AG Torrez

Democratic Attorney General Raul Torrez has an easy path to re-election. He faces no primary opponent and no general election threat from Republican injury attorney Sam Kane of Las Cruces.

That easy path isn't stopping Torrez, who served as BernCo District Attorney before becoming AG in 2023, from aggressively fund-raising. In the '26 cycle he has raised $945,000 and has cash on hand of $852,000, according to the early May state reports.

The AG's office exercises considerable enforcement power over the state's gaming tribes. 

Torrez received $7,400 from Ohkay Wingeh; $6,200 from Isleta Pueblo and $7,400 from the California Habematolel Pomo tribe. Bill Windham of Louisiana, president of the Downs at ABQ casino and racetrack, gave $5,000. The Melloy Brothers car dealers gave $10,000; the ABQ Parnall law firm donated $12,400--$6,200 for the primary and the same for the general.

Torrez been making headlines for suing Meta (the parent company of Facebook), accusing the tech giant of fraud and running an "unconscionable" business model that puts profits over safety. The state argues that Meta lied about the danger of its apps while knowingly designing addictive features and algorithms that lead to the sexual exploitation of children. 

Torrez secured an historic $375 million jury verdict against the company and is now asking a judge to force accurate age verification and turning off addictive design tools for minors which Meta claims are impossible to implement. The company has threatened to shut down its services in New Mexico. 

CRITICS QUESTIONS 

While winning mostly favorable press, critics question the lawsuit's timing as Torrez seeks re-election and launches a legal war that guarantees national headlines. They argue those same legal resources could be spent prosecuting more impactful crimes in the state--including an abundance of child abuse cases. 

(Most of the legal money spent on the Meta case is for out of state lawyers who work on contingency.)

Torrez did file a civil lawsuit in April against CYFD over confidentiality rules but skeptics argue that suing for paperwork and data is a toothless PR move that avoids the gritty task of building criminal cases against abusers.

The ambitious attorney general was mentioned as a possible '26 gubernatorial candidate but Deb Haaland's rise blocked any hopes. That leaves Torrez with his cash pile positioned for re-election and in a wait and see mode for what comes next. 

PERLS VS. LUJAN

Perls

Former state Rep. Bob Perls of Corrales (1993-'96) will run for the US Senate against presumed Dem nominee Ben Ray Lujan now that the Forward Party has earned minority party status and will be able to place candidates on the fall ballot. 

We asked Perls why he is running against Lujan who is seeking a second six year term and faces Matthew Dodson in the June 2 primary ballot but is expected to easily prevail: 

The incumbent has done nothing to buck the party, to be independent, to represent all New Mexicans. . .He votes the party line nearly 100 percent and does not coalition-build. . . Running for Senate gives me a platform to talk about why we need competitive elections.

First is the national effort to pass reform measures like open primaries, term limits and independent redistricting commissions. We must change the way we elect, district and finance candidates so that incentives are there for all candidates to coalition-build. 

Second, to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, something President Trump has not done. . .We could say the same for certain Democrats who did not secure the border and did not insist on a competitive primary and open convention when President Biden did not seel re-election. 

Third, to create competitive elections to provide more choice. 80% of our races are not competitive. . .What we stand for is representing the 80% of New Mexicans who feel left out of both legacy parties. 

In 2015 Perls, 67, became head of NM Open Elections and was a key player in establishing the semi-open primaries that are taking effect for the firs time in the June primary. Perls is now state Chairman of the Forward Party of NM. The national Forward Party was co-founded by former presidential candidate and businessman Andrew Yang who came here and met with Perls to establish the state branch.

The Senate election could focus intensely on economic conditions, making it difficult for Perls to appeal to a wide swath of voters. n that statement, he faulted Dems for "failing to secure the border" which could give him entree to more conservative precincts.  

Healthcare might be another issue for the freshly minted candidate to push out. Perls is a healthcare management expert. He also has foreign policy chops having served as a US diplomat in posts such as Germany, Pakistan and Canada.

The Republicans failed to field a candidate against Lujan and now have Trump advocate Larry Marker running as a write-in. If he gets 2,351 write-in votes June 2, his name will appear on the November ballot along with Lujan's and now that of Perls.  

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.