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Tuesday, November 04, 2025Election Day '25 is Here: Suspense Over Who Finishes In Top Two In ABQ Mayor Contest; Ranked Choice Voting In Santa Fe Balloting Adds To Drama, Plus: Join Our Team For Live Election Night Results And Analysis On KANW 89.1 FM and KANW.ORG Tune in to our live Election Night coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m on public radio KANW 89.1 FM and streamed at KANW.ORG. There will be suspense tonight in the ABQ and Santa Fe mayoral elections despite there being two front-runners--Mayor Tim Keller in ABQ and City Councilor Michael Garcia in Santa Fe. We wait to see if Keller can get 50 percent of the vote to get re-elected outright and avoid a December 9 runoff. If not but he still finishes in first as expected, who will take second and face him in that runoff? That battle appears to be between Republican Darren White and Dem City Councilor Louie Sanchez with White the favorite. In Santa Fe the suspense is over how many rounds of counting it will take to elect a new mayor. Up there the runoff takes place tonight for all eight candidates because ranked choice voting is used. That's where voters rank all the candidates in their order of preference. If none of them get 50 percent in the first round, the vote-counting goes to a second round and keeps going until one of them reaches the magic number. It is possible but not likely that a candidate who finishes second in the first round of voting could actually end up in first and become mayor-elect. Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark says ranked choice voting could mean a later election night for the City Different than ABQ because of the time needed to count. She says the counting will be streamed live for all to watch on the county's YouTube channel. Another reason for more suspense in ABQ is the dearth of polling from the ABQ Journal. The paper came with a late September survey but that was the one and only. For the first time the paper's new no endorsement policy for political candidates kicked in for a mayoral election, the latest example of how the newshounds are backing off from getting too close to the fire in this polarized era. HOW MANY? Early voting was on the low side in ABQ and Santa Fe. We're thinking total turnout comes in around 95,000 in ABQ compared to 118,000 in 2021. SETTING EXPECTATIONS  We’re not taking anything for granted — our team is working hard to
secure one of the top two spots and make the December runoff.
Until the polls close tomorrow, Keller volunteers are knocking doors,
making calls, and reminding everyone to get out and vote. So the campaign would be alright with Keller finishing second? If that happened there would be a political firestorm in this town. Progressive Dem Alex Uballez wrapped things up by urging his supporters to have a good time at his E. Nite party: Feel the energy, the hugs, the hope, the joy. Whether you knocked doors, made calls, donated, or simply believed this night is for you. Let’s celebrate how far we’ve come…and look forward to what’s next. Together. We Win. Louie Sanchez sent voters into today with this message: Why Vote Louie Sanchez for Mayor? Because Albuquerque deserves leadership that puts safety, accountability, and families first. Louie has real experience — not politics — and a vision to make our city stronger, safer, and more united Election Night is our moment to connect, reflect, and cheer for this people-powered movement we built together, a stronger, safer Albuquerque that puts community first. THE PARTIES Sanchez will watch the returns at his home on ABQ's Westside Mayor Keller will have an Election Night party at Arrive Hotel at 7th and Central Downtown. Alex Uballez party headquarters will be at Flamenco Works at 506 Central Downtown. Darren White will host supporters at the Courtyard Marriott at 5151 Journal Center Blvd. NE KANW ELECTION NIGHT
If the issue is big in Santa Fe you'll find him in the middle of the fray. He's also a college sports fanatic now in ecstasy over the UNM football team's success. As for tonight's proceedings, he says: "Politics is the wildest sport of all. Tonight is the big bowl game."
Dem state Rep. Joy Garratt is also back with us for another Election Night stint. This one is especially timely because she represents Westside House District 29 as she has since 2019. That area will be a hot spot tonight with the four way District 1 City Council battle and the two way District 5 Council race with Republican Dan Lewis and Democrat Athenea Allen. Being a retired educator, Joy is also captivated by the Danielle Gonzales-Rebecca Betzen clash for the ABQ School Board. She says of tonight's races: "I can't predict who will win but someone is going to get schooled." CONSULTANT CORNER
Republican consultant Bob Cornelius, a Tatum NM native who has been busy consulting Texas legislative candidates, will do anything to get a political fix. He drove here from Austin to continue contributing his insights to public radio. Appreciate that, Bob, although the ranks of GOP candidates is pretty thin this year. Bob says of tonight: "I came here to see Republicans win, but I'll settle for some chicharrones."
And we welcome to the Election Night broadcast news pro Jenny Kinsey, a reporter for the Mountain West News Bureau based at KANW. She'll be filing reports from around the city as the election news breaks. Jenny has worked as a freelance journalist for NPR and other outlets and has a masters in journalism and political science from East Texas A&M University. About tonight she says: "It's like herding cattle. I'm ready." Should be a fun one. See you tonight from the KANW studios. This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.Monday, November 03, 2025Election Eve '25: Money Talks; Keller's Final Barrage Of TV Ads Unanswered by Underfinanced Foes As Campaigns Make Final Pitches, Plus: Flap Over Video Clip Falls Flat, Stansbury Joins Mayoral Campaign And Our Election Night Coverage Let's dive in. . . The Mayor has come with a seeming death blow for his five opponents hoping to take him out of first place in the Tuesday balloting. It also improves his chances of starting any runoff election with a commanding lead that would make the runoff perfunctory. That blow is the purchase of $111,000 in TV ads for the final days of the campaign, a sum unmatched by his foes, none of whom have more than a paltry TV presence. Add the $111K to a $93,000 Keller TV buy on Oct. 14 and that's an essentially unanswered media spend of over $200,000. These are not immense sums in the course of most campaigns but they are exaggerated because Keller owns the TV screens, increasing the impact of the ads. In TV talk it appears Keller is buying at least 1,000 gross rating points for the final stretch. That means the targeted audience sees his ad about 10 times. Why it matters is that the majority of voters in this election are probably over 55. To be sure, they are checking on the grandkids on social media but when it comes to what's going on in politics, they are still largely absorbed in their TV screens: Among U.S. adults aged 55 and over, approximately 74% of those aged 50-64 and 87% of those 65 and older say they often get news from television, according to the latest 2025 Pew Research Center data. This means that for adults 55+, the percentage who often get news from TV is between 74% and 87%, conservatively around 80% when combining these age groups. TV is big for the senior set but social media is not to be scoffed at and Keller's spending there shows its growing importance. Mailing to mailboxes--not just email--is another traditional campaign tool where significant campaign money is still dedicated. All of the Mayor's spending on this media was made possible by over $755,000 in public financing he qualified for--the only candidate to do so. KELLER'S ADVANTAGE  Is it fair to say that for a majority of voters Keller's opposition barely exists? Not barely but certainly it is not notable especially with the advantage he has with the perception-shaping power of 30 second TV ads repeated incessantly. The Keller domination of the airwaves also came into play on the only broadcast TV debate of the campaign on KOAT, an important event for those older voters. But as analyst Greg Payne and others said Keller's performance that night was "unflappable," A "make good" debate sponsored by the Journal after criticism that they and KOAT unfairly excluded mayoral hopefuls Mayling Armijo and Eddy Varela had a fairly wide audience. But it ended with the same verdict as the TV encounter--Keller kept his cool and walked away unwounded. THE VIDEO FLAP Two weeks ago during a non-televised mayoral forum before a real estate group a video clip hit the socials showing Keller having a short bout of temper over homelessness in the city. He declared:If you want to just believe the sensational claims being thrown around, then vote for them; I don’t want your vote," when discussing homeless encampment clearings.
The full video clip shows the context of those remarks and how Keller was reacting to comments made about the homeless by other candidates: I am not going to let some of those comments go that we just heard. It is not illegal to be homeless (applause ) and you want to ship homeless people out of here by force? That is illegal. That is immoral and it's wrong. I know that's what would make you feel better but I will never do it and also you can't do it. If you want to just believe the sensational claims being thrown around, then vote for them; I don’t want your vote. Keller lost his temper because of what he viewed as outrageous viewpoints about the homeless not because he was flippantly dismissing the electorate. But the comments were twisted. The incident was a blip on the radar that did not break out from behind the walls of social media and was probably a welcome statement by a large majority of ABQ residents. As Keller seeks an unprecedented third consecutive term the deep exasperation of the opposition over the state of the city is palpable and understandable. But their unbridled rage needed to be packaged and presented in a robust, calculated, professional campaign--not a series of social media hen-peckings that couldn't pierce the flesh of a hummingbird. The bottom line? Keller is stuck in polling purgatory with an anemic 42 percent approval rating and needed the big money to gain inches. But If we are to believe that campaigns still matter, there is not much doubt where we're headed Election Night.  Rep. Melanie Stansbury led a Sunday afternoon phone bank for the incumbent. Her popularity with progressives is unmatched and they are a must have for a Keller victory. Former US Attorney Alex Uballez, a progressive, was seen early on as a potential threat to Keller by splitting the progressive with the mayor. That threat remains but is less potent because of Uballez' inability to raise sufficient campaign funds. Still, Uballez could capture enough progressives to keep Keller from running away with the election and making any runoff more challenging for him.
Dem consultant Sisto Abeyta pointed out that ABQ's North Valley In District One and SE Heights Council District Six are areas where Keller has had landslides in his past elections but this year Uballez is competing for that block. The result is Rep. Stansbury's final hours push for Keller. STANSBURY AND TAPPER Like Keller, Stansbury puts a burr under the saddles of their opposition. She is unapologetically progressive and capable of making cogent and powerful arguments before the state as well as the nation. The problem they (and MLG) present to their conservative foes is that their errors on the public stage are small. That was this case with an interview Stansbury conducted with CNN's Jake Tapper that conservatives went ballistic over, claiming that it was a take down of the congresswoman.  Keller, Stansbury and MLG are the three state politicians with the ability to advance their causes to a state and national audience. We get that the Democratic polices from the trio is fair game but you can't beat heavyweights with featherweights. Conservatives need a New Mexico bench and they don't have one. They lack even one member of the five member congressional delegation. They don't get to go on CNN or any other national media. As for Senators Heinrich and Lujan, with New Mexico so dependent on federal funding the pressure on them to end the government shutdown will only grow. That CNN question Stansbury evaded looms large. WHITE'S CLOSING  Mayor Keller has turned Albuquerque into a sanctuary for criminals. Like this guy from Venezuela. He strangled his wife and because of our sanctuary laws, he was right back out on the streets and a month later he committed murder. Or this triple shooting at a migrant stash house in the Heights. Mayor Keller protects all these criminals. I won't. Darren White for mayor. I'm Darren White and I approve this
E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. Thursday, October 30, 2025Final Blows Exchanged In Passionate Battle Over Education And ABQ School Board; Gonzales-Betzen Contest Key To Control Of Board, Plus: Oops! City Clerk Mea Culpa For Leaving Arts Center Measure Off Ballot Pictured at the left is one of the lasts blasts against retired APS teacher Rebecca Betzen, fired off by the NewMexicoKidsCan PAC who are supporting ABQ Public School Board President Danielle Gonzales for a second term. As seen in the other flyer, Betzen is delivering mail hits of her own. The District 3 election is the most crucial of the four ABQ school board contests on the Tuesday ballot. If Gonzales, 46, a former teacher now involved in nonprofit education policy, wins it means a pro business faction will likely retain control of the seven member board.  The district's main areas inlude the ABQ North Valley, Los Ranchos, Corrales and NW ABQ near Balloon Fiesta Park. Los Ranchos. The race has become nationalized with the contribution of $300,000 from two billionaires coming into the campaign coffers of the pro business candidates via the NMKIDSCAN PAC. The billionaires are ardent advocates for school vouchers--the use of taxpayer dollars to pay tuition for students at private schools that they and their parents choose. None of the pro-business candidates are in support of vouchers and that has muddied the waters for Gonzales as she fights to keep her seat. While Gonzales is accuse of being in bed with the billionaires, Betzen is on the defense over the big dollars she is collecting from teacher unions. While Gonzales at mid-October reported receiving $15,000 from the billionaire funded PAC, Betzen chalked up donations of at least $15,000 from the ABQ teachers Federation including a $10,000 in-kind donation for mailers. BEYOND THE MONEY So both sides can be said to be compromised by special interests. But voters are known to put aside the money maze when assessing candidates. A writer on social media is an example:
Albuquerque schools and NM are right on the edge of a big leap forward in improving overall test scores. Teacher union candidates somehow oppose all of the reforms Gonzales and (board member) Courtney Jackson have brought in. Scores are up! Graduation rates are up! And yet ATF wants to replace the Board members and the philosophy they have brought in! I don’t care if a donor from out of state gives to a candidate; I want my kids school to be great and get them ready for college. When not attacking the big money politics in the race, Betzen has been going local with this: The APS Board gave themselves failing grades for the past two years on a test they chose themselves. As a teacher for 27 years, I know that D and F scores mean you are failing." That refers to the board's own strategic plan metrics, where APS scored low in areas like student achievement and equity. RACE DATA Gonzales was elected in 2021 in a close race, getting 42 percent to 38 percent for the second place finisher in the four way race.followed by two other candidates. The closeness of that race made it the prime target for the teacher groups to try to flip the board back in their favor. In the overall money race as seen in the Oct. 14 state reports, Gonzales had raised $73,000 and spent $36,000, leaving $33,000 for the final stretch. Betzen, 55, had raised $46,000 and had $28,000 for the final stretch. The passion play comes to an end Tuesday night and we'll be there to report the outcome starting at 6:30 p/m. on KANW 89.1 FM and kanw.org.
The Office of the City Clerk said that it had inadvertently left a measure meant to clear the way for a Downtown performing arts center off of election ballots, throwing a wrench into the broader effort and setting off a scramble to figure out when and how voters might ultimately decide the matter. The clerk's office said that it took responsibility for the mistake, which it chalked up to a clerical error. "We're reviewing our procedures to prevent future errors and exploring all options to ensure voters can weigh in on this matter as soon as possible," the statement said. City Councilor Joaquín Baca, who sponsored the legislation to put the question on the ballot, said he was "extremely disappointed" to learn of the mistake, which he discovered late last week. "I hadn't voted yet and nobody else noticed," he said. "I spent a few days calming down for sure." When and how the mistake might be rectified is an ongoing topic of conversation.. More on the error here. KOB-TV interviewed the six mayoral candidates for six minutes each. The sitdowns cover the major issues in compact form. REVIEW THEM
Bernalillo County Clerk Michelle Kavanaugh and City Clerk Ethan Watson have partnered to help voters understand the general obligation (G.O.) bond questions on the 2025 ballot. The initiative, called “Know the Bonds,” features short videos highlighting key bond questions and the projects they fund. The videos focus on topics including public safety, parks and recreation, museums and cultural facilities, and community resources such as housing, health, and animal welfare. Voters can also review the 2025 General Obligation Bond Program which provides a full overview of all G.O. bond purposes and projects on the ballot.“It’s essential that voters understand what’s on their ballots and how these measures impact daily life,” says Clerk Kavanaugh. “These bonds represent local investments that strengthen our neighborhoods and help our community thrive.” ABQ voters will decide $180 million in bond issues which are detailed at that Bond Progam link. We don't endorse candidates but we do urge your support for the bond issues which also address street repairs, flood control and other infrastructure needs. DROP IT
Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark reminds voters that absentee ballots must be received by the Clerk’s Office no later than 7 PM on Election Night, Tuesday, November 4, to be counted. “At this stage, voters should not rely on the mail to deliver their ballots on time,” said Clerk Clark. “Instead, drop your completed absentee ballot in one of our secure drop boxes or bring it to any open polling location. Dropping it off ensures your vote arrives safely and on time.” BernCo Clerk Kavanaugh also recommends that absentee ballots now be dropped off at early voting locations and not mailed with E Day right around the corner. DISTRICT ONE UPDATE In the first draft of the Wednesday monster blog on the ABQ city council races we omitted the candidacy of Republican Joshua Taylor Neal in District One on the city's westside and called it a three way race. There are four candidates running and if none gets 50 percent of the vote a runoff election will be held. Also, we added to our Wednesday report that Daniel Leiva in District 1 qualified for public financing for his campaign. This is the Home of New Mexico Politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. Wednesday, October 29, 20251,3,5,7,9: Five ABQ City Council Races Get The Going Over With Monahan And Abeyta Sorting Through The Issues, The Politics And Naming The Favorites, Plus: More From Sanderoff On Early Vote And Nair Says No To Auditor Run; Monster Blogging Is In Effect For Campaign '25 That would be the race in District 5 on the city's northwest side where Republican Dan Lewis, current Council President and executive director of the Asphalt Pavement Association of NM, is seeking another term. He is getting a stiff challenge from Democrat Athenea Allen, a program security representative for General Dynamics Information Technology at KAFB As seen in the piece posted, Allen is the wife of Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen which has critics asking is this power couple making too much of a power play? Allen tells us "there is no conflict of interest with her husband, that they represent a "collaboration" and not a conflict: The county and city are two separate governments with two separate budgets There is no conflict. During a debate Allen addressed concerns about her independence. Asked whether she would defer to Sheriff Allen's views on public safety or immigration, she said: I am a strong, independent woman who makes up her own mind on issues. Meanwhile, Lewis is hitting Allen hard in the mail, coming with a piece that attacks her for being "soft on crime" and in support of "catch and release." That prompted Sheriff Allen to take the unusual step of going on the socials to defend his wife and himself even though she says he was not mentioned in the hit piece. He said:
It will be interesting to see how voters see Allen's involvement in the race--as necessary to clarify the record or an overstep into city politics? Dem consultant Sisto Abeyta continues to rank the district "lean Republican" but is anticipating a competitive race. DISTRICT ONE
Griego also has the strong support of city unions, important in a district heavy on blue collar workers. Daniel Leiva, a relative of BernCo Assessor Damian Lara, also qualified for public financing. but at 29 and only freed to campaign full-time after getting his law degree from UNM in May, Abeyta says he has been at a disadvantage.  If Griego, who qualified for public financing, wins his race along with Mayor Keller, the victory would take some sting out of Keller's council opposition. Sanchez has repeatedly sided with the Republicans. Also running is Republican Joshua Taylor Neal, a civil engineer running on a anti-crime platform who reports raising $32,000 in the heavy Dem district. Greigo would be an independent councilor but not a knee-jerk opponent of Keller. The Griego campaign is expects a runoff with no candidate getting 50 percent in the first round. DISTRICT THREE
Is Democrat Klarissa Peña the forever councilor for this ABQ Valley district? It seems so as she seeks a fourth four year term on the nine member council and without substantive opposition. Back to Abeyta: The district has taken to her, especially the many old line families. Criticism of her handing of the Route 66 visitation center build out have not taken hold but her record improving neighborhoods and infrastructure is appreciated. Peña, the current council vice-president and a native of her district, has two opponents. Christopher Sedillo says: I know how to bring people together and how to challenge entrenched interests when they fail us. That’s the kind of leadership district three deserves. Teresa Garcia is a first-generation U.S. citizen and bilingual advocate with over 14 years living in the district. Her campaign emphasizes community voices, public safety, health equity, and progressive policies like immigrant rights and union support. Abeyta says neither of Peña's opponents have raised sufficient funds to mount a serious challenge and he expects the councilor, who qualified for public financing, to capture the 50 percent of the vote needed to avoid a runoff. DISTRICT SEVEN
Well, unopposed on the ballot but a write in candidate, Jaemes Shanley, has qualified and has been given a $2,000 donation from the Apartment Association of NM and another $2,000 from the real estate GAAR PAC. Fiebelkorn has has qualified for over $57,000 in public financing. No write-in candidate has ever won a city election and Fiebelkorn remains popular in the area, attracting a following of dedicated progressives as did her predecessor Diane Gibson. It's a major reason why she is unopposed. That the real estate community did not come up with a candidate for the ballot speaks to the symbolic nature of their opposition but also their deep disdain for Fiebelkorn. Her campaign platform includes "building more affordable housing especially for renters," more tenant protections and "fighting corporate price-gouging from the grocery store to the gas pump." Write-in hopeful Shanley, a retired jewelry maker, criticizes the councilor for her support of the expensive Gateway Center for the homeless and says he wants more "transitional housing." He leaves the rest of the sticky problem to a committee to resolve: It is past time for our elected City leaders to convene a “summit of everyone” in the community whose efforts connect or can connect in some way to this crisis and to work through their ideas and perspectives until an executable plan is defined. And then, to fix this mess. Fiebelkorn is all-in on progressive solutions for the homeless. She supports safe spaces, rent control. and tenant protections. She has passed several bills involving those issues. The apartment association has obvious reasons to oppose her but consultant Abeyta says Fiebelkorn is not going to be evicted. DISTRICT 9
Homelessness has been a major issue in the district since it includes a stretch of East Central where many homeless congregate. Grout, who owns and operates an auto repair shop, has advocated for reallocating funds to shelters for vulnerable groups (youth, women/children), bans on enabling "safe outdoor spaces," and transparency via spending audits to ensure effective outcomes over visible encampments. Newman, a business manager at the UNM Center on Alcohol, Substance Use, and Addictions, supports community-led solutions and program transparency. He frames it within broader affordability and youth investment in youth to address root causes like rising costs. The district has been growing more Democratic. Grout took the seat in 2021 in a runoff election where she scored 52 percent but Abeyta says the Dems will have to wait another four years to make the play again. As usual there is some confusion and some panic among some of the campaigns over the early vote and what it means. We reported on a segment of the ABQ Journal's coverage Tuesday featuring longtime pollster Brian Sanderoff. He comes with a further explanation today that points out the usual depressed turnout among independent (decline to state) voters for a city election: Just to clarify: Although overall turnout in the municipal election is sluggish, both Democrats and Republicans are turning out at a rate higher than their actual proportion of the registered voter population--- and independents are turning out at a much lower rate than their true proportions. Through Monday, whereas Democrats comprise 45.3% of the county registered voter population, they represent 55.5% of the voting population. Republicans comprise 27.8% of the county registered voter population, and 30.5% of the voting population. Independent voters (D-T-S) comprise 24.9% of the county registered voter population and only 13.3% of the voting population. To look at it another way, through Monday, 10.9% of Democrats have voted and 9.7% of Republicans have voted, while only 4.7% of independents have voted. Okay, we are at the service of the state's math whizzes as well as the political junkies. ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE Join us Tuesday November 4 at 6:30 PM KANW 89.1 FM and kanw.org for exclusive, live continuous coverage of the 2025 election featuring the races for mayor in ABQ and Santa Fe and the city council contests. ABQ state Sen. Antonio "Moe" Maestas and ABQ state Rep. Joy Garratt will join us to provide analysis and insights into the races and issues of the campaign. Dem political consultant Sisto Abeyta will be back crunching the numbers as will GOP consultant Bob Cornelius. So join us for Election Night on KANW as we bring home Campaign '25 in style. NO AUDITOR SARITA
Hi Joe, While it's always nice to be thought of, I look forward to finishing out the Governor's term in a job I love and have no intentions to run for anything next year. By the way, readers can hear Auditor Maestas and me discuss that great office in an episode of the Workforce Solutions podcast "Good Job New Mexico," from March of this year. In an early first draft of that piece we did not have Zack Quintero, who now heads up the National Hispanic Cultural Center, a the Dem primary foe of Joseph Maestas in the 2022 primary. As for that Maeastas-Nair mutual admiration society, what's next? Are Sam and Deb going to start a book club together? Often imitated but never duplicated. . This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. |
  
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