With a notable exception the state's congressional delegation has endorsed Deb Haaland for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and the primary isn't until June 2026. 

Her campaign is now rolling out legislative endorsements and reports she has already raised over $1 million. 

They obviously are working feverishly to keep this a single candidate primary as was the case with Bill Richardson in 2002 and Diane Denish in 2010.

Senator Martin Heinrich is the lone hold out in the DC delegation, refusing to endorse Haaland who only announced her candidacy Feb. 11. 

(He also refused to endorse progressive ABQ Rep. Melanie Stansbury for a House committee leadership post as we explored Dec. 16.)

Heinrich decided against his own Guv run Jan. 24. He passed on a Haaland endorsement when he backed out and still wasn't on board when the Haaland camp promoted the delegation endorsements Friday. 

When asked by POLITICO's E&E News whether an endorsement will be forthcoming, Heinrich replied:

If I do (endorse), I’ll let you know.

That's understandable. 

First, Heinrich's flirtation with a Guv candidacy did not end well, with Haaland appearing to push him out. That also happened when President Biden passed him over for Secretary of Interior and chose Haaland. 

After that, this is no time to bend the knee. 

Heinrich and Haaland

Also, if Haaland does get elected Heinrich will remain the state's senior senator with enormous influence over legislation impacting the state. He will not and should not give his blessing to Haaland until he is good and ready.

Second, Haaland has shown herself more than capable of making mistakes (e.g. her bungled appearances before congressional committees as Sec. of Interior). There is concern that any missteps by her or polling that doesn't live up to expectations could draw a foe or two with some heft.

Heinrich is going to give her plenty of rope to play with and if the unexpected should happen and she trips, his options remain open. 

There is plenty of irony to Heinrich's decision not to endorse. His campaign finance team even picked up on our well-known nickname of him as the "First Endorser" because of his penchant for endorsing candidates in contested Democratic primaries with no regard for the divisiveness that can result. 

However, he was re-elected to a third term by a considerable margin so those primary endorsements did not seem to impact his standing among Democrats.

SAM TOWN

Sam Bregman

Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman is most frequently mentioned as a possible Haaland primary challenger but as a semi-conservative with more past political baggage than American Tourister, he is not seen as a major threat to Haaland. 

Bregman's fortunes could also be getting dragged down by his lobbying for a package of juvenile crime bills that are currently being shunned at the Roundhouse. 

Still, Bregman is a champion publicity hound. If he got in, the race could quickly go from sleeper to best-seller. Anti-Haaland Dems would at least have a vehicle for their dissent and the public would get a contrast of ideas.

Bregman's office deflected a question about running, but did not rule it out:

Right now, I am focused on fighting crime and working with legislators to pass good crime legislation for the safety of New Mexicans.

Bregman's son, famed baseball star Alex Bregman, just signed a $120 million three year contract with the Boston Red Sox. Not that Dad needs a campaign loan but. . . 

FOLLOW THE MONEY

Another note on campaign cash from a Dem consultant who writes: 

Joe, the Haaland campaign announced that just one day after launching she raised $686,323 from 13,394 unique donations. This includes donations from every county in New Mexico totaling $232,625 from more than 2,500 donations. However, there's another way to look at that--only 18% of the donors were in-state and only 34% of the contributions came from NM. The good news is she has a national following but a primary opponent could make hay over the disparity between her homegrown support and that from out-of-state.  

CORONATION OR ELECTION?

So here we are with a November election that revealed some Dem weariness with progressives, Senator Heinrich holding out on an Haaland endorsement, Bregman still hovering and a desire by the public to hear policy specifics from Haaland who has been conspicuously quiet on them.

No-one is yet standing on the railroad tracks to stop the Deb Haaland train. She is the obvious front-runner. The question is whether the primary will be something resembling a coronation instead of an election.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.