MLG and Torres

The state attorney general's office has historically been a platform for puffery and do nothingness so it was a stark contrast indeed when AG Raul Torrez lowered the hammer on the Lujan Grisham administration and its long-troubled Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) by starting an investigation into the agency's handling of a recent death by suicide of a 16 year old foster teen at a CYFD facility and more. 

I will not tolerate the excuses, the assurances. I think we have all grown tired of waking up and hearing about another child who’s been injured, another child who’s been hurt, another child in state custody who’s been killed.

The Governor was not happy about it but she brought this upon herself by continually ignoring the crisis of maltreatment of children by resisting reform and by appointing agency leaders not up to the job. Still, her denial remains as thick as a brick:

Gov. Lujan Grisham signed into law a new Office of Child Advocate in the attorney general’s office that confers him with authority to investigate CYFD’s operations. . .However. . .the governor is concerned that this new office could be weaponized to intimidate CYFD and its staff rather than to prioritize the safety and well-being of children in the state’s care. She reiterates this concern following the AG’s unfounded, blanket criticisms of CYFD at a news conference.

Progressives in the legislature also share blame for looking the other way for years as the Democratic Governor tried to sweep CYFD's systemic failure under the rug. They woke up this year.

But the political system, as maddeningly slow as it can be, is now responding as the AG calls out CYFD's dreadful performance and its penchant for nondisclosure. 

The investigation offers an opportunity for the public to get a holistic look at CYFD instead of a hodge podge of reports on horrific abuse cases and agency incompetence. It could also put an end to splintered legislative efforts to do something--do anything--about the breakdown and could present the opportunity for a comprehensive reform package.

The Governor's legacy has been blackened by her stubbornness to confront the crisis but it isn't too late to lighten that stain if she stops her solo resistance movement and joins with Torrez to clean up and clean out one of the worst and longest running examples of government incompetence. 

TICKET BALANCING

Las Cruces attorney Israel Chavez reacts to chatter that an all woman Governor and Lt. Governor Democratic ticket in 2026 might not be balanced:

Joe, it’s sad to think that in New Mexico, where we are raised and governed by our mothers, tias, and abuelitas, that someone could think that we wouldn’t elect an all female ticket. 

Stephanie Garcia Richard is a formidable candidate, has transformed the land commissioner's office and fought successfully to pass an oil and gas royalty increase for the first time in decades. 

If folks recall, she was the underdog in the land commissioner's race nearly eight years ago. She’s the first woman and Latina to hold that office in state history. And people said a teacher couldn’t do it. As a son of a teacher, I can tell you that a teacher can do anything they set their mind to, including run and win the race for Lieutenant governor.  

Deb Haaland is the front-runner for the '26 Democratic gubernatorial nomination. She faces a primary challenge from BernCo District Attorney Sam Bregman. Garcia Richard is the first announced candidate for the Dem nomination for lieutenant governor. There has never been an all female ticket for the state's top two offices. 

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.