Before we break for the holidays, one last look at the year that was and the top five political stories that provided major drama for fans of La Politica. 

1. Harris carries New Mexico but Trump comes within six points, the best any Republican presidential candidate has done here since 2004. In doing so he put up impressive numbers in several northern and Hispanic-dominated counties, making the state's minority party wonder how they can build on that performance in local races.

2. The '26 race for Governor burst into '24. The behind-the-scenes posturing by Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland and Sen. Martin Heinrich went public, with Haaland looking like a definite candidate while Heinrich continues to weigh a decision. Either way. the early positioning sent a stern message to Republicans that the majority party is bent on again winning the state's top office and they will need a major player to stop them. (Here's a DC take on the Haaland-Heinrich drama.)

3. The southern congressional district re-elects Democratic US Rep Gabe Vasquez. No more taking turns between the parties holding the 2nd District and with that a watering down of the area's swing district status in the years ahead. The new gerrymandered district barely went for Vasquez in '22 but his margin grew to 10,000 votes this year, depriving Republicans of a needed victory and continuing their shutout from all major state offices.

4. The mighty oil boom continued yet another year. That meant the state's coffers were again flooded, adding more billions to the state's various savings accounts and permanent funds and bringing their total to over $55 billion. While the money freely gushes and the state budget grows ever larger, New Mexicans reflect on how a state with such vast resources can continue to rank near the bottom in so many of quality of life indicators including public education and child well-being. 

5. MLG is staying. Gov. Lujan Grisham's hopes of getting a major position with a Kamala Harris administration were dashed Election Night, leaving her to complete her second four year term in its entirety. A departure could have meant significant shifts in public policy. Still, as a lame-duck who can't seek another term, the Legislature will loom larger over that policy and her administration in her final two years.

And that, gentle readers, is a wrap and a take on what was. As for what's to come, we'll pick up on that when the calendar turns to 2025. Thanks for your continued interest this year. It is greatly appreciated.

Reporting from Albuquerque and wishing you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, I'm Joe Monahan. . . Frank, it's all yours.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.