Deb Haaland blew the doors off Tuesday night, crafting a 72 to 28 percent landslide over rival Sam Bregman and securing the 2026 Democratic gubernatorial nomination. She now enters the general election campaign as the odds-on favorite against freshly-minted Republican nominee and former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull. 

All statewide results here. BernCo results here. 

(Journal wrap here. New Mexican here. NYT here. AP here.) 

The runaway victory by Haaland, fueled by an over-the-top campaign kitty of $13 million raised across the nation, was so encompassing it left no question that the Democratic party is unified behind her candidacy and is deeply enamored with the chance to elect her the state's first Native American governor. 

The results read as though Haaland were facing an unknown third party candidate not the well-known BernCo District Attorney. There was simply no place he could hide. 

In Santa Fe county she lowered the hammer with an 80 percent win; in Bernalillo it was 69 percent; In Dona Ana 79 and even in conservative Little Texas in Chaves county she outscored the moderate Dem DA with 73 percent. 

Bregman's pronouncement made during the campaign that he would not be endorsing Haaland if he lost was blown away by the results and amid a wind storm that descended on ABQ's Old Town Plaza where Haaland celebrated her crowning political achievement. 

The win was especially sweet because the campaign against her was so sour, accusing her as it did of being a bumbling, incoherent who lacked any real experience for the job of governor. Videos flooded the socials showing her discomfort when appearing before congressional committees as Secretary of Interior, prompting derisive comments about her intelligence. 

But like Bregman's threat not to endorse her ws made impotent in the landslide's wake, similar Republican attacks over her capabilities may lack much force after she was so convincingly vindicated by voters. 

HULL AND COMPANY  

Gregg Hull and company will have to find another way to shake up the race that could set faster than cement in Haaland's favor if they don't act fast. First, they will have to raise the money to send the message. 

Hull was woefully inadequate in that regard, agree political pros of all stripes. He only managed to raise $600,000 but his stature as a former three-term mayor of Rio Rancho gave him standing in the party and personal relationships with many Republican voters. That was support that could not be broken by either ABQ businessman Doug Turner or the wealthy cannabis king Duke Rodriguez. 

Hull won statewide with 47 percent; Turner took 37 and Rodriguez 16.

Hull's inability to raise funds was a flaw but his ability to implement a campaign strategy and not panic in the fog of the war (while he refused to attack his foes) revealed depth of character and a candidacy that the Democrats will not take lightly. 

Despite her display of strength Tuesday night, Haaland remains remarkably fragile and open to making a major blunder under pressure. Such an incident could make the race more competitive and why Hull predicted in a radio interview with ABQ's Eddy Aragon that Haaland would refuse to debate him. 

Our analysts gathered at our KANW Radio Election Night roundtable agreed that Hull was the best strategic pick for the diminished Republican party because he can make a stand in the critical ABQ metro.  

Hull took his home county of Sandoval last night with a massive 79 percent win; in Big BernCo, where it is an absolute must to be competitive in November, he took 59 percent. In the rural areas he held Turner to modest wins like the 53 percent Turner took in Chaves county. 

Former ABQ GOP state Senator Michael Wiener attended Hull's victory party on ABQ's northwest side where he urged him to make "bolder moves" in the campaign against Haaland. 

"His cautious approach has served him well, but now he needs to adjust to a more aggressive posture if he is to pull off the upset," Wiener declared. 

THE RUNNING MATES 

Sen. Gallegos

Maggie Toulouse Oliver has always been a big vote-getter in her long career as Bernalillo county clerk and most recently as secretary of state. She did it again Tuesday, easily getting past ABQ state Sen. Harold Pope, Jr. with a crushing 80-20 percent victory.

Haaland and Toulouse Oliver will be the first all-female gubernatorial ticket in state history. Both are from Bernalillo county while the ticket is usually more geographically diverse. But with women playing such a prominent role in the Democratic party and Bernalillo County assuming more dominance in state elections, the team works for the Democrats. 

The Republican ticket is also a good set-up. State Sen. David Gallegos of Eunice will pair with Rio Rancho's Hull as the lieutenant governor nominee. He beat opponent A. Blair Dunn by 50-38 with Manny Lardizabal getting 12 percent. 

That Gallegos is Hispanic won't hurt, and he can help Hull raise badly needed funds and votes in the SE oil patch. Gallegos previously served in the state House and has street cred on education. He served on the Eunice School Board for 21 years. He is now a manager in his family's construction business. 

Thanks to my KANW radio team and station staff for making possible our Election Night coverage. And thanks to you for tuning in here. It is much appreciated. 

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