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.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.        

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.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.