers currently under investigation. Iglesias did not list these cases. I can. 

On March 22nd, APD Officer Joshua Montano resigned from APD. He is one of the main APD police officers being investigated by the FBI regarding the DWI case dismissals. The US Attorney informed DA Bregman about Officer Montano’s ethical issues on January 2nd. There exist three DWI cases where: 1) Bregman was the defense attorney at the time; 2) all three cases were dismissed; and 3) they all involved APD Officer Joshua Montano. In other words, 100% of the DWI cases that then defense attorney Bregman had with APD Officer Montano were dismissed. 

The DA’s Office has jurisdiction over investigating APD public corruption. Consequently, the DA’s Office should investigate the DWI scandal in partnership with the FBI and US Attorney’s Office when it is determined that there are issues better left to state investigation. However, the dismissed DWI cases and the entire matter now has a cloud over it because of DA Bregman’s direct involvement and that he failed to immediately mention his involvement with APD Officer Montano . 

The DA’s Office should have a grand jury investigation looking into all DWI cases involving Officer Montano that were dismissed. In this situation, however, DA Bregman’s three prior DWI cases will come up. Therefore, Assistant DAs can’t investigate their own boss who is the DA. This is the actual conflict situation that DA Bregman has now shamefully placed our community in by not recusing himself.

Bregman has yet to comment on the alleged conflict. If and when he does, you'll see it here. 

MEDINA REACT 

APD Chief Medina

Some reader reaction to APD Chief Medina's defense of his record on the Thursday blog as well as the announcement that he will leave the job at the end of 2025. Ron Nelson writes:

APD and Medina say “Crime continues to go down, following national trends.” Hint: when you don’t answer calls or apprehend criminals, of course crime goes down. Seriously, anyone in this town who owns a ring camera or video surveillance will dispute this claim. 

Reader Doug Petersen writes:

Reader Kelley writes:

It might be a lot of people’s “perception”but Medina sucks. I was happy he’s announced his departure, but the end of 2025, really?! Wow, I don’t get the huge defense by all for him, makes no sense to me. This city sure doesn’t feel safe or better with him or the mayor. Great reporting (always).

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.  

Quezada

Bernalillo County Commissioner Steven Michael Quezada, also an actor and comic, upstaged his fellow commissioners recently when he walked out of a commission meeting. We blogged about it and he responded:

 It's important to recognize that the U.S. Constitution protects the minority party's voice through the Bill of Rights, ensuring everyone can freely express their opinions. Although I am a Democrat and in the majority party on the Commission, my values of integrity and transparency seem to be in the minority. Additionally, the system of checks and balances in which our nation was founded on ensures that minority interests are considered in decision-making processes. 

Unfortunately, the interests of both (Republican) Commissioner Walter Benson, myself, and, most importantly, our constituents have been disregarded and silenced by Commissioners Barbara Baca, Eric Olivas, and Adriann Barboa. 

I walked out of the last Commission Meeting after proposing a compromise to allow each Commissioner to appoint someone to the County Manager selection committee. Regrettably, this compromise was defeated in a 3-2 vote. As an elected official, compromising hasn't always been politically easy for me, but it has always been the right thing to do. 

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government reported Commissioners Baca, Olivas, and Barboa to the New Mexico Department of Justice (Attorney general's office) for potentially violating the Open Meetings Act by conducting business outside of official public meetings in relation to the hiring of our new County Manager. 

And lastly, you’re correct I am not laughing. There's nothing humorous about the silencing of over 270,000 Bernalillo County residents' voices by three County Commissioners. It's particularly concerning and not funny when three out of the five Commissioners are under investigation by the NMDOJ.

MAYOR AND MEDINA PUSHBACK

Medina and Keller

The Tuesday blog regarding APD Chief Harold Medina's scheduled departure for the end of 2025 and an analysis of his record touched nerves at APD and the Mayor's office. First, the mayoral response

Interesting thesis on the Tuesday blog. Unfortunately half is factually way off. Medina saved reform at APD, taking the department from 38% DOJ compliance when he came in to 94% today. Homicides, auto thefts, burglaries and robberies are all down, and officer recruitment and retention are on the uptick. Of course, you wouldn’t know that based on media coverage, so no one can argue with your point about perception. 

Also, the Mayor has searched outside the state for a Chief multiple times, but City Council said Medina was the best candidate for the job and confirmed him 8-0. They basically reiterated this by not even considering the proposed no confidence vote a few weeks ago. 

Medina is the only chief who has taken on the decades old DWI scheme and working with the FBI to make sure anyone involved will never work for the City again. Through good times and challenges, Chief Medina is first and foremost a cop who cares most about serving the community. He speaks candidly and from the heart, and people appreciate that he is a local, authentic leader who responds the needs of residents and works hard day in and day out despite the vitriol and politics. 

The Chief's office came with this critique: 

--Crime continues to go down, following national trends. The one area that bucks the national trend – and the trend we have more control over – is solving homicide cases and arresting offenders.  So far this year, detectives have solved 21 of 26 cases, or 81%. Of those solved cases, 32 suspects have been arrested or are deceased. Our Investigative Support Unit and SWAT officers have also arrested all suspects; no suspect who has been charged is outstanding.  In addition, detectives this year have solved 8 cases from previous years and arrested 17 suspects. That’s a total of 40 solved cases and 49 murder suspects in 3 ½ months. We arrested 119 murder suspects in 2023 and 119 murder suspects in 2022. . .

--Police shootings – The DOJ commissioned an independent review of the spike in shootings in 2022. That review determined there was no pattern of unconstitutional, deadly use of force. Also, that vast majority of individuals shot and killed by police have been under the influence of meth, Fentanyl and very high blood-alcohol levels – likely altering their state of mind prior to the shootings. All six fatal shootings last year involved those drugs and/or alcohol. Also, nearly every shooting has in the past two years have involved individuals with guns, and suspects have shot police at least three times.

--The chief’s auto accident resulted from someone firing a handgun in the direction of his vehicle. We don’t know what that has to do with his temperament. 

--One city councilor continues to attack Chief Medina politically and not for cause. Interestingly, there have been no calls from the police union for a vote of no confidence. Just one councilor. 

--APD overtime? What abuse has happened during Chief Medina’s tenure as chief? 

--Ask again about the DWI scandal in a few weeks. We have said since the beginning this is more about a broken criminal justice system. Chief Medina took responsibility for getting to the bottom of APD’s problems and worked with the FBI to make that happen. 

As for the shootings at Coronado Mall, Ask the management there why they chose to post another law enforcement agency there under the former Sheriff. 

The office also attached  "a list of accomplishments" and a rebuttal to Councilor Louie Sanchez's criticism of Chief Medina. Here is that list.

LIKE BOSTON? 

Reader Bruce Shah writes: 

More and more this city is looking like the Boston I left 30 years ago. One party rule sucks no matter which party it is. Nice summary on Medina/Keller and the AWOL Federal Monitor. Thank you!  

 SPECIAL SESSION

MLG initially gave a special legislative session an 80 percent chance of happening then upped it to 85 percent. Now it's 100 percent. A special session dealing with crime has been called for Thursday, July 18. It is anticipated that it will last several days. 

The Governor's announcement:

(The Governor) will call the New Mexico Legislature into a special session on Thursday, July 18 to take up additional public safety protections that New Mexicans demand. Gov. Lujan Grisham said she decided to convene a special session to allow lawmakers to finish what they started during the 30-day session. Based on discussions with legislative leadership, the governor anticipates that the special session will be completed within several days. “While we made some progress toward a safer New Mexico during the 30-day day session, we agree that we must do more,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “The special session in July will enable us to deliver additional statutory changes that reduce the danger and risk New Mexico communities face every day. The best proposals for making our state safer will be under consideration, and I welcome input from my colleagues in the legislature.” The July 2024 special session will be the fifth special session of the legislature during Gov. Lujan Grisham’s tenure as governor.

The state GOP reaction: 

When New Mexicans hear that Gov. Lujan Grisham is calling a special session to address public safety, a chill runs down their spines because her past actions prove that she is not interested in taking measures against criminals, but rather against law-abiding citizens. The Democrats are totally to blame for New Mexico's out-of-control crime. They need to explain why public safety wasn't their priority during the previous legislative session despite holding a majority in both chambers of the state legislature. During the last session, Republicans proposed several bills aimed at increasing penalties for multiple crimes, ending catch and release, and securing the border. Democrats killed every single one. Recently, the Governor expressed her intention not to take additional measures to secure New Mexico’s Southern border, even if she were to call a special session. She cannot claim to care about public safety while ignoring the numerous problems stemming from our open border, including the rampant influx of fentanyl, alarming prevalence of human trafficking, and criminal cartel activity. Despite this, the Governor is planning to spend hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans' tax dollars to convene an additional session that could result in another waste of time or in law-abiding citizens' rights being infringed upon. For the sake of New Mexicans, I hope that the Governor will engage in meaningful conversations with Republicans and heed their advice on addressing the criminal issues plaguing our state to ensure that this special session will be productive.

The Democratic legislative leadership reaction:

House Speaker Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque), Majority Floor Leader Gail Chasey (D-Albuquerque), Majority Whip Reena Szczepanski (D-Santa Fe), and Majority Caucus Chair Ray Lara (D-Chamberino) issued the following statement: 

We anticipated this announcement and we share the Governor’s commitment to ensuring all New Mexicans can feel safe in their homes and communities. We also want all of our neighbors to be able to get the help they need when they or a loved one are struggling with mental or behavioral health issues. In the coming weeks and months, it will be critical for us as elected leaders to work together with stakeholders and experts to develop meaningful solutions to these challenges. In order to be responsible public servants and stewards of taxpayer dollars, we must enter the special session with a set of achievable goals that will genuinely make our communities safer, improve access to healthcare and services, and protect the rights of New Mexicans. In recent sessions, we have made significant progress toward making our streets safer and addressing the root causes of crime. We look forward to building on that progress in this special session, as well as in the upcoming 60-day legislative session, which is just around the corner.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.   

E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com

Call it the battle of the Democratic titans. Because it is. But it's not necessarily the candidates on the ballot. MLG and House Speaker Javier Martinez have a pleasant enough relationship but behind the scenes this primary season they are in a toe-to-toe battle in a key northern Democratic House Primary that could impact future state policy. 

The latest finance reports show that MLG has pumped $8,000 from her campaign accounts into the coffers of progressive Dem Anita Gonzales as Gonzales tries for the third time to oust conservative Dem Rep. Ambrose Castellano in District 70 which covers most of San Miguel county and a part of Torrance.

As seen at the top of this post, the Guv is hosting a fund-raiser for Gonzales tonight in Santa Fe that tops out at $2,500 a pop. 

Speaker Martinez is right behind her plowing $5,500 from his personal account and $500 in in-kind donations from his Speaker Fund into Castellano's effort.  

Castellano report here. Gonzales report here.

The heated money race has drawn an ethics complaint from former state Rep. Daymon Ely alleging that Castellano "violated state law by paying for personal expenses from his campaign account--for everyday expenses like gas reimbursements, regularly eating out, hotel stays in Albuquerque. . . 

Castellano's said of the complaint filed with the State Ethics Commission: "I welcome a fair and legal process but believe my campaign is in compliance with laws and regulations."

 You might wonder why Martinez, a progressive, is supporting Castellano. Well, a check of our exclusive April 10 blog making known that Martinez is backing all Democratic House incumbents--no matter their ideological bent--answers that question. 

And Castellano was all eyes when that blog hit, saying on social media:

In a recent insightful article by Joe Monahan, the dedication of our Speaker in steadfastly supporting his members has been highlighted. It is heartening to see such unity and strength within our leadership, particularly in times that call for solidarity and resolve. I extend my sincere gratitude to the Speaker for his unwavering commitment and support. His leadership exemplifies the values we hold dear and underscores the importance of standing together.

Thanks for the acknowledgment, Ambrose, but flattery will get you nowhere around here. However, a down to the wire, scrappy primary contest in the heart of the North does do the trick.

WHAT A RACE

Castellano shrugs off MLG's endorsement of Gonzales, claiming it would have no effect. But any impact at all could be enough in a race that could be as tight as the lug nuts on one of those '56 Chevy's gracing the front yards of Vegas.  

MLG is not a down the line progressive but Castellano's pro-life and pro-guns stances combined with his unabashed backing by the oil and gas industry is enough to move her to the front of the line for Gonzales. 

Speaker Martinez endorsement

The Guv's donations to Gonzales amount to nearly 26 percent of what she received in the October thru April period when she raised a total of $31,000 and reported $25,000 in cash on hand for the final two months of her duel with Castellano, a general contractor and rancher who was first elected in 2020.

That year he beat Gonzales in the Dem primary by the razor thin margin of 62 votes or 41.1 percent to 39.9. The remainder went to a third candidate

They had a rematch in the '22 primary and it was another nail-biter with Castellano prevailing 51% to 49 or just 78 votes. 

Money has been a problem for Gonzales, 44, who has been heavily outspent by Castellano. Apart from the Governor's big give, her major donations are on the small side and from individuals not corporations. But compared to her previous primaries with Castellano her financial condition is improved and that gubernatorial fund-raiser tonight will help.

Meanwhile, Castellano reports raising $85,000 in the recent six month period, not an overwhelming advantage over his foe. But the oil boys made the difference. Marathon Oil and Occidental each donated $5,000 and Exxon came with $3,000. As of April 1, Castellano had $65,000 in cash on hand.

Big oil's involvement gives added significance to this race for impact on state policy in addition to the battle between House progressives and Dem conservatives for more of the Roundhouse power pie (not that MLG or the Speaker have turned down oil donations).

Gonzales is not waving her progressive flag too high in the district where moderate Hispanics dominate and where a Hispanic woman trying to take down a Hispanic man still has electoral implications. Both factors probably played a role in her earlier defeats. 

THE PERSONALITIES

On the campaign websites its jobs and inflation for her, not guns or choice. Castellano has been talking rural New Mexico values, small business and economic growth. The communities are well aware of their split on the social issues from previous encounters.

Rep. Castellano

This is also a battle of personalities. Castellano's is big enough to fill two ten gallon cowboy hats. His voters are loyalists even as critics charge he plays too much footsie with lobbyists.

Gonzales, an MBA who is the Deputy Director for New Mexico Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (NM MESA), is rooted deep in the community, a native of Las Vegas with a list of community involvements that would take a separate blog to list. She takes hits for being too liberal for the region.

MLG has taken Gonzales under her wing but she is not running for re-election and is free to roam about the campaign trail in any direction she chooses. 

Speaker Martinez has made the shrewd move of backing all his House Democrats whose votes he will need to retain his post, but it leaves the progressives in the cold and perhaps eyeing a future power move against the House's #1. 

This race has it all. The Governor, Speaker, Big Oil, progressives versus conservatives, a third emotional rematch and the treachery and delight of Northern New Mexico La Politica. Heck, we might have to move the blog to the Las Vegas Plaza Hotel for a week. 

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.