The president once boasted of New Mexico "Hispanics love me!" And for a time he did quite well with that critical voting block. Today? Not so much.

The respectable six point Trump loss in Blue New Mexico in '24 is starting to seem like a distant memory. Polling today shows that Hispanic voters who were largely responsible for bringing Trump's numbers up here are now headed in the opposite direction.

Trump’s overall approval among Hispanic adults has fallen 16 percentage points since March 2025, and his support has declined by 9 percentage points among men. The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that many key groups — including Hispanic adults, younger adults and men — are increasingly dissatisfied with his presidency. Hispanic Americans have grown increasingly discontented with Trump over the past year. About one-quarter of Hispanic adults approve of how he’s handling the presidency in the new poll, down from about 4 in 10 in March 2025. 

In the April Emerson College poll Trump's New Mexico approval rating was 36.5 percent and his disapproval 55.8 percent. 

Trump’s restrictive immigration policies are cited as a cause for his decline among Hispanics. Only about one-quarter of them nationally approve of his handling of immigration, down from 36% at the beginning of his term. 

Younger Hispanics--a group with he made gains with in 2024--have defected. Only 18% of them approve of his performance on immigration, compared with 40% of Americans overall. 

The sagging economy among middle and lower income families is also a problem. 

Just one-quarter of Hispanic adults approve of how Trump is handling that issue, and about 2 in 10 say they approve of his approach to the cost of living. Few Hispanic adults, about 2 in 10, describe the nation’s economy as “good.” 

What this means for our election is clear. An unpopular president would be a drag on the Republicans from the top of the ticket down to the state legislative races.  

That's another reason the Democratic gubernatorial primary is so critical. The primary winner's odds of prevailing in the November are much higher with an unpopular Trump at the helm.

As for the GOP Guv nominee, they'll have to somehow balance their party affiliation with an out of favor president. If that's too difficult, they can hope for a minor miracle that sees the president's approval rating improve over the summer.

READERS ON HAALAND

Our report and analysis of the massive cash haul by Dem Guv candidate Deb Haaland--over $11 million so far--brought reaction from her supporters. Larry McDaniel of Silver City writes: 

Joe, I have to take issue with what appears to be a broad stroke assertion that progressive Democrats are somehow anti-Business or anti-development. As far as I'm concerned that’s an oversimplification and generally not true. The issue is whether the business entity or development project is a sustainable endeavor. Data centers, with their deleterious impact on power and water usage, and their impact on local utilities and consumer pricing are a great example of where we part ways with the development at all costs crowd. The efforts by the oil and gas industry to delay the implementation of renewable energy transition is another example. On the other hand, infill development that increases affordable housing and sustainable efforts to diversify the economy in rural areas where I live, are well supported by progressives. When Deb Haaland is Governor we’ll invest in sustainable economic development across New Mexico. A rising tide does lift all boats. 

Reader Mike Connealy writes: 

The best way to understand Deb Haaland's appeal is to listen to her speak as we did at a recent campaign appearance in Albuquerque. She speaks energetically with intelligence and compassion. She radiates the competence and moral clarity which is so lacking in what comes out of Washington these days. Her life story of overcoming challenges to get where she is today is one which people can relate to, and what makes her a perfect fit for the job of governing New Mexico.

ABOUT THOSE DEBATES

Sam Bregman is relentless in his insistence that Deb Haaland debate him. She has resisted. Bregman wasn't always so intent on debating. When he ran for Bernalillo County District Attorney in 2024, our May 21 entry included this:

A MUM SAM

In Primary '24 the Bernalillo County Dem race for District Attorney continues to top the bill. The latest is an ironic complaint from contender Damon Martinez that his usually loquacious opponent, appointed Dem DA Sam Bregman, doesn't want to talk:

Bregman ducked opportunities to debate me so that voters can decide for themselves who will best represent them in the District Attorney’s office. What is my opponent afraid of? Is he afraid to defend his record? Is he afraid to talk to voters about his plan to address the issues we face in Bernalillo County? Is he afraid to face the very people he wants to represent as District Attorney. The fact that we have to ask these questions is all the answer we need. For me, this is a question of accountability. Bernalillo County deserves an experienced prosecutor who will be accountable to the community. I’m the experienced, accountable public servant our community deserves. 

When Sam stops talking you know it's a quiet campaign.

In 2026 the worm has turned. Bregman is the one facing a reluctant debating partner. There is a May event featuring Bregman and Haaland that will have elements of a debate but she has refused to debate Bregman in any live televised debates offered by the ABQ commercial TV stations or other forums.

But Haaland wasn't always camera shy. In 2018 when she sought the Dem nomination for the ABQ congressional seat against five opponents she took part in TV debates as well as a general election debate. Video of that is here.

When it comes to La Politica and debating, candidates shift directions as often as our spring winds.  

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