Time for another timely and always highly anticipated edition of Reader Vox Populi. 

We start with that hot as a pistol race for state Senate District 15 in ABQ's NE Heights where Dem Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto faces a primary challenge from progressive Heather Berghmans.

Reader Barbara Gay writes:

I have worked within the Legislature for many years and had always respected Sen. Ortiz y Pino’s demeanor during the sessions. However, I was disappointed to read his post on your April 4 blog, particularly his accusations that potential donors are resorting to fabrication in trying to defeat Daniel Ivey-Soto. 

While it is true that Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto has not been found guilty of the credible claims of sexual harassment, bullying and ethics violations, he also was not found innocent and the independent investigator found probable cause to move forward. Ivey-Soto’s behaviors are the worst-kept secret in the legislature. I witnessed his bullying events in the halls of the Capitol when I was working in another legislator's office, the most offensive of which was when he was striding down the hall toward his office yelling at another legislative staffer. I also remember that during a floor session in March of 2021 he was berating and yelling at Sen. Mimi Stewart to the point that the Speaker at the time had to stop the proceedings and he walked out on the debate. I always considered Sen. Ortiz y Pino a staunch supporter of women, but by taking this stance and not supporting these women, he has now made it more difficult for women who have been attacked to come forward. I was deeply disappointed to see his comment.

Reader Paul Stokes sees it another way:

I have worked with Daniel for over fifteen years on election issues. Daniel is without peer when it comes to legislation that he introduces or needs to vote on. The legislation that he introduces is very well thought out, and from what I have seen, it addresses important issues that only Daniel has recognized and thought important enough to merit legislation. Daniel also considers legislation that has been introduced by others and that he needs to vote on to be similarly investigated and sometimes discussed in hearings. I can see how Daniel irritates his colleagues, because he not only researches and knows the issues and facts addressing them better than most, he also tends to spend more time than my be necessary on the relevant details, and that can sound know-it-all-ish. I know of no one more credible than Jerry Ortiz y Pino regarding Daniel’s tenure in the Legislature. 

SPACEPORT BLUES

Our blogging this week on the dire financial straits of Virgin Galactic and the impact that could soon have on the NM Spaceport brought in the email.  Reader Brent Eastwood in DC writes:

I just went on the Spaceport web site and there hasn't been a news release since February. The next event, a student rocketeering competition, is not until June. That leaves all of May a blank slate. Could someone explain exactly what people at Spaceport do all day? Because it appears there is nothing going on. There needs to be some form of accountability for all the taxpayer money that has been spent on this boondoggle. The people of New Mexico have been ripped off and it's really sad. I have been talking about this abysmal failure for 12 years now and nobody wants to fix it. They have told me to be patient. Well we are all sick of being patient. All the politicians pretend Spaceport is not a problem. Well it is a problem and the people should demand action and solutions because the current situation is unacceptable. 

Reader Alan Schwartz writes: 

Remember when the Spaceport was to be this fantastic tourist attraction? You can file that one with the 400 flights per year from multiple Spaceports world wide. At this point the only real expectation is that they will introduce designer going out of business flight suits. 

Dan Warren near the Spaceport in T or C comes with this:

Factors affecting their continued existence include recently being sued by Boeing for $25 million for money Virgin Galactic failed to pay them. Virgin Galactic responded by counter-suing Boeing, claiming Boeing's work for them was shoddy. 

To make things more difficult, as Virgin Galactic plans their last flight in New Mexico during the second quarter they are under a grounding order from the FAA. This happened after their January flight when an alignment pin broke off and fell to the ground. Most reports about the broken alignment pin never mentioned that the result was being grounded. Virgin Galactic will need to redesign (?) and repair the broken part and get FAA approval before they can fly the last flight of the Unity Spaceship, which is supposed to fly in the next 75 days and they said it would.  Also, I recently learned that the Spaceport is going to spend over $1 million to fix the Spaceport roof which has skylights leaking. The Reception Center is on track to be built at the Spaceport for a cost of $60 million dollars -- taxpayer dollars, not Virgin Galactic dollars.  

ANTI-PROGRESSIVE MOVE

The formation of the anti-progressive group, The NM Project, by ABQ businessman Jeff Apodaca had Arcy Baca writing:

Joe, The moderate Democrats the group is supporting voted against family medical leave! How is that helping the working poor and middle class? Yet they voted to give themselves a 50 % raise on their pensions. They were all at the trough for that bill, Democrats, Republicans, moderates, liberal and right wingers! During elections you hear the terms progressive, moderates, right wingers but once they get to the legislature they all take care themselves!

A CHANGING DISTRICT

Rep. Rehm

Michael Corwin writes of the GOP House District 31 June 4 primary in ABQ's far NE Heights. Rep. Bill Rehm is retiring and three Republicans are running in the GOP primary in what is the only House District in ABQ that has a GOP state rep:

 Hey Joe, In 2004, when I ran in that district as a Democrat in a spirited campaign against my now friend and then-Republican Greg Payne, the Democratic voting performance was only 31%. I still managed to garner 42% of the vote. And I did that despite Greg out raising and outspending me 5-1. The demographics have changed significantly since I ran. The registered Dems have closed the gap quite a bit with the GOP and the independent numbers have exploded. Democrats can win that district. But they have to put in the hard work of door to door canvassing. My campaign focused on GOP crossover votes and meeting them in person helped me to get a fair amount of them. I didn’t run again after 2004, but no Democratic candidate for the district since then ever knocked on my, or my neighbors’ doors. I would urge the Democrats to not just run someone, but run to win, Get the candidate the resources necessary to make the contacts with the voters. 

In that GOP primary the candidates are Nicole Chavez, Sarah Jane Allen and Patrick Huested. The lone Democrat running in the primary is Vicky Estrada-Bustillo.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.  

Jeff Apodaca

An advocacy group called The New Mexico Project is unleashing vigorous attacks against the state's progressive Democrats and advocating for a field of conservative candidates in the June 4 primary. 

Their message is that the dominant progressives have failed to improve the state despite having the reins of power in Santa Fe and elsewhere and in the process have sidelined Hispanic voices.

The group is the brainchild of businessman Jeff Apodaca, son of former Gov. Jerry Apodaca who served one term ('75-'79). 

Jeff Apodaca, a moderate Democrat like his father, unsuccessfully sought the 2018 Dem gubernatorial nomination. 

In an interview he unloaded the frustration that conservative and moderate Dem Hispanics (or Latinos) have expressed among themselves. However, Apodaca says his group is nonpartisan and represents not only Hispanic Dems but also frustrated Republicans and independents:

Progressives have been attacking Latinos and electing candidates in the last three elections that do not reflect our communities. I give them credit for getting their vote out but their policies have caused more crime, fewer job opportunities and a failure to deliver on healthcare. They are attacking our Latino candidacies, culture and legacy and it's time for us to respond by getting our vote out not just in presidential elections but all elections. 

The NM Project is organized as a federal 501(c)(4) which limits how much political activity they can conduct but the regulations for that have been interpreted loosely.

Apodaca says the group has already raised "close to $1 million," all from within the state. That can't be fact-checked because money flowing to the group is not required to be reported to the state or FEC as is the case for the many dark money progressive groups operating here. 

Says Apodaca:

The vast majority of the progressive money attacking our Latino candidates is coming from out of state and it appears the various groups--including Better Future for NM) run by consultant Amanda Cooper--will raise $2 million or more for the primary.

ON THE AIR

The NM Project is already up with 60 second radio ads narrated by Apodaca. A sample:

Our political landscape in New Mexico has been increasingly divided by the far-left progressives and the ultra-right pulling us in opposing directions. But there's a powerful force waiting to be unleashed--the moderate Latino voter. We are the majority. We make up 53 percent of the voters when we vote. Whether you identify yourself as moderate Democrat, Republican or independent, it's a must we come together to support candidates that reflect our shared values--like pro-healthcare, business, education and public safety.

The ultra-liberal progressive agenda pushed by outsiders has neglected the needs of the Latino community. The far-right rhetoric has brought further division, threatening our heritage. But we, the Latino voter, have the power to shape the future of our state by voting in the upcoming primaries. We can elect leaders in New Mexico who will bridge the political divide.

Apodaca says recent polling reveals that healthcare--and specifically the lack of doctors--is the top issue among Hispanic voters with crime, job opportunities and education next. 

He says the Project's legislative agenda includes increased Medicaid payments for doctors, a revamp of the gross receipts tax to aid small business and support of a pre-trial detention bill that has stalled out in Santa Fe and that he says would cut crime

He adds that the group is also supportive of the oil and gas industry, noting that "forty-four percent of the workers in that industry are Latino." 

THE SLATE

Posted is the slate of candidates that the Project will be working to advance in the June 4 primary. (Click to enlarge).

They include Dem Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto who is locked in a heated battle with progressive Heather Berghmans in ABQ and Rep. Ambrose Castellano from the Las Vegas area who is being challenged by progressive Anita Gonzales. Rep. Patty Lundstrom, the de facto leader of the House conservatives, is also getting aid from the group for her primary challenge.

Apodaca sees local elections as the key to reversing progressive dominance by having an influx of moderate Latino voters. He singled out Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber because, he says, Webber has been attentive to the needs of the Anglo, wealthy and progressive Eastside but not the city's Hispanic majority. 

Apodaca says MLG and the Legislature have given the cities plenty of money to figure out the crime problem but progressive policies have thwarted any success,

There are mayoral elections in Santa Fe and ABQ next year. Webber is term limited but ABQ Mayor Keller is running for a third term. Apdoaca says his group hopes to be involved in both elections.

Progressives rose to the peak of their power following the 2020 primary elections where they ousted several longtime conservative Democratic senators including John Arthur Smith. Since then the Senate has drifted more liberal but nothing like the House where progressives took a commanding lead. 

The defeat of a family medical leave bill in the House his past session gave rise to conservative Dem hopes that the progressive era has peaked and there will be a swing back toward the middle.

The NM Project has the money and the message to push such a change. Whether the voters are ready is the question.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.  

New Mexico's 20 year waiting game with Virgin Galactic and Spaceport America may be about to end in a crash landing.

The stock of billionaire Richard Branson's company dived below a dollar a share Monday, an all-time low. If the stock stays under a buck for 30 days it risks being delisted from the NASDAQ which would dramatically impact its ability to raise desperately needed funding.  

Facing this stark scenario, what does VG do? It tries emergency life support to keep the stock above a buck:

Virgin Galactic will ask shareholders to approve a reverse stock split intended to boost the falling share price of the suborbital spaceflight company. . .One proposal will ask shareholders to perform a reverse stock split of between 1-for-2 and 1-for-20. That would convert anywhere from 2 to 20 existing shares of Virgin Galactic stock into one new share. The reverse split would have the effect of increasing the share price. 

A reverse stock split is the opposite of an ordinary stock split. Instead of giving you more shares, it leaves you with fewer. Investors are upset at this prospect -- even though it won't affect the actual value of an investment in Virgin Galactic. Whether you own 1,000 shares of stock worth $1 each or 50 shares of stock worth $20 each, you own $1,000 worth of stock.

Another sign that the death rattle may be near for VG and its space tourism flights from Spaceport America near T or C is Branson's declaration that he is through dumping cash into the struggling venture:

Branson said that his business empire will not be putting more money into Virgin Galactic, which recently fleshed out its near-term growth strategy. “We don’t have the deepest pockets after COVID, and Virgin Galactic has got $1bn, or nearly. It should, I believe, have sufficient funds to do its job on its own,” he said. 

NM Spaceport

But does VG really have "sufficient funds?" At the end of last year it listed $982 million in cash and marketable securities after losing $502 million in the same year and $500 million in '22. Most of the cash is from well-off potential space tourists who have ponied up as much as $400,000 a pop to secure their dream of being launched into suborbital space.

Investors continue to run for the hills, crashing the stock Monday nearly 13 percent leaving it at a meager seventy-five cents a share. 

That price values the company at about $300 million, a whole lot less than VG says it has in cash. 

Investors are clearly saying (and warning) that they believe VG is going to burn through the cash they have before they can restart regular space launches that are in abeyance while the company builds a new spacecraft. 

Before halting flights the company had launched 19 customers.

VG's slogan is turning the "impossible into the inevitable." Sadly the inevitable appears to be a going out of business sign.

Sure, the company's demise has been prematurely forecast before but never has Branson acted like a pallbearer as he is now.

The honchos at Spaceport America seem to see what's coming. They've been leaning on the Legislature for a couple of million a year in subsides to keep the taxpayer-built Spaceport going. In their new ten year plan they say they will seek many more tenants as they try to diversify away from the dependence on VG.

Meantime, the political powers that be here continue to play ostrich, seeing and speaking little on the subject. Soon there will be something to open their eyes as VG comes in for a landing on a wing and a prayer--and maybe only a prayer.  

MORE VG COVERAGE

Reader Dan Warren in Sierrra county has been on the VG watch:

Hi Joe, Factors affecting their continued existence include recently being sued by Boeing for $25 million for money Virgin Galactic failed to pay them. Virgin Galactic responded by counter-suing Boeing, claiming Boeing's work for them was shoddy. 

To make things more difficult in coming months as Virgin Galactic plans for their last flight in New Mexico during the second quarter is a grounding order by the FAA. This happened after their January flight when an alignment pin broke off and fell to the ground somewhere. Most stories about the broken alignment pin never mentioned that the result was being grounded. Virgin Galactic will need to redesign (?) and repair the broken part and get FAA approval before they can fly the last flight of the Unity Spaceship, which is supposed to fly in the next 75 days and they said they would. 

 KUDOS TO HAALAND

Chavez and Haaland

An interesting email from former ABQ Mayor Martin Chavez in reaction to the Monday blog wherein Sec. of Interior Deb Haaland was mentioned as a possible '26 Dem Guv candidate as well as Sen. Martin Heinrich. Is the former three term Mayor taking sides in the early going? You be the judge:

Joe, Kudos to Secretary Haaland and Senator Heinrich for their good work regarding Placitas and gravel mining. Lost somewhere in the news, however, is the truly historic Final Public Lands Rule announced last week by the Department of Interior which elevates clean energy and conservation to at least equal status with fossil fuel extraction on public lands. Assuming it overcomes the legal challenges which are sure to ensue, New Mexico's Deb Haaland will go down as one of the most impactful Secretaries of Interior of all time. We all knew that hers was an historic appointment but this new rule will forever change how public lands are managed. And all by our own Deb Haaland! 

Haaland's base in the state Dem party is progressive but former Mayor Marty is a keeper of the flame for moderate Dems and Hispanics. As we said, interesting.

CLOSING IN

The June 4 primary is closing in. The SOS comes with this:

Registered voters in New Mexico can now request an absentee ballot for the 2024 Primary Election at NMVOTE.ORG. This year, voters can also voluntarily opt-in to be part of the permanent absentee list when requesting their absentee ballot. When a voter chooses this option they will receive an absentee ballot in the mail for every subsequent election. Voters can remove themselves from the permanent absentee list at any time.  The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the Primary Election is Tuesday, May 21, 2024. If mailing back an absentee ballot, voters should allow 7-10 days for their ballot to be delivered back to their County Clerk’s office.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.  

Sec. Haaland (Bush, Journal)

It's true. Your blog is at the head of the parade when it comes to monitoring a possible 2026 Guv run by Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland. We're not shying away from that beat either as top state Democrats have been quietly chattering for months over Haaland's intentions. 

That includes a longtime Dem consultant with ties to Haaland who sends along this photo of a smiling Haaland in ABQ signing a public land order putting 4,200 acres of federal land near Placitas off limits to mining. They captioned the pic: "Looking Like A Governor."

Public speculation thus far has centered on Sen. Martin Heinrich who has made it clear that a Guv run could be in the cards, if he is re-elected to a third Senate term this November.

But Heinrich now has his hands full--unexpectedly so--with a name and monied opponent in Nella Domenici who is already attacking him for entertaining thoughts of becoming Governor which would mean not finishing any next term

A solid run by Domenici could spoil Heinrich's daydream. More than that, Haaland, if she does run, could be a lock for the Democratic nomination because of her appeal to Dem progressives and her identity as the first Native woman who would be elected to the governorship.

Senior Alligators (trusted sources) and top Dems don't foresee a Heinrich-Haaland primary, believing that only one of them will be standing at the end of the day.

Soon after the fall election the fog surrounding the '26 Dem Guv chase will begin to break. That's when to expect Haaland to figure prominently. 

As the late great Ernie Mills would opine: "Don't say we didn't tell you."

JAVIER AND MIMI

Sen. Stewart

House Speaker Javier Martinez is supporting all House Dems in their re-election bids as he puts aside any disagreements the progressive leader has with his conservative colleagues. But that doesn't apply to the state Senate. Martinez's personal campaign account gave $5,500 to Dem Senate candidate and progressive Heather Berghmans who is challenging moderate Dem Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto in the June primary. 

Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart appears to be staying out of that testy contest--at least financially. We spot no donations to Berghmans from Stewart's personal campaign or her leadership PAC in the latest campaign reports. 

In 2022 Ivey-Soto, under pressure from Stewart, resigned his rules committee chairmanship amid sex harassment charges dating from 2015 leveled against him by progressive lobbyist Marianna Anaya.

However, another prominent Dem Senator, ABQ's Katy Duhigg who has also tangled with Ivey-Soto, isn't shy about the race. Her campaign donated $5,500 to Berghmans.

In another Dem senate primary featuring a progressive versus a moderate, the name of famed retired newsman Sam Donaldson pops up. He gave $5,500 to Heather Balas, the centrist Democrat facing progressive Cindy Nava in the Rio Rancho/Corrales District 9 race. 

(Senate Prez Stewart gave $2,500 to Nava.) 

Donaldson is a longtime middle of the roader, hanging with moderate Dems like Jeff Apodaca since returning to the state. The broadcaster who aced the White House beat for ABC news lives in ABQ and is now 90. 

ANOTHER SAM

Another well-known Sam--Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman--continues to fight off a primary challenge from fellow Dem and former US Attorney Damon Martinez. The gloves are coming off fast as Martinez tries to put into play the APD-DWI scandal. He gets some help from J.R. Davis, a retired Supervisory Agent with the Department of Homeland Security:

A recent comment by former US Attorney David Iglesias indicates that DA Bregman should have recused himself from the dismissed DWI cases because, when he was a defense attorney, he himself had DWI cases dismissed involving one of the main APD officers currently under investigation. Iglesias did not list these cases. I can. 

On March 22nd, APD Officer Joshua Montano resigned from APD. He is one of the main APD police officers being investigated by the FBI regarding the DWI case dismissals. The US Attorney informed DA Bregman about Officer Montano’s ethical issues on January 2nd. There exist three DWI cases where: 1) Bregman was the defense attorney at the time; 2) all three cases were dismissed; and 3) they all involved APD Officer Joshua Montano. In other words, 100% of the DWI cases that then defense attorney Bregman had with APD Officer Montano were dismissed. 

The DA’s Office has jurisdiction over investigating APD public corruption. Consequently, the DA’s Office should investigate the DWI scandal in partnership with the FBI and US Attorney’s Office when it is determined that there are issues better left to state investigation. However, the dismissed DWI cases and the entire matter now has a cloud over it because of DA Bregman’s direct involvement and that he failed to immediately mention his involvement with APD Officer Montano . 

The DA’s Office should have a grand jury investigation looking into all DWI cases involving Officer Montano that were dismissed. In this situation, however, DA Bregman’s three prior DWI cases will come up. Therefore, Assistant DAs can’t investigate their own boss who is the DA. This is the actual conflict situation that DA Bregman has now shamefully placed our community in by not recusing himself.

Bregman has yet to comment on the alleged conflict. If and when he does, you'll see it here. 

MEDINA REACT 

APD Chief Medina

Some reader reaction to APD Chief Medina's defense of his record on the Thursday blog as well as the announcement that he will leave the job at the end of 2025. Ron Nelson writes:

APD and Medina say “Crime continues to go down, following national trends.” Hint: when you don’t answer calls or apprehend criminals, of course crime goes down. Seriously, anyone in this town who owns a ring camera or video surveillance will dispute this claim. 

Reader Doug Petersen writes:

Reader Kelley writes:

It might be a lot of people’s “perception”but Medina sucks. I was happy he’s announced his departure, but the end of 2025, really?! Wow, I don’t get the huge defense by all for him, makes no sense to me. This city sure doesn’t feel safe or better with him or the mayor. Great reporting (always).

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.