It took a week but Damon Martinez finally put out his swan song to supporters Tuesday. The unsuccessful candidate for the ABQ Dem congressional nod had to be deeply disappointed in his 15 point loss to Deb Haaland but did not directly mention the defeat in his farewell to supporters, instead thanking them "for giving me your trust, your faith, and your support over this campaign. I will never forget it."

Will Martinez, a former US attorney for NM and onetime staffer to NM Senators Udall and Bingaman, be back? Maybe, but it's hard to see any opportunity for him in the short-term.

Voters are probably taking a break from the Guv race and anticipating their summer vacations but the non-stop campaigns go on no matter what. The Republican Governors Association is circulating this attack ad against Dem nominee Michelle Lujan Grisham and MLG continues to run one of her primary ads on broadcast TV.

Whoever wins the race--MLG or Republican Steve Pearce--gets to live in the Governor's Mansion in Santa Fe, although the residence built in the mid-50's hardly qualifies for that moniker in this day and age. Never been there? Here's your chance:

The Governor’s Mansion Foundation hosts docent-guided tours from 1-3 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month through November. The mansion is located north of the Plaza, west off Bishops Lodge Road at One Mansion Drive. For more information, visit here.

TO THE BUNKER

After a year and half in the high profile, hot spot job of BernCO District Attorney Raul Torrez is headed to the bunker:

DA Torrez and his spokesman, Michael Patrick, did not hand over policies that relate to conflicts of interest, and they ignored written questions and a request for an interview with Torrez for this story.

Torrez took major heat for what appeared to be a wire job in the DWI case of former Gov. Martinez cabinet secretary Ryan Flynn. He is now under intense scrutiny in how his office handles the DWI case of GOP State Rep. Monica Youngblood, another Martinez acolyte who has hired Martinez machine lawyer Paul Kennedy.

Torrez has never addressed the allegation that he sold out the Flynn case in exchange for the Governor's support for his increased budget request from the Legislature.

The DA's situation is now inviting open speculation about a possible Democratic primary challenge in 2020, should he decide to seek re-election. But that word may have a hard time penetrating the bunker.

CONTEST TIME

First, let's set the table, so to speak. We have two free tickets to award to a lucky blog reader that sell for $85 each to the Vintage ABQ Grand Tasting Friday, June 22. Take a look:

A tented wine & food extravaganza, located at the beautiful Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum grounds, you can taste from over 100 wines from all over the world. And, scrumptious dishes from over local restaurants who try to outdo each other for best food of show. They might be competing, but the real winner is you!

And you can be a  really big winner it you can answer the questions crafted by the sly and mischievous Foster Hannett, ABQ attorney and veteran NM politico. Answer these right and the Grand Tasting tickets are yours. If we get multiple winners we'll mix them up in our "Forever Sinatra" hat and pick the final winner.

Who is the first person to be born in the State of New Mexico to be Governor of the State?

And who is the first person to be born in the State of New Mexico to be a US Senator from NM?

If those questions stump you (as they did us) you can still enjoy the Grand Tasting and other Vintage ABQ events. Just click on the Vintage ad for tickets. All events offer high quality gourmet food and wines, and the proceeds go to support education and the arts in the ABQ metro.

Good luck to the contest entrants. Email your answers and stay tuned for yet another chance to win tickets.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2018