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 15 percent of the vote in a three way race, has announced his '25 candidacy. He qualified for public financing last time.

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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