Hull, Turner & Rodriguez

Sometimes it seems no one really wants the Republican gubernatorial nomination. The campaign has been meek, underfunded and led by political unknowns laboring under the shadow of likely Democratic nominee Deb Haaland whose fund-raising machine could quickly consign the Republican nominee to the showers.

The latest money reports for the June 2 primary again reveal the anemic state of the race. 

Former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull has proved to be what one insider calls "borderline inept" at raising money despite taking the front-runner role in two public polls. 

Hull raised only $71,000 in the April 7 to May 4 period and goes into the final critical days with a mere $227,000 in cash on hand. The Journal poll showing him with a lead of 30-21 over Doug Turner was released May 3, a day before the reporting period closed. Among his expenditures Hull reported paying Peakland Strategies of Lynchburg, VA, $47,000 for campaign consulting. 

A Senior Alligator (as we call our longtime reliable sources) says: 

Hull desperately needs more cash but his campaign appears helpless or oblivious. The candidate himself offered the excuse that donations will come to whoever wins the nomination, but the problem is the money will have a major role in determining who will win that nomination. He knows that, but appears unable to fix it, sending a chilling message on how he might govern. 

ABQ businessman Doug Turner is the most likely recipient of Hull's disappointing performance. He reported raising $200,000 in the period and had $281,000 cash on hand. That does not appear to include whatever he brought in from a May 6 Mar a Lago fund-raiser. Also, big oil has a PAC out there that could help Turner overtake Hull even more. Turner's recent contributions read like a who's who of the state oil biz. 

Turner sent back a lot of money he collected to the PR agency he founded, reporting over $200,000 in payments to Agenda for digital advertising.  

A Senior Alligator offers this: 

Turner faces his own problem with messaging. It is unclear. He cut a digital ad about the Epstein ranch investigation that seemed out of context. But the messaging overall is not bad. It is passable and if his money talks louder than Hull's, it is enough to get him in the winner's circle.  

Duke Rodriguez's residency controversy and others saw him hit the skids in the polling. Only 9 percent supported him in the Journal survey. He reported that he has now donated $1.5 million of personal money to his campaign. He reported $513,000 in cash on hand for the final stretch. So far he has spent $994,000. He spent $351,000 on TV airtime and production in the recent period and $168,000 on digital ads.  

At the start of the campaign the marijuana tycoon said he could donate up to $2 million of personal funds. That's a fair amount but so much damage has been done that the dynamics of the entire campaign may have to change to put him near victory.

It is the lack of dynamism that is the signature of the '26 GOP race. But it should not be too surprising. The party has been decimated by numerous defeats in recent years and is so torn asunder from internal battles that another November bloodbath looks more likely than improbable. That leaves Hull, Turner and Rodriguez to fight over the scraps in a party that has been deserted by big names and big money.

 THE SPEAKER FUND

Speaker Martinez

Gerrymandering has insured that the 70 member state House will very likely keep its majority of 45 Dems and 25 Republicans this cycle. But The Speaker Fund, led by Dem Speaker Javier Martinez, is ready for any unexpected battles. The Fund reports $233,000 in cash on hand and raising $111,000 this period. 

The  Western States Regional Council of Carpenters Legislative Improvement PAC gave $39,500. Carpenters and other trade unions here and elsewhere have been pushing for the large and controversial Project Jupiter proposed for Santa Teresa. It could employ up to 4,000 construction workers. The developers include mega software company Oracle. 

Speaker Martinez has a split caucus on his hands over the project. Some progressives are opposed because of environmental concerns,

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