Uballez (KNME-TV)

What ever happened to the DWI bribery scandal at the ABQ police department? That's a question now forming on the lips of the city's political community as they weigh the possible impact on the November mayoral election from what appears to be the worst scandal in APD's history.

With the one year anniversary of the FBI probe about to hit, there is no clear timetable on when there will be any action or a decision to take no action.

The investigation went public January 18, 2024 when the Feds conducted raids on the homes of a number of APD officers working for the DWI unit. 

The cops are suspected of conspiring with at least one defense attorney to get DWI cases thrown out of court by taking bribes to not show up for the trials of those they arrested. The bribes allegedly came from the attorney who charged the DWI defendants a pretty penny and passed on some of the take to the dirty cops.

At least 150 DWI cases have been dismissed because of the scandal and 10 APD officers have been placed on leave. Others quickly resigned.

The bombshell news was the loudest in one of a long series that have rocked APD in recent decades and looms over the emerging race for ABQ mayor as Tim Keller seeks a third term. 

So where do things stand? 

NM US attorney Alexander Uballez, who will soon be replaced by a Republican appointed by President Trump, had no clear answers when interviewed Jan. 10 on public TV. 

The transcript:

Q: Should we expect that we get to learn something about that (APD) investigation at some point?

A: The beautiful thing about serving alongside these people is knowing that no matter who sits in my chair or in a chair in DC they're going to do their job for this community. They're from here they're not teleworking from DC. They're invested in this community, live in this community, care about it and you can expect whether or not I'm sitting in the chair that they will still do their jobs.

Q: Do you have a sense of a timeline for when we might learn something about that investigation?

A: I do.

Q:Anything you can share?

A: No. 

That's far from a satisfying answer for the public or the politicos, but it is not unusual for such investigations to drag on for months--or even years. Also, it is not the practice of the Justice Department to drop bombshell legal actions in the immediate weeks before an election. But if one does drop between now and September, it could create a big crater in the race for the city's leadership post. 

ALCON SERVICES 

The family of former state Rep. Eliseo Alcon, 74, who passed away this week, announced the following services:  

Rep. Alcon will lie in state at the Roundhouse Rotunda on Monday, January 20th from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. A service will be conducted by the Archbishop at 4:30 p.m.

Funeral services will be a rosary, Thursday, Jan. 23 at 6 p.m and a funeral mass Friday, Jan. 24  at 11 a.m. Flowers are welcome. The rosary and funeral mass will be at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Grants.

THE BOTTOM LINES

Mayoral candidate Eddy Aragon did not seek nor qualify for public financing in his 2021 mayoral bid as we first reported Wednesday. And he received 18 percent of the vote not 15 percent.

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The waters are getting muddy in the early-starting 2026 race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. 

Our Senior Alligators (longtime trusted sources) report that Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman is sounding more confident about launching a candidacy, telling associates that he will tap personal funds to help ensure he would be a competitive contender. 

Meanwhile, Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland is already lining up staff for her expected candidacy for the June '26 primary. Sources report longtime Dem consultant Alan Packman will be among them and that another consultant, Scott Forrester, Chief of Staff to Rep. Melanie Stansbury, will be moving to the Haaland Guv campaign, 

Senator Martin Heinrich, who is weighing a bid, is making some new year's noise now that he is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Energy Committee. His Guv decision is being complicated by Bregman who could split male and moderate Dem voters with him while Haaland scoops up the lion's share of progressives.

President-elect Trump takes over next Monday. Soon thereafter Haaland will be out of a job so her Guv announcement is expected to come well before Heinrich makes any move. 

DATELINE ABQ

Mayling Armijo

In the 2025 ABQ mayoral race, the stall out continues with Mayor Tim Keller seeking an unprecedented third consecutive term already on a field he has pretty much to himself. 

Republicans are scurrying to find a big name to take him on before early March when candidates can begin qualifying for public financing. A mayoral candidate who meets the qualifications can be expected to receive about $700,000 in taxpayer funding,  

Talk show host Eddy Aragon, who ran against Keller four years ago and earned 18 percent of the vote in a three way race, has announced his '25 candidacy. 

The mayor's job has become a thankless quagmire, say close observers, explaining why there is no early enthusiasm to take on Keller even though his popularity has waned considerably since he was first elected in 2017.

Something that hasn't seemed to wane is Keller's enthusiasm for the job. He delivered a 35 minute manifesto before the ABQ Economic Forum this month and was firing on all cylinders. (News release here. Video here.) That passion as he paints a rosy picture of the city could serve him well as he goes on the offensive.

A name being added to the list of possible Keller foes is Mayling Armijo, the Sandoval County Deputy Manager under Republican County Manager Wayne Johnson. (Armijo video here.)

Armijo, 48, a former director of the BernCo Economic Development Department, holds a Masters in Business from the University of Phoenix and has Naval Reserve experience. She also has a background in land development in the private sector.

Could the GOP consultants seeking someone--anyone at this point--get behind her and scarf up that public financing?

With Keller entering the new year "fired up and ready to go" while potential opponents idle, he holds the position of front-runner. That could a be short-lived title but only if and when a name candidate emerges. 

DATELINE SANTA FE 

In Santa Fe's November mayoral election, Councilor Michael Garcia is the early front-runner to replace Mayor Alan Webber--that is if Webber decides not to seek a third consecutive term. He has not yet made an announcement.

JoAnne Vigil Coppler, who lost to Webber four years ago, now says she will run again, joining political consultant Tarin Nix and former Santa Fe Finance Director Oscar Rodriguez. 

THE BOTTOM LINES 

Eliseo Alcon, who died this week, was from Milan not Grants as first reported here. Also, while the county commissions of McKinley and Cibola counties have nominated former state Rep. Harry Garcia to fill the remainder of Alcon's House District 6 term, the Governor has yet to make an appointment because of questions about Garcia's residency in the district. In a first draft we did not provide details on the status of the appointment.

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John Sanchez

Add another name to the list of possibles for the '26 GOP gubernatorial nomination. 

Long gone but perhaps not forgotten, former Lt. Governor John Sanchez has surfaced as a potential contender following our January 6 blog that sized up the potential field.

Sanchez served as lieutenant governor under Gov. Susana Martinez (2011-2019) for what turned out to be a very long eight years. While earning kudos for his adept service presiding over the state senate, part of his constitutional chores, Sanchez was ghosted by Martinez and her crew. Left with little to do while she went about shattering her popularity with personal and political scandals, there would be no attempt by Sanchez at picking up the pieces. 

Still, he never let go completely. In 2020, when he announced he would not seek the US Senate seat being vacated by Tom Udall, he declared: 

I am not running for the Senate in 2020 but I am going to remain active in politics and policy.

Sanchez made a play for the 2012 GOP US Senate nominee when Dem Jeff Bingaman stepped down. US Rep. Heather Wilson took the prize only to lose the general election to Martin Heinrich. That was the last time Sanchez offered himself up as a political force. He was criticized in that campaign for being deficient in fund-raising but Martinez also hurt him badly by making disparaging comments about his candidacy. Our 2011 reporting on that upheaval is here.

It was back in 2000 when Sanchez made his bones by stunning the state and defeating state House Speaker Raymond Sanchez for his ABQ North Valley seat. 

After a mere one House term Sanchez secured the 2002 GOP gubernatorial nod and found himself facing Democrat Bill Richardson who was already a political legend and who made quick work of Sanchez. Richardson went on to serve two terms.

Now 62 and wealthy from his success as a leading ABQ roofing contractor, Sanchez is mum about his intentions for 2026 but his close friend and political ally, state Rep. Rod Montoya, who cut his political teeth as a top aide to Lt. Gov. Sanchez, is not holding back and paving the way for what could be a Sanchez run. From the Four Corners Montoya opines:

Joe: on your January 6 list of potential GOP contenders, you left out one of the Republican Party’s best bets to retake the governor’s office in 2026--John Sanchez. Coming out of the presidential election, we saw Trump make major inroads with Hispanic and working class voters. John can appeal to those voters and many others and he would likely have Trump’s support given his previous appointment as Trump’s Hispanic Prosperity Initiative Chairman. 

(Our July 2020 reporting on that Trump appointment of Sanchez is here.)

John has won multiple statewide races and was part of the ticket that handed Deb Haaland her only loss. He also delivered one of the biggest wins for Republicans in history when he ousted the Speaker of the House, Raymond Sanchez. Given his experience and reputation, I’m one of many Republicans hoping and praying he jumps in. John is a strong candidate! He’s a great fundraiser (who’s not afraid to spend his own money), he appeals to the Republican base and also has crossover appeal. He’d be very hard to beat. 

SANCHEZ ANALYSIS

The Sanchez association with Trump combined with perhaps being the only big name Hispanic Republican seeking the nomination would immediately put Sanchez in the hunt. 

The other possible candidates are capable but compared to Sanchez they are relatively unknown. They include Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, former Supreme Court Justice Judith Nakamura and legislators Rebecca Dow and Crystal Brantley. None of them can demonstrate any meaningful ties to President-elect Trump who could have considerable sway in the race.

Also, Montoya's declaration that Sanchez is "not afraid to spend his own money" is a direct threat to his potential opponents, none of whom boast the personal resources Sanchez could bring to the table 

As for Sanchez defeating now Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland, that is a somewhat obscure factoid. Sanchez was the Lt. Governor nominee paired with Martinez who beat the 2014 Dem Guv ticket of Gary King and Haaland for Lt. Governor. It was not a direct face-off between Sanchez and Haaland.

In another cycle a Sanchez candidacy might be derided as a blast from the past but today the GOP is desperate to reverse their fortunes. Sanchez may not be a knight riding to the rescue but he is a capable rider. Will he saddle up for a run at the Roundhouse? Stay tuned.

ELISEO ALCON 

It's simple when it comes to former state Rep. Eliseo Alcon of Milan: he was a great guy and will be missed in Santa Fe for his level-headed approach to policy and his deep love for New Mexico and its people. 

Alcon, who retired in late November after announcing he had liver cancer, died Monday at 74. House Democrats came with this:

Rep. Alcon, a military veteran who received a Bronze Star for his service as a combat medic in the Army during the Vietnam War, was elected to the House in 2009. . .He advocated for policies to support veterans and their families, safeguard tribal sovereignty, strengthen the state’s infrastructure and economy, and protect the environment. Rep. Alcon also served as Chair of the Consumer and Public Affairs Committee and the Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs committee. 

We are tremendously saddened by the loss of our. . . dear friend Eliseo. (He) was a tireless champion for his western New Mexico community and our service men and women. We deeply appreciated the warmth, kindness, good humor, and dedication he brought to the Roundhouse. Rep. Alcon’s legacy will live on through the historic victories he achieved for veterans and their families, New Mexico workers, and our environment. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, especially his beloved wife Darlene and their children, grandchildren, and great grandson.

Governor Lujan Grisham said:

Rep. Alcon served our state with honor, distinction, and longstanding dedication to his constituents. From his heroic service as a combat medic in Vietnam. . .to his 16 years of dedicated public service in the legislature, Rep. Alcon exemplified public service. As chairman of the Consumer and Public Affairs Committee and the Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, he helped improve the lives of veterans, workers, and families across New Mexico. My heart goes out to Rep. Alcon’s family, friends, colleagues, and the communities he served so faithfully. 

Former NM House Speaker Raymond Sanchez, now a prominent Santa Fe lobbyist, said:

New Mexico has lost one of the most talented, considerate, caring, compassionate and competent individuals to ever serve in the New Mexico House of Representatives. Representative Alcon will be missed by many and especially by me, as over the years we developed a strong bond.

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AG Torrez (Moore, ABQ Journal)

Attorney General Raul Torrez appears to be all-in as he tangles with a rogue Board of Regents and an arrogant, in-your-face Western New Mexico University president who is accused of absconding with nearly $2 million in taxpayer money while making state government look feckless and foolish.

If the AG's lawuit to force disgraced WNMU President Joe Shepard from spending his absurd and outrageous $1.9 million buyout covertly awarded by the Regents (after he resigned effective January 15) comes up empty and the fight stops there, the attorney general and the state will not only look feckless but easy targets for future scammers dressed in suits and sporting the ethics of your local fentanyl dealer. 

Shepard met his end after the State Auditor determined $360,000 of his spending (approved by the Regents) violated university policy. Torrez is in court today to press his case for slapping a freeze on Shepard from spending that buyout as the legal drama plays out. But Shepard has dug in, using his arrogance and his attorney as a shield. The rogue Regents are mostly gone after MLG lowered the boom. 

If the court does not halt the blatant rip-off of taxpayer money, what can? Well, the courts. But Torrez could be forced to seek a criminal indictment of Shepard who along with Valerie Plame--his wife and former CIA spy turned celebrity--burned through WNMU's treasury as they toured exotic locations around the world and stocked up on high-end furniture.

Shepard has cards to play. His attorney says he did nothing illegal in accepting the buyout out and neither did the Regents even if both are openly wading in a moral cesspool. 

But Shepard's behavior prior to his outrageous buyout seems fair game for an indictment and possibly as leverage to get him to return the cash. Here's where that stands:

It’s also unclear at this point whether Torrez’s actions end with the civil suit filed (to freeze Shepherd's payout.) When asked whether he is gathering evidence for a criminal case, Torrez said he wants other ongoing probes, including those from the State Ethics Commission and the Office of the State Auditor, to properly conclude. But he made clear that a criminal case is still a potential outcome. “We haven’t ruled that out as a possibility,” Torrez said. “We are going to wait for the auditor’s work to be completed … that will be the roadmap for how that happens.”

The legal beagles point to the legal complications in pursuing a criminal case but Torrez has opened the door and if need be must walk through it for the future credibility of his office, the state and the taxpayers who Shepard and his femme fatale are determined to make look like a ship of fools. 

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A number of constitutional amendments are the order of the day for this edition of Other Voices. We start with reader Bob Carroll who responds to criticism of two amendments approved by voters last November providing more tax breaks for veterans:

Joe, I read with dismay your December 4 article on the recently passed constitutional amendments on tax breaks for veterans. As you noted, the amendments were approved by a substantial majority of the voters, 83% for HJR 5 and 73% for HJR 6. The amendments recognize the sacrifice that the veterans have made for the good of our nation. It is also important to note that neighboring states have even more generous provisions for veterans (Texas, for example). The Department of Defense, in making its determinations on which bases will receive more missions, and which bases will remain open, places a heavy weight on which states have military friendly laws for service members, veterans and their families. 

The first Constitutional amendment (HJR 5) ties a property tax reduction for veterans based on the percentage of their service-related disability. The previous provision only granted an exemption for veterans with a 100% service related disability. If you had a 60% or 40% disability, you were out of luck. Under this bill, if you have a 40% disability then you will get a 40% reduction on your property taxes. 

About a quarter of New Mexico veterans have some level of service-connected disabilities. The average reduction in the tax bill for these veterans will be about $767 and will cost taxpayers about $14 a year (see legislative FIR, or Fiscal Impact Report). Other states have similar deductions for partially disabled veterans (Texas, for example). The FIR assumes that every veteran takes advantage of this amendment, which never happens, and the impact is likely to be far lower. 

The cost of the second amendment that reduces the bills that veterans receive for property taxes is minimal. The amendment provides that the exemption, which was pegged at $4,000 in 2006 to be deducted from the taxable value of the property, will be raised to $10,000 and will be tied to the rate of inflation in prospective years. 

Keep in mind that we are talking about a $10,000 deduction on the value of the property, not on the tax bill. New Mexico has 142,000 veterans, and about half claim the property deduction. A $10,000 reduction in the valuation of a $300,000 house in Albuquerque (to $290,000) doesn’t mean much financially to the homeowner. It means a lot more to a veteran living in a $40,000 trailer. The average reduction in actual taxes paid by veterans will be about $180. This is an annual burden on the general population of $34, which again assumes that every veteran will apply for the exemption.

I won’t argue that our tax system is perfect or that a different approach might benefit more people. I do maintain that recognizing our veterans and enacting provisions that are in line with other states is important in keeping our veterans here in New Mexico. 

EARLY CHILDHOOD AMENDMENT

Allen Sánchez

Allen Sánchez, president of CHI St. Joseph's Children in Albuquerque as well as executive director of the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops and now a member of the New Mexico State Investment Council, advocated for a decade for a constitutional amendment that allows funds to flow from the state's large Land Grant Permanent Fund into early childhood services and education. Finally, in July 2023, that amendment took effect. In this excerpt from a comprehensive column he wrote about the struggle for the amendment, Sánchez explains what its approval means today:

After 10 years of battling with the state legislature, the constitutional amendment, known as the House Joint Resolution 1 Early Childhood Constitutional Amendment, was placed on the November 2022 ballot and was approved by the voters with a mandate vote of 70.33% in favor. The ballot initiative authorized an additional withdrawal of 1.25% of the Land Grant Permanent Fund,

On July 1, 2023, the funds began to flow. Today, the budget for delivering early childhood services is nearly $800 million in a state with a population of approximately 2 million people.

By being the first state in the union to make early childhood services a constitutional right, the health of New Mexico's population will be forever changed. The immediate impact on children's health is evident: The first-of-its-kind universal child care in the nation places children in a safe environment, lifts their parents up by creating the ability to seek employment and raises the family out of poverty. In many cases, that employment brings health insurance coverage to the family. 

Universal Pre-K ensures that children reach kindergarten ready to learn, and home visiting connects parents to safety net service organizations, reassuring them that babies do come with instructions. Home visitors. . .connect families and babies to a medical home and teach parents resilience and how to advocate for their child. They also bring access and connection to housing assistance, vaccinations and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Furthermore, they build relationships in which parents feel safe to self-disclose their need for referral and follow through to address issues such as postpartum depression or alcohol or substance abuse. In fact, the state can attest to a decrease in visits to the emergency room in the first year of a child's life.  

New Mexico is blessed to have a revenue stream from royalties on gas and oil, but all states can discern how they, too, can make this constitutional right for their youngest children and invest it in the fundamental foundation for their lifelong health. Prioritizing health is a battle worth fighting.

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Brown and Carter

Former President Jimmy Carter, who will be laid to rest this week, had more than passing ties with New Mexico. It could even be said that his presidency ('77-81) would not have been possible without a young dynamic duo from the Land of Enchantment,  

Political consultant Chris Brown was just starting his career following a big win running Jerry Apodaca's successful 1974 gubernatorial bid when he hooked up with the Georgia governor and became his NE and New Hampshire campaign manager for the 1976 campaign, a campaign most analysts expected to go nowhere but soon soared.

Brown and another political wunderkind, Tim Kraft, who came to the state in the mid 70's and became executive director of the NM  Democratic party, was named Carter's National Field Director and with Brown was instrumental in putting the unknown candidate on the radar and in the White House. 

Kraft died last year. Brown, who is attending Carter's DC services this week, lives in Santa Fe and has a remembrance with a New Mexico angle:

Jimmy Carter was the first president committed to forming a diverse and inclusive government truly representative of America. His strong connections to New Mexico, especially through Governor Jerry Apodaca whose 1974 campaign he had assisted, provided him a source of able women and men to fill executive branch positions, judgeships and even his ambassador to Spain, Ed Romero. 

Drawing heavily on New Mexico talent, Carter was proud to have appointed more Hispanics than any president. Jimmy Carter narrowly lost New Mexico to president Gerald Ford in 1976. Yet our state emerged a winner in his administration with numerous New Mexicans able to inform a range of policies beneficial to our diverse people, land and resources. 

1975

New Mexico was one of Carter's first campaign stops shortly after he announced his candidacy in December of 1975. We interviewed him several times. 

The news article posted here is of a Carter visit 50 years ago that we penned for the UNM Daily Lobo.

Another time we interviewed Carter with a fellow student reporter for an unheard of 45 minutes in a hotel ballroom following a campaign event.  

Being "Jimmy Who?" at that time we had no reason to think we were  tossing questions at the next president but we were earning our chops as a policy wonk and Carter was at the top of the heap in that category. The interview went well. 

We also remember that conversation fondly for the patience and respect the soon-to-be next president afforded two young reporters even though we were barely dots on the media map.

Later, in 1979, we would move to Washington to serve as a congressional aide only to witness close-up the Carter administration coming undone, but President Carter's outstanding character and sense of decency that served the nation so well never wavered.

The year was 1975. I was there and that's how I remember it.

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Senator Lujan

He has a new plum committee assignment but until he confirms strongly and clearly that he is seeking re-election in 2026 some mystery will surround Senator Ben Ray Lujan.

The 52 year old appears fairly well-positioned for a second term effort, reporting $1.14 million in campaign cash at the end of September 

And that new committee slot he nabbed is on Senate Finance, an important panel dealing with high-profile issues: 

The Committee concerns itself with matters relating to: taxation and other revenue measures, tariff and import quotas, health programs under the Social Security Act, including Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and other health and human services programs financed by a specific tax or trust fund; and national social security.

It is not his political health that is in question for Lujan but his personal health is still talked about. 

Just two years into his first term, in January of 2022, he suffered a major stroke that came perilously close to stopping him from serving. But he recovered after intense therapy and resumed his Senate duties, putting to rest speculation that he would not complete his six year term. 

Now he is "in cycle" for the '26 election and all systems appear to be go but the breathtaking pace that Lujan's supporters expected when he arrived in the Senate after five peripatetic terms in the House and that saw him become a major player may have been slowed by his health setback. 

MORE SUBDUED

Few insiders will go on the record but they do note that this is a more subdued Lujan post-stroke. He gets around the state but without much attention. His legislative interests are widespread and he has yet to focus on a specific area that is a common path among Senators. In the House he became a a master of Democratic electoral politics, assisting his colleagues in securing election wins across the nation. 

For example, in taking note of his membership on Senate Finance Lujan painted a broad brush without mentioning any singularity of purpose:

“As a member of the Finance Committee, I will continue my efforts to protect New Mexicans’ access to health care and to lower prescription drug costs. I will fight to protect Social Security so that our seniors can retire in dignity, and push for a fair tax code that provides middle-class New Mexicans with tax relief. I will also work to advance and promote policies that create opportunities for New Mexican businesses and workers.” 

ANALYZING THE OUTLOOK 

There is just enough ambiguity about the Senator that Republicans see an opening albeit a very narrow one. 

During his stroke and recovery Lujan's office was reticent in offering information to the point that their stance was targeted for public criticism. When it became clear that he had recovered, the questions abated but will likely be brought up again if he seeks re-election--either subtly or openly. 

In Lujan's 2020 campaign, an effort described by political pros as not up to his abilities, Lujan scored a 6.11 percent win over Republican Mark Ronchetti after spending $9.4 million compared to Ronchetti's $3.9 million, according to OpenSecrets.

This time there is no major name lurking to take on Lujan--at least not yet--leaving him to attend to his duties with little pressure. 

His naming to Senate Finance again gives rise to hopes that the state's first Hispanic Senator since the 1970's will get on the fast track as he did in the House and forge a path that could eventually lead to leadership.

There is reason for patience. Even a politician coming into the Senate with the House background Lujan has is not expected to light up the night during his maiden term. 

Meantime the technical start of Campaign '26 begins quite benignly for the Santa Fe native. His voting record, while liberal, is not full blown "woke" in a blue state that still likes their senators to be comfortable in the middle as well as the left. 

For Lujan high expectations after a triumphant tenure in the House is his main opponent.

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Judith Nakamura

With the price tag for the winning candidate in the '22 gubernatorial race hitting $12 million, there is pressure on those hoping to take over the top floor of the storied Roundhouse in '26 to giddy up and throw their hats into the ring.

The Dems are off to a fast start with Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland ready to make a formal entry this spring and Sen. Martin Heinrich expected to also announce a decision in the months ahead, 

And the Republicans are looking more alive this new year than last. We count at least five possible and credible GOP contenders for the minority party's Guv nomination.  

They are: 

Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, state Senator Crystal Brantley, retired Supreme Court Justice Judith Nakamura, state Rep. Rebecca Dow and '24 GOP US Senate nominee Nella Domenici.

None of those potential candidates or any others has made a formal entry into the race. 

Hull and Nakamura are newcomers to the list of possibles. Both have proven appeal to Democrats from their previous campaigns.  

JUDGE JUDY 

Nakamura, 64, won election to the Supreme Court in 2016 by beating out challenger Michael Vigil by 391,000 votes to 361,000 (52% to 48%). Nakamura was the first Republican woman elected to the Court in the state history and the first Republican since 1980.

She also has a good history in Bernalillo County, the state's largest and a deciding factor in state elections. She was elected as a Metropolitan Court Judge and District Court Judge. 

In that statewide Supreme Court contest against Vigil, she bested him 55 to 45 percent in big BernCo, a crowning achievement and one her backers say could propel her forward in the '26 Guv contest. 

THE MAYOR

Mayor Hull has an impressive track record in the City of Vision, a Republican-leaning suburb of ABQ with a population of of some 113,000.

Hull was elected as mayor in April 2014 via a runoff election to a four-year term. He was re-elected in March 2018 to a four-year term.  In March 2022, Hull was re-elected to his third, four-year term. Rio Rancho Governing Body members are elected in non-partisan elections.

The population boom has cooled a bit in Rio Rancho while the business climate has improved drastically under Hull. The issue of city residents spending most of their money in ABQ is largely in the rear-view mirror with businesses of all stripes now making their home in the city known for its low crime rate and good public schools. 

With Hull or Nakamura the Republicans could at least knock on the door of BernCo and get someone to answer. 

Gov. Lujan Grisham punished Republican Mark Ronchetti here in '22, posting a 58 to 41 percent victory. That was 144,000 for MLG and 99,000 for Ronchetti, a margin of 45,000, a deficit nearly impossible for a GOP candidate to make up in a race that drew 713,000 voters. MLG won the state by 6.38 percent. 

THE RIGHT MIX?

Some analysts point out that none of the five possible GOP hopefuls is Hispanic even though the last three Governors have been. They also mull about Hull being the only man in the group. After what will be 16 years of female governors next year, the electorate might want to mix it up. 

Still, Hull and Nakamura have the gravitas to carry the GOP banner and perhaps a smidgen more hope of pulling off an upset since since the November election. Trump's loss to Kamala Harris was an even six points, a bit better than the '22 GOP Guv candidate and the best GOP presidential showing since 2004. 

And results indicate some of those Trump votes came from dissatisfied Hispanic Democratic men in the northern counties and elsewhere. 

THE OTHERS

Brantley and Dow are also no lightweights but Dow could not win the '22 GOP Guv nomination when she ran and Brantley has never run statewide. Domenici has run statewide but lost by ten points--55 to 45--to Heinrich. That size of a loss does not give her any foot up for the nomination. However, she does have a personal fortune to deploy, if she chooses, so she will be closely watched by potential rivals.

Finally, while Hull and Nakamura and Domenci have established some moderate GOP credentials, they would be challenged in this blue state on abortion, crime and climate and last but not least the Trump presidency. 

That is no easy needle to thread. Whoever ends up winning the GOP gubernatorial nomination will need the steadiest of hands.

MAYOR JANWAY 

From our perch Dale Janway was one of the best small city mayors in New Mexico. He ably and obsessively supervised the Cave City for three terms ending in January of 2024.

Janway, 80, died of a heart condition December 28.

Carlsbad may be a small city but the issues don't get any bigger than during Janway's time at the helm. The Permian Basin oil boom jammed the town and surrounding environs with thousands of oil workers, creating an epic housing shortage and decimating roadways while boosting the city's coffers with treasure generated from the oil fields.

We experienced that first-hand when touring the area with Janway for an in-depth blog report in 2019 that was one of our most well-received, thanks to Janway's insistence on showing us every angle of the boom and then some. 

Janway was a Carlsbad native who came from the potash industry and was comfortable hanging with CEO's of the world's major oil companies as well as working men and women who are the backbone of the city.

“He was as Carlsbad as it gets,” declared Kyle Marksteiner, the city's PR chief under Janway often known as "Mr. Carlsbad."

"It's a wild ride," Janway told me in the middle of the oil boom. 

He rode it like a pro and today Carlsbad thrives in large part because of him.

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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.        

With a potential rivalry between Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland and Senator Martin Heinrich for the 2026 Democratic gubernatorial nomination getting more attention as we head to the critical months where key decisions will be made, where do things really stand?

As we've reported, Haaland appears to be "all-in," to use the words of a source close to her. We're told she is expected to begin hiring staff for the June '26 primary in the March-April time frame. As for fund-raising, that should also gear up then. With her national and local standing should not be a problem.

Heinrich is not as close to pulling the trigger as Haaland. A loss to her could prove devastating to his future and treading carefully is the order of the day. 

Whether Heinrich likes or dislikes his Senate job is a question that needs to be asked of him because he is expected to become the ranking member on the powerful Senate Energy and Natural Resources  Committee. If that doesn't satisfy his ambition, then the Governor's chair will be more alluring,

His time frame for an official decision is seen by insiders as next summer. He just won a third term and announcing too soon risks insulting voters.

Polling of course will be be key to who stays in. Haaland is perceived as the progressive favorite for the nomination and therefore the early front-runner, But Heinrich is coming off a big win, has name ID high and accompanied by the ability to easily raise the money, 

So Haaland is all-in and Heinrich on the fence is where we stand. 

That's uncomfortable for a lot of Democrats who don't relish a potentially ugly battle between these two forces in the state party and there will be much lobbying to prevent one. 

Even if the fight occurs, the Democrats may not have much to fear from Republicans taking advantage. The minority party still has no names equivalent to either Haaland or Heinrich who are positioned to take on either one of them.  

BEN RAY'S TAKE

Sen. Lujan

Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, who will be on the 2026 ballot if he seeks a second term, seems to be tilting toward Haaland in the Governor's race. Or does he?:

They’re both very popular. Deb Haaland is well-liked in New Mexico, well-liked in so many spheres. Martin is going to come at this with resources, but Deb has a strong base with people back home. When Deb runs, Deb wins, she finds a way to win. 

Haaland could be expected to boost Native American turnout in the election, a big plus for Ben Ray who has not yet announced his re-election intentions. Still, Heinrich is no slouch attracting the electorate as seen in the November results and that could also help Lujan.

RIDICULOUS? 

A veteran Republican weighs in on Rep. Melanie Stansbury's loss this week of a hard-fought battle ]for the top Democratic slot on the House Natural Resources Committee: 

Joe, It's ridiculous to believe that Stansbury hasn't created long term problems for herself if the race was as bitter as you suggested. Senior members aren't going to forget a newbie attacking a much more senior member.

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Rep. Stansbury

ABQ Dem Rep. Melanie Stansbury was the loser in what DC insiders described as a "bitter, personal and brutally contested" battle for a top position on the House Natural Resources Committee, but if she doesn't extend that bitterness going forward her unsuccessful run could aid her future chances for leadership. 

The House Democrats Steering and Policy Committee--reportedly on a 44 to 17 vote--picked the more seasoned and moderate Rep. Jared Huffman for the position of ranking minority member on the committee. Stansbury, 45, could still take the battle to the full House Caucus but decisions of the Steering panel are rarely overturned.

Huffman, 60, had her beat on seniority. She only came to the House in June of 2021. He has been been there since 2013. Also, her progressive stripes could not carry the day as they didn't for AOC whose bid for a ranking spot on another committee was also rejected. Huffman appealed to the many moderates making the decision. 

Rep. Huffman is now positioned to become chairman of the committee if the Democrats can take back the House majority. Meanwhile House committees will be chaired by Republicans.

Stansbury, if she doesn't burn any bridges over the defeat, stands to enhance her and the state's status in Washington and put herself in position for a future leadership spot.

As for the battle between her and Huffman getting "bitter," that will sit fine in her home district. Things can get that way when you're fighting over something worth having--as long as you don't carry a grudge afterwards.

THE HEINRICH FACTOR

As we discussed Monday, senior Sen. Martin Heinrich refused to make an endorsement in the Stansbury-Huffman contest even as the rest of the state's DC delegation gave her the nod. That set off speculation that Heinrich is still eyeing a run for the '26 Dem Guv nomination and that backing Stansbury did not fit into that plan. 

Certainly not a theory to be disregarded but the Heinrich camp does point out that he is about to be the ranking Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and must work closely with his House counterpart. In addition, they say he has worked with Huffman for better than a decade.

It is uncommon for the state's congressional delegation to have such a public split but they can ill-afford any lingering animosity with Trump set to take power next month and literally billions of dollars of federal funding hanging in the balance. 

CRABS AND LOBSTERS

Reader John Rey has a final word on the matter: 

Joe, this snub is what is wrong with the Democrats. “I’m in it for me and the rest be damned" is tearing the party apart. Heinrich as the senior member from New Mexico should show more class and support those in his party as they seek even better positions. But this is why NM is last in everything. We can’t get passed the lobsters in the bucket situation.

Hey John, we used to call that the "crabs in the barrel" pulling one another down. But we're sure our delegation will appreciate the upgrade. (Don't worry, Alligators. Were not going to replace you.)

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.        

Haaland and Heinrich

Some say if it walks, Martin Heinrich endorses. In fact, the state's senior senator has endorsed so many candidates up and down the ballot in recent years--in defiance of previous tradition--that we nicknamed him "The First Endorser" and it has stuck. 

No wonder then that when Sen. Heinrich refused to endorse his congressional colleague Rep. Melanie Stansbury for a top leadership post on the House Natural Resources Committee jaws hit the floor. 

It prompted speculation that Heinrich is starting to weigh his congressional actions with an eye on his possible run for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2026 as well as that year’s general election where he would want to stake out centrist positions away from the progressive path Stansbury follows. Still, his caution seems sheepish.

While the rest of the delegation--Sen. Ben Ray Lujan and Reps. Gabe Vasquez and Teresa Leger Fernandez--heartily endorsed their colleague for the ranking member position on the committee, Heinrich begged off, saying:

That brought this Alligator retort: "Wish her the best? With a dagger in her back?"

So what's going on? 

Stansbury is closely aligned with the progressive camp of Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland who, according to our reliable Alligators, is "all in" on her own run for the '26 Democratic Guv nomination. 

If that primary turns into a Heinrich-Haaland match-up, female progressives like Stansbury are expected to flock to Haaland while Heinrich would plant his flag with the rest of the party. 

Stansbury appears to be taking Heinrich's rejection personally with a source close to her saying of Heinrich's snub:

What a sad response by our Senior Senator.

Stansbury & Haaland

Heinrich's refusal to endorse Stansbury is a blow to unity for our small congressional delegation that needs to deliver for a state dominated by federal spending. 

Heinrich has readily broken with tradition to endorse Dem candidates in contested primaries in legislative and many other contests and thumbed his nose at those who disagreed. 

His refusal to endorse Stansbury has critics accusing him of hypocrisy and putting his ego and ambitions above the needs of New Mexico.

If Heinrich had already ruled out a Guv run, his decision on Stansbury would have caused only a ripple but with Haaland watching from the sidelines, he gets no rope to burn. And if neither Heinrich or Haaland blinks and gets out of the race, the prospect of a bloody and damaging Democratic primary could loom.

Haaland, who started off her term in Biden's cabinet like a deer in the headlights as she withered while facing congressional committees, has shown growth in the last year.

That was evident when she appeared for a 15 minute friendly interview on The Daily Show this month. She was much more sure-footed and informed than in the past which has to be making Heinrich's team more anxious about making the unprecedented choice to try to leave the Senate to become Governor.

The House Democratic Caucus is scheduled to vote on their ranking committee members today. Stansbury has strong opposition for the position and may or may not prevail. The Heinrich-Stansbury relationship may stay on the rocks no matter the outcome.

Then there's the possibility of Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman seeking the Dem Guv nod and splitting up votes with Heinrich. But we'll save that for another time.

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