Judith Nakamura

By now top Republicans expected several candidates to be on the playing field vying for their party's 2026 gubernatorial nomination but the lone official candidate remains Rio Rancho Mayor Mayor Gregg Hull. He has had the race to himself since saying in April that he planned to run only to pull back a formal June 2 declaration but eventually going all in. 

Hull, while well-known in Rio Rancho, is unknown statewide and not the big name that some Republican consultants think could give the Democrats a run for their money. With that in the background, we checked on the status of one of those "big names."

Former NM Supreme Court Justice Judith Nakamura said in April that she was "considering" a candidacy but has since been quiet. A senior source familiar with her thinking tells NM Politics with Joe Monahan she is "still interested" in running but there are a lot of considerations for her to weigh. They explain: 

Joe, Judy is not a favorite of MAGA and they are not a favorite of hers. That is her major obstacle in winning the nomination. Also, she is pro-choice in a party that is fervently anti-abortion. That presents another major hurdle for her to jump in a GOP primary.

The irony is that what hurts Nakamura in a GOP primary dominated by hardcore conservatives could actually help her in a statewide race against the Democratic nominee. 

So would Nakamura have a shot if she were to run? 

Republican pros say her best bet is if Hull remains the sole major candidate seeking the nomination and that other possibles--like former Lt. Gov. John Sanchez--stay out. They believe Nakamura, 64, could defeat Hull in a one-on-one race despite her baggage with fellow R's because the lure of her beating the Democratic nominee would be hard to resist and because Hull is also known as a moderate R, not a wearer of the MAGA hat.

Along with Nakamura Roswell oilman Mark Murphy and healthcare executive Duke Rodriguez say they are "considering" a run. John Sanchez has made no public statements about his intentions. 

Some video of Nakamura is here.  

JICARILLAS FOR BREGMAN 

Meanwhile on the Dem side of the campaign trail, Guv contender and BernCo District Attorney Sam Bregman has put more pressure on Deb Haaland with an endorsement from the Jicarilla Apache Nation. 

This endorsement follows the July bombshell dropped by Sandia Pueblo when they endorsed Bregman over Haaland who would be the first Native American governor in state history. 

Bregman's campaign quotes Jicarilla President Adrian Notsinneh as telling him:  

You demonstrated a clear and actionable plan to tackle critical challenges, including crime, substance abuse, and economic development within our communities.

Bregman rubbed it in, declaring:

I am the only candidate for governor with both a proven track record and a clear vision to deliver results for New Mexico’s tribal communities. I am honored to have received this important endorsement. . .As the tribe with the largest land mass in New Mexico, the Jicarilla Apache Nation support marks the first tribal nation endorsement of the election and a strong sign of Sam’s growing momentum.

Haaland has significant Native American support from around the nation, including financially, and she has announced some endorsements of her own:

She has been endorsed by the Jemez, Santo Domingo and Picuris pueblos, as well as former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and by advocacy groups NM Native Vote, Native Organizers Alliance and Advance Native Political Leadership.

Haaland backers note that women are not traditional leaders in Native American communities and that may be helping Bregman pick up his endorsements. 

With the official backing of one pueblo and one tribe Bregman continues to dent the Haaland campaign's original thesis that her nomination is inevitable.  

ABOUT THE JICARILLAS

The background:

The U.S. Census Bureau counted 2,596 residents in 2022 and 3,176 in more recent estimates. Over 95% of tribal members live in or near Dulce, New Mexico, the tribal headquarters. About half of the members speak the Jicarilla language fluently, primarily older individuals, and around 70% practice an organized religion, often Christianity blended with traditional beliefs. The tribe's population has rebounded from near-extinction threats in the early 20th century, but like many Apache groups, their language is endangered.

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