Manny Gonzales' US senate campaign, already tarnished by a federal investigation into his gun dealings, collapsed Tuesday when the Secretary of State reported Gonzales failed to submit enough valid petition signatures and will not appear on the June primary ballot. 

Gonzales submitted 875 signatures but needed 2,351. His candidacy was disqualified by the SOS.

Of course, the first wisecrack from La Politica was: "What? He couldn't find anyone to forge them?" 

That being a reference to his failed 2021 mayoral campaign which forged petition signatures to get Manny on the ballot and to qualify for over $600,000 in public financing. The caper cratered when he was busted by his foe Mayor Keller and was denied the money. 

Gonzlaes' campaign for the GOP senate nomination was already being written off following the entry of Nella Domenci, daughter of the late US Senator Pete Domenici, into the contest for the nomination and the right to take on Dem Senator Martin Heinrich who is seeking a third term and is unopposed for his party's nomination. 

Domenici would have had to spend money to finish off Gonzales who was elected to two terms as Sheriff of Bernalillo County as a Democrat but later switched to the GOP and became a full-fledged MAGA man. 

Domenici has pledged $500,000 in personal funds to kick-start her first bid for elective office. With Gonzales gone she can save most of that money for the general election against Heinrich. 

Heinrich reports over $3.5 million in cash on hand but that is not an overwhelming amount if early polling shows any opening for Domenici. 

The race is seen as safe Democratic by national Dems but they anxiously await that polling to see if it shows Domenici has a shot and if it does it could quickly reshape the narrative. 

With Gonzales out of the way Domenici can devote herself to fund-raising and building an organization for the fall.

THREE THINGS TO WATCH 

First, no woman has been elected to the US Senate from New Mexico in state history. Will her gender help Domenici in the first polling?

Second, how is Heinrich going to handle this question: "If elected to a third term, will you categorically rule out a run for Governor in 2026 and pledge to finish your six year term?" 

Third, where does Domenici stand on abortion, the issue that has been driving Dems to the polls of late? Can she get past that landmine or will it doom her in the early going?

MUNOZ MUSINGS

Sen. Munoz (ABQ Journal)

The chairman of the powerful state Senate Finance Committee, Democrat George Munoz, knows the score but it's an election year and he's been hard at work trying to get New Mexicans to rethink their state's standing. He came with this pitch following passage by the Senate of a $10.2 billion state budget.

Hold your head up high. You may not like everything that's happening here, but New Mexico, you are not a poor state. 

The statement immediately sent the Alligators into hunting mode, pointing out the obvious contradiction in the state's dynamic. While it is indeed one of the richest states when it comes to money socked away, it remains one of the poorest in the USA: 

NM is 47th per capita income.

NM is 47th in median household income. 

NM is 47th in the poverty rankings at 17.6 percent of the population.

Also: 

The 2023 Kids County Data Book shows New Mexico ranks last in the nation for child well-being. The report shows New Mexico ranks 49th in economic well-being, with 24% of children living in poverty. The report ranks NM 50th in education with 79 percent of fourth graders not proficient in reading and 87 percent of fifth graders not profiocent in math. . .

Okay, Gators, enough. You've drawn enough blood from the chairman to constitute a full-on Alligator strike. It could be worse, George. If you had a Democratic primary opponent in the June primary it would be that candidate who would be holding your feet to the fire. 

APD SCANDAL WATCH 

Just when the APD scandal was showing signs of slowing, it doesn't. The latest: 

APD has placed the commander of Internal Affairs on leave in connection with a corruption investigation.   Cmdr. Mark Landavazo is on paid administrative leave as part of an internal probe into a group of former and current DWI-unit officers. The department had already placed Lt. Justin Hunt and officers Honorio Alba Jr., Joshua Montaño, Harvey Johnson Jr. and Nelson Ortiz on leave. Hunt has since resigned from APD. Landavazo is the highest-ranking member of APD to be put on leave because of corruption allegations involving the prosecution of DWI cases and focusing on several APD officers and their interaction with staff of a local law firm.

Stay tuned. 

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.