Amy Barela

Chaos again engulfed the New Mexico Republican Party Wednesday as the GOP chair was removed from office by a state district court order. The ruling was a grim reminder to the party faithful of the steep climb ahead if they hope to rebuild a state GOP that has become a shadow of its former self. 

The timing of the ruling comes only days before the primary election. The state party says it will appeal the ruling which came after months of squabbling among the party's rival factions, causing deep divisions in the middle of the primary campaign. 

The next scheduled election by the State Central Committee to vote on a permanent party chairman is in December. It is conceivable that Barela could make a play to get the job back. Several of our Alligators said if the party wants to keep the chaos going, a move to have an earlier election could surface. 

THE RULING 

The decision, granting GOP governor candidate Duke Rodriguez and GOP lieutenant governor candidate A. Blain Dunn their request that Chair Amy Barela be removed from power, brought to the fore the geographical and ideological split in the party. Rodriguez and Dunn have libertarian leanings and live in the ABQ metro while Barela and many of her loyalists are from uber-conservative southeast New Mexico.

Barela argued to the court that she did not violate party rules by running for re-election to her Otero County Commission seat in next week's primary even though another Republican was also running.  

Party rules prohibit a party chair from being a candidate in a competitive primary. Barela argued she got in the race when there was no other candidate but the judge rejected the argument and handed the victory to Rodriguez and Dunn. 

Judge Cindy Mercer of the 13th Judicial District in Valencia County wrote in her decision:

(The conflict of interest rule) is intended to avoid conflicts of interest by preventing a party officer from remaining in office while running in a contested primary. For conflict-of-interest purposes, it makes no difference whether the party officer was first or last to file her candidacy for public office; the conflict arises because she is a party officer, holding authority and making decisions on behalf of the party, while at the same time running for public office against another party member. Accordingly, Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction is granted. Amy Smith Barela is hereby enjoined from continuing to hold the position of chairman of the Republican Party.

Judge Mercer's full ruling is here. Plantiff Duke Rodriguez's reaction: 

This was never about one person. It was about whether the rules apply to everyone or just to the people inside the room making the rules.

THE APPEAL 

The state GOP says an appeal of the ruling is planned:

(The ruling) to direct Chairwoman Barela to turn over the occupancy of the chair to the First Vice Chair, although the order’s duration is unclear, it does not direct the Party to hold new elections, and it does not declare the position of chair is vacant. “The Republican Party of New Mexico strongly contends that this order is a prior restraint on free speech, in violation of the First Amendment,” said Executive Director, Leticia Muñoz. “However, the Party will comply fully with what it understands the order to require, for as long as it remains in effect, and we are in the process of appealing to a higher court.”

STATE OF THE GOP

With the GOP unable to elect any statewide candidates in a decade, the ideological division that now matters is not between the Dems and the Republicans but the one between the conservative/moderate Democrats and their progressive counterparts.

The progressives are clearly winning the battle with Deb Haaland heavily favored to win the June 2 Dem gubernatorial primary over moderate Sam Bregman. Several conservative Dem state House candidates running against progressives are expected to meet a similar fate. For example, in the north Ambrose Castelllano lags behind progressive Rep. Anita Gonzales and former Rep. Debbie Rodella is expected to fall to progressive Yolanda Jaramillo.

Barela's tenure--which may or may not be permanently over--was dismal by one critical measure. The party failed to field candidates for state treasurer, auditor and US senate and had to resort to write-in candidates.

The governor's race has already been called unwinnable by the head of the state oil and gas association, a prime repository for all things Republican and, as usual, none of the statewide races seem within Republican reach especially with Trump's unpopularity hovering over them. 

Getting past their internal strife, getting past Trump and reforming their muddled messaging are the major challenges in rebuilding the party into something resembling a functioning alternative to the Democrats. It will also take a lot of money. Most urgently, it will take fresh, younger faces to replace an old guard that is so out of touch it takes a district judge to bring order not just to the courtroom but to the Grand Old Party.

JUDGE CINDY MERCER

She is a judge with the Thirteenth Judicial District covering Valencia, Sandoval and Cibola counties. All of the local district judges in the Otero county area recused themselves because of the high-profile of the Barela case and it was assigned to Judge Mercer.

The state GOP news release on her ruling made a point of saying Mercer is a "Valencia County" judge, again emphasizing the southern conservative isolation from the north that we wrote of earlier in this blog. 

The fact that Mercer, a Democrat, once worked for the law offices of former state Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez of Belen could also be mentioned as the Barela forces plot their next move. But Mercer's ruling cited numerous precedents on why the court has the standing to make a ruling and the rigorous standards she applied in judging the disputed GOP rules.

Her Judicial Performance Evaluation is here. She was elected to the bench in 2014 with 52.3 percent of the vote and was retained by voters in a 2020 retention election. She is up for another six year retention vote this year. Judge Mercer graduated from New Mexico State in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and criminal justice, and earned her law degree from the University of Nebraska in 1997.

THE BOTTOM LINES

Be sure to join us Monday, June 1 at 5 PM for our Election Eve Special on KANW 89.1 FM and kanw.org. We'll run down the major races and have some fun predictions as well. Joining me will be state Sen. Moe Maestas, Rep. Joy Garratt, GOP official Amy Sanchez, GOP consultant Bob Cornelius and Dem lobbyist/consultant Sisto Abeyta. Of course, we'll also bring you our traditional Election Night coverage--Tuesday night starting at 6:30 PM. See you on the radio Monday and Tuesday. 

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.

Katharine Clark

Hard-hitting trial lawyer attacks on Dem Secretary of State candidate and Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark have been vociferous enough to generate reader questions as well as pushing out a theory behind those hits spearheaded by ABQ state Sen Katy Duhigg and her brother David Duhigg, both prominent trial attorneys. Katy Duhigg is also a member of the influential Senate Judiciary Committee.

In a a letter to newspapers Santa Fe's Ouida MacGregor surfaces the theory that has been flying below the media radar in this very contentious race between Clark and her opponent, Dona Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin:

I studied López Askin’s campaign reports, and at least 19.6% of her campaign contributions come from trial lawyers. Notably, she received $2,500 from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Joe Cervantes, $6,200 from Sen. Duhigg, and $8,200 from lawyers at Duhigg’s law firm. Why would the trial lawyers care so much who wins the SOS race? The trial lawyers have a history of playing fast and loose with campaign disclosure requirements, which the SOS oversees and enforces. 

Recall last summer, a trial lawyer group (New Mexico Safety Over Profit) was hit with a 73-page lawsuit and fined the maximum $5,000 by the State Ethics Commission for violating disclosure requirements in the Lobbyist Regulation Act. They ran an advertising campaign against medical malpractice reform, spending at least $56,000 without disclosing the sources of their funding. Fellow voters: Remember that it’s not how much money a candidate has raised that matters; it’s who contributed and why.

The Duhiggs public criticism of Clark has centers on issues other than campaign finance: 

López Askin

There was a debate over Clark releasing early voting data. An ethics complaint claimed Clark violated New Mexico’s election code by releasing absentee and early voting data before the polls had officially closed during four recent elections. Clark has defended her actions by stating that the Secretary of State's official portal does not release final results early. Critics like Duhigg view strict adherence to election protocols as vital for the Sec. of State.  

The complaint David Duhigg filed against Clark over early release of election results was considered by the SOS who found no evidence that the electorate was affected and is not pursuing prosecution. 

Clark and Duhigg have also battled over election legislation. Duhigg is a former Albuquerque City Clerk who frequently sponsors election-reform bills (such as the New Mexico Voting Rights Act) and has clashed with various county clerks over how election laws should be implemented. While Clark brands herself an "election nerd" fighting executive overreach, Duhigg has said the objections from some county clerks regarding statewide election mandates as "misguided," saying she wants a unified state-level approach for election standards. 

So, is there a trial lawyer movida against Clark or legitimate hits on her record?  One thing is certain--Clark is bucking the Democratic establishment as seen in the endorsements of López Askin by outgoing SOS Maggie Toulouse Oliver, Gov. Lujan Grisham and First Endorser Sen. Martin Heinrich.

This is a banner race that we will cover in detail Election Night June 2 starting at 6:30 p.m on public radio KANW 89.1 FM and kanw.org. Join us for all the action.  

FINAL ADS

Sam Bregman focuses on Deb Haaland's frequent communications gaffes in one of his final TV ads of the campaign. As Secretary of Interior under President Biden, Haaland repeatedly struggled in answering questions from congressional committees, a trend that has continued in some of her media interviews during this campaign for governor. In his ad Bregman takes full advantage of his opponent's verbal mishaps, but the question is to what effect at this late stage? Haaland remains heavily favored to capture the Democratic nomination next Tuesday. 

MONAHAN GUV ANALYSIS 

Bregman remains under heavy ad attacks from third party groups supporting Haaland. Polymarket has Haaland's chances of winning at 96 percent. Bregman's longshot hope is to keep turnout low. That means negative hits on Haaland until the end with the aim of dampening voter enthusiasm for her and voters deciding to stay home. 

In a roundabout way Bregman's attacks may end up helping Haaland. The electorate statewide is now aware of her faults and have had time to digest them, perhaps deflating their importance in the November election against the GOP nominee, should she win next week.  

INDIAN COUNTRY  

Haaland's final stretch ads include an only in New Mexico moment. Former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez endorses Haaland in a radio ad voiced entirely in the Navajo language. Haaland would be the first Native American governor in state history. Nez is also on the June 2 primary ballot---in Arizona where he is seeking a congressional seat. 

Haaland has not locked up all the Native support. Bregman successfully raided her base by lining up several tribal endorsements, including that of big Sandia Pueblo in ABQ. 

By the way, let me tell you about how back in the day when I was consulting a congressional candidate and what happened to me in Gallup. I wrote a 30 second radio ad to be translated from English to Navajo. The narrator went into the glass-enclosed studio as I watched him record from outside. He hit the 30 second mark and kept reading--for like over a minute. It turns out that translating English into Navajo is not an easy fit. 

Yes, the campaign paid for the extra time needed for the ad. For me, it was a lesson learned. 

SNARLING AND RABID?

On the Thursday blog we told the story of Dem gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland bowing out of a town hall sponsored by the ABQ Journal and then drawing the wrath of the paper's executive editor who pledged that in retaliation the paper would now "investigate her." That brought this from a Senior Alligator of the Dem variety:  

Deb Haaland not attending the Journal forum says more about the Journal’s future than hers. Why would she show up to a forum put on by a dying paper whose readership doesn’t resemble the Democratic primary vote and whose opinion columnist accused her of associating with a child molester? Should she go out of a show respect for a paper that shows her none? The future leadership of the paper struggles with their legacy and seems inattentive outside of the occasional performative exercises of attending a chamber lunch, putting on a community forum or raiding local retirement communities seeking members for their “community board." 

The energy on their editorial board room comes from the snarling, rabid Jeff Tucker not from the editor. When he’s off the leash, he's rampaging through town scaring away any remaining moderate-left readership--and that is the death knell for the Journal. 

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Missi Currier

While prominent players in the state's prosperous oil and gas business involve themselves in the Republican gubernatorial primary, the leader of their top industry group is throwing in the towel, declaring that a Republican cannot win in November and that the focus should switch to defeating progressive Deb Haaland at next week's Democratic primary.

Missi Currier, president of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, did not openly endorse Haaland rival Sam Bregman but made clear in a speech at a North Dakota energy meeting that she believes he is the only hope of stopping her. 

Bregman has taken donations from oil and gas, generating heat from the progressive left. Haaland has not.

The financial importance of oil and gas to Republican political candidates and causes can't be overestimated which is why Currier's declaration that the fat lady has already sung on the Grand Old Party is a stunner. Here she is: 

Bregman

If you know anybody that can vote in New Mexico, please encourage them to get to the polls. I hate to be the bearer of potentially bad news, but we don’t think a Republican will be able to win in our current  political climate, especially in a Trump midterm. So, the primary is incredibly important to us. I would like to protest (Deb Haaland) being governor. . .I’m sure she has a good heart, but she does not have a heart for oil and gas. She is threatening over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs in the state, and knowing that she did not want drilling on public lands, she said in a recent interview that she would keep that same mentality when she came into office.

As Currier said the Democratic primary is indeed "incredibly important" with the winner highly likely to win the November election in a state that is a deep blue bastion for top of the ticket contests.   

Currier's warning of a Republican defeat stomped on the dreams of prominent oilmen and GOP heavyweights Harvey Yates, Jr. and Mark Murphy, who have been busy raising money for Republican Guv hopeful Doug Turner.

While Murphy and Yates are locals, the NMOGA is dominated by the largest oil companies on the planet, such as Occidental Petroleum. They are apparently not concerned about the optics of abandoning the Republicans and what they see as the party's hopeless cause and urging a last-ditch effort to take Haaland out. 

MIXED MESSAGING 

Haaland is a former Sec. of Interior under President Biden who crafted energy compromises that drew the ire of progressives but that Haaland's department ultimately enforced. In this campaign she has sent mixed messages to oil and gas and Currier is assuming the worst. 

One key issue is fracking, the sometimes controversial process that is deployed to extract oil in the state's SE Permian basin. As a congresswoman Haaland supported a ban on fracking. However, today she seems to have settled on heavy regulation as a solution--not an outright ban. She reacted to Currier's alarm over her candidacy, saying: 

As Secretary of the Interior, the U.S. saw the largest production of oil and gas in its history and simultaneously the largest investment in renewable energy. I have done so while protecting sacred sites and consolidating drilling areas so Americans can continue to enjoy those public lands. I understand that oil and gas is a significant driver of revenue and jobs and have said as much. If elected governor, oil and gas will be responsible for cleaning up after themselves and will be good community partners. Protecting our air, land and water does not come at the expense of good paying jobs--we can create more jobs, grow our energy economy and fund our state’s budget. 

While not as radical as a fracking ban, the threat of heavy regulation is still problematic to the bottom lines of the oil majors. They did not face such concerns with two-term Democratic Governor MLG who pushed back against progressive threats to the industry and carved a middle of the road regulatory path. 

Finding the proper regulatory balance has become even more critical as historic amounts of money flow into state coffers from oil and gas exploration from a years-long oil boom that shows few signs of easing. On the contrary, the recent spike in world oil prices will generate even more riches for the state. 

The oil boys are not going to have the door slammed in their faces should Haaland take power. There is a state legislature watching whose leaders are keenly aware of the vital financial role the industry plays. The billions being generated by oil and gas are essential to the welfare state that the political establishment here has made foundational. A massive number of citizens receive Medicaid, food stamps, universal early child care, free college tuition and more.

No matter who is elected the next governor the state cannot and will not let their golden goose come in harm's way. 

WATCHING AND WAITING  

Gregg Hull is not calling his Election Night party a victory party but the former three term mayor of Rio Rancho remains the front-runner for the GOP nomination because of a solid metro area base, even as he grapples with an under-financed campaign. His closest rival is Doug Turner with Duke Rodriguez hoping for a final days comeback.

Hull won the March GOP preprimary convention and has been ahead in the two independent media polls. A poll released over the weekend and sponsored by 2022 GOP governor nominee Mark Ronchetti's podcast shows Hull again leading the field although the race is closer. Hull drew 33 percent, Turner 30, Rodriguez 12 and 25 percent were still undecided.

Hull celebrated his third in a row polling leading in a fund-raising missive but cautioned that he will be attacked in the final stretch: 

Gregg is at 33%, leading the field. That's not an accident. It's what happens when a candidate has a real record to run on. . .But a lead only matters if we protect it. . .The other campaigns know the clock is ticking, and they're going to throw everything they have at us. We need to answer with a strong finish. We need you to vote and we need you to donate. 

Turner said on the socials: 

We have the momentum and are winning this race!!

How much Hull leads by is subject to speculation but hard cash bettors at Polymarket are not yet wavering. Late Monday Hull was being given a 88 percent chance of winning the nomination. He surged from 79 percent in the hours following release of the podcast poll.  

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Journal editor & Bregman

Deb Haaland's cancellation of a town hall appearance sponsored by the Albuquerque Journal prompted an emotional and harsh reaction from the newspaper's executive editor, who decried Haaland's refusal to answer questions as "terrifying" and warned that "we are going to be investigating her."

The paper also ripped into the leading Democatic gubernatorial candidate in an editorial, calling her refusal to appear "part of a disturbing pattern." 

The editor's remarks were made Tuesday at the beginning of the Journal's Town Hall for Dem Guv candidate Sam Bregman who agreed to be questioned by a panel of Journal reporters as well as conservative opinion writer Jeff Tucker. (Full video here.) 

Haaland first agreed to appear at the event but then canceled because of the presence of Tucker who wrote a scathing column about Haaland that her supporters criticized as personally demeaning. The column ran over a headline labeling the candidate a "know-nothing." 

The paper said in their editorial that they had agreed to take Tucker off the stage if Haaland agreed to debate Bregman. 

Journal Executive Editor Jay Newton-Small declared that Haaland's refusal to appear makes her a prime target for the paper's investigative reporters: 

Every single time a candidate hides from you, it is very worrying. . .She canceled on us because she cannot answer any questions and that is terrifying to me.. ..The next four years, if she wins, guess what?" We are going to be investigating her because that is scary to me. If you do not have a candidate that cannot answer a simple question or debate an opponent and answer in public what your beliefs are, then that is really, really scary.

Haaland did sit for an extended interview with the Journal's Dan Boyd for the paper's profiles of all the governor candidates. 

IMPACT? 

The political implications of Haaland rejecting the Journal are modest on the campaign trail but could be more severe if and when she assumes the governorship. 

However, the Journal is diminished when it comes to their investigative powers. During her tongue-lashing of Haaland, Newton Small pointed out that the paper is soliciting public donations to beef up the investigative unit.

That the Journal needs to ask readers for financial support--akin to a nonprofit--speaks volumes about their financial condition in the Internet age and one reason why Haaland's campaign probably took the risk of holding her back from the Town Hall.

Another reason is that Haaland is a world apart from the Journal which has veered further right in recent years. Their readership is simply not in the Democrats wheelhouse. That makes Haaland immune to its editorial reach in the election but could have repercussions if she moves into the Fourth Floor 

The newspaper's scorching of Haaland could not have been done without publisher William Lang giving the go ahead. He is known as a steady eddy business type but the paper's harsh tone over Haaland raises the issue of the influence of the next generation of Langs who are in line to take over leadership.

Pepper Lang is the nephew of the late publisher Tom Lang and works closely with Bill Lang (William Pepperday Lang). Pepper Lang serves as Vice President of Strategic Development for the Journal. His focus has been centered on business and strategic development and supporting the local business community. 

One of the Journal's strategies includes selling off 287,000 square feet of land and buildings they own at Journal Center in the NE Heights of ABQ to ensure operating funds for the paper which this year celebrates 100 years under the Lang family. Unless Haaland and the paper make the peace, the years after the 100th could be known as "The War Years." 

SENATE CONTEST

Former state Rep. Bob Perls, running against Dem Sen. Ben Ray Lujan as a candidate from the newly recognized Forward NM party, still has work to do before he can make that challenge a reality. We reported on Perls' run Wednesday but in a first posting did not mention that he needs 7,100 petition signatures by June 25 to ensure a ballot spot in November. That's a high hurdle and we asked him about it:

We have funding to do a professional texting campaign so we will see! Not easy for sure. We are working to get Michael Vigil, CPA on the ballot for state auditor as well and he needs the same number of signatures. 

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics. 

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.

Perls needs 7,100 petition signatures to make the ballot so his challenge is not assured until he gets those signatures. The deadline to submit them is June 25. 

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.  

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Michael Perry (NYT)

He's got them worried. 

That would be Republican state land commission candidate Michael Perry, the retired game warden of Roswell who has been flagged as perhaps the only statewide GOP candidate who may have a shot at upsetting a Democratic rival in November. 

The worry is spreading fast among the Dems who are already alarmed over former NM GOP Congressman Steve Pearce taking over as Trump's director of the Bureau of Land Management. They fret that Perry would team up with Pearce and open the state's public lands to more industry development The NYT pulls the alarm bell:

Perry. . .pitches himself “not as a Republican or Democrat,” but a “New Mexico state land commissioner” obsessed with “collaboration, accountability and responsible land management.”His Democratic rivals see something entirely different: an existential threat. That’s because President Trump has nominated another New Mexico Republican, Steve Pearce, to lead the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, sometimes referred to as the nation’s largest landlord. And with two New Mexico Republicans potentially at the helm of both agencies, dramatic changes could come to a state known as the Land of Enchantment for its breathtaking landscapes and cultural riches.

While Perry has a free ride in the GOP primary, in the Dem primary there is an intense three-way battle for the land commissioner nomination. The candidates are Juan Sanchez, a former political aide to Sen. Heinrich who hails from a ranching family; Santa Fe area state Rep. Matthew McQueen, an ardent environmentalist, and rancher Jonas Moya.

Moya has little money but could draw Hispanic votes that could hurt polling front-runner Sanchez whose new TV ad is energetic. 

Conservation Voters NM PAC (CVNM) is running TV for McQueen emphasizing his commitment to renewable energy, 

This could be a close race and Heinrich, who went all-in for a Dem land commission candidate in 2018 who lost, has a lot of prestige on the line.  

Fundraising has been so-so. Sanchez has raised $201,000 and reported $149,000 in cash in the early May report. However, a dark money Virginia based PAC has just entered the race on behalf of Sanchez with big money and mailers. (Hello, Sen. Heinrich?)

McQueen reports raising $258,000 and cash on hand of $237,000. Moya reported less than $1,000 in cash. 

On policy, Sanchez is more centrist thus the firmer progressive support for McQueen. 

The battleground? As usual it's Big BernCo. McQueen should landslide Santa Fe and vicinity and Sanchez should sweep Hispanic wards around the state.

NOVEMBER OUTLOOK 

Joe Monahan

The NYT painting Perry as a threat to the Dems could help him generate conservative excitement and donations for his uphill effort.   

Perry reports $150,000 in donations for the cycle and $130,000 cash on hand. Pros say he will need to triple that amount for the November election and also get the help of a multi-million dollar big oil PAC which would not be unusual. 

Many observers say New Mexico's top races this year--Governor, Senator, etc.-- are simply not in play for the GOP and if the beleaguered party is going to revive, it needs a win. They see that possibility with Perry and argue for centering party efforts on his candidacy.

Perry has to be rooting for McQueen to win the Dem nod, the Anglo liberal who may be most vulnerable to attack and who would not have the ethnic voting safety net of Sanchez. 

As for the three alarm fire being signaled over Perry possibly winning, Republicans Aubrey Dunn, Jr. and Pat Lyons both served as land commissioner in recent years and didn't burn the place down.  

Land Commission '26--another major race to watch Election Night, June 2. We'll do our watching and reporting from our perch at public radio KANW 89.1 FM. Be sure to join us. 

HAALAND’S WORTH

We may have left the impression that Deb Haaland is in the poor house when writing Monday about the book deal she struck. At least a number of readers thought so. 

We really don’t know her net worth since we don’t have new financial disclosures. Her net worth climbed dramatically to the one to $2 million level, according to the disclosures during her marriage, but she was divorced in 2025 and since then information about her personal finances has not been released. 

Since leaving Interior Haaland says she has engaged in public speaking and writing. Former Cabinet members frequently earn income through speaking engagements, book deals, or consulting work during transition periods.

Haaland is not allowed to use her campaign funds as a salary but most daily expenses are covered by the campaign while she is campaigning. A reader adds:

 

Deb Haaland earned a base salary set at Level I of the Executive Schedule, which ranged from $221,400 annually early in her term to $246,400 in 2024, prior to the end of her tenure in January 2025. Before her appointment as a Cabinet secretary, Haaland earned an annual salary of $174,000 as a U.S. Representative. Her detailed financial compensation and personal disclosure reports are available through the U.S. Office of Government Ethics or by searching her candidate records on OpenSecrets.

 

Here is Haaland's final federal Public Financial Disclosure Report covering her final year as Sec. of Interior in 2024. Here is her 2022 filing showing a married and quite well-off Haaland with a variety of investment accounts. 

What got all of this going was when Forbes magazine reported in 2021 that Haaland had a net worth of zero in large part because of student loan debt. Because New Mexico's financial disclosure requirements are so vague we may be unable to determine her assets in the future even if she is elected Governor--unless she voluntarily discloses them.  

 ATTACK TIME

 It's not a circular firing squad because Gregg Hull has pledged not to attack his rivals but Doug Turner and Duke Rodriguez are going full throttle as they unload on Hull and each other with just two weeks until Election Day.

The Rodriguez attack on Turner centers on contracts Turner’s PR agency, Agenda, has received under the Democratic Biden and Lujan Grisham administrations. 

The Protect Our NM PAC supporting Turner comes with a hit on Hull, calling him out for not being a true conservative, saying he refused to endorse Trump and appointed a liberal City Councilor when he was Mayor of Rio Rancho. 

The pro-Turner PAC also came after Rodriguez, citing his lengthy voting record in Arizona and said "he moved here to run for Governor."

The three way GOP race has muddled along, overshadowed by the Dem contest which is much better financed and therefore more visible--not to mention that this is a Dem state. Even the independents, allowed for the first time to cast ballots in state primaries, are deciding to vote in the Dem primary at a rate of 65 percent in the early voting. 

As for where the GOP race stands and who might be the one left standing Election Night, we turn to a Senior Alligator of the Republican variety for a close-up look:

Doug Turner may have entered the race too late and didn’t hit the accelerator all the way when he did. He could still come on in the final days if he has higher-octane fuel.

Duke got in at a decent time but wasted money on things like billboards (saw one in the Democratic ABQ Barelas neighborhood and has low quality TV ads.  What's worse is that it doesn’t seem like he has many friends in the party. 

Hull has been campaigning for over a year. He made friends across the state even if he didn’t inspire the traditional donor class of oil and gas types. He is a nonoffensive Republican who hits the right notes with the evangelical base and is the only candidate to have an actual political base in Sandoval County where he served three terms as Rio Rancho mayor. The county is an important place for Republicans these days.  

Hull was the leader in the early polling. For what it's worth he is currently getting 73 percent of the betting money on Polymarket; Rodriguez gets 21 percent and Turner 6 percent.

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Deb Haaland has made history by already raising a staggering $11 million for her gubernatorial bid. The contrast of that achievement with her lack of personal wealth is startling but may finally be changing.  

Haaland has authored a memoir tiled A Voice Like Mine that will be released following the June 2 primary that stands to stabilize her bank account. Industry sources say that authors such as Haaland can receive an advance on sales of $150,000 to $250,000.

Haaland nor her campaign or publisher has released the amount of her advance publicly. That's not unusual but such information does often leak. Her campaign referred inquires to her publisher.

Her presumed upfront payment is not exorbitant but for Haaland, who famously claimed a net worth of zero when making her financial disclosure to become Secretary of the Interior, it could be a godsend.

Her 2021 marriage vaulted her up the income ladder with her household income zooming from zero to the $1 to $2 million level. But a divorce in 2025 in which her husband kept the martial home sent her back to square one. 

Haaland hasn't necessarily mishandled her personal finances. She has not had a high-paying career. As she writes in her memoirs, a good portion of her adult life was mired in poverty and alcoholism in addition to being a single mother who relied on food stamps. (Her daughter Soma, 31, today lives in New York.)

Haaland eventually earned a law degree, served as chair of the NM Dem party, was the '14 Dem lieutenant governor nominee, was elected to the ABQ congressional seat and then chosen by President Biden as Sec. of Interior. 

Campaign TV ads label her primary rival Sam Bregman a "millionaire" who doesn't care about the common folk but Haaland's book deal, while not giving her millionaire status, could put her in a tax bracket closer to Bregman's neighborhood. 

A BOOKISH CAMPAIGN  

The former cabinet secretary's up by the bootstraps story is obviously worthy of a book. That it dovetails with her gubernatorial campaign--assuming she wins the June 2 primary against rival Sam Bregman--will be a golden opportunity to promote that candidacy. 

Ethics rules guide her conduct going forward. Her campaign cannot pay for her book tour or spend any money to promote the book. The publisher Holt and Co. must foot the bill. When she is making media appearances she can't urge viewers to donate to her race for governor.  

The hardcover of Haaland's book will sell for $28.99 and the Kindle version $14.99. An audio version that Haaland will narrate may prove most popular and will sell for $23.99.

If sales are solid and her share of royalties surpasses the advance she received, she will realize more income from the memoir.  

If Haaland wins election she will receive the governor's salary that is scheduled to be raised to $169,174 on Jan. 1, 2027.

NATIONAL AMBITIONS? 

Does the book indicate Haaland is already looking at national political office as is often the case with politicians? That's unlikely. 

Such a candidacy would mean rigorous media interrogation on such broadcasts as Face the Nation and Meet the Press. Haaland has refused offers to debate Bregman for fear of making a grave error. Also, her unsteady congressional testimony when Sec. of Interior is now being used against her and would not stand up to a national test. 

Her future is here and if it means being Governor for four or eight years that's not bad, if you consider what could have happened to her life. 

Do look for Haaland to promote her book on various cable programs such as MSNBC and CNN that will feed into the positive image of her campaign. The free publicity will also be a financial windfall for the campaign, giving her free time that her Republican opponent will not be able to compete against. 

The most valuable aspect of her book deal may be that Haaland, 66, finally puts her personal finances on a stable course for an eventual retirement and not be dealing with them while juggling the demands of the governorship. 

 HEATED SOS BATTLE  

There's no love lost in the bitter and often nasty race for the Democratic nomination for Secretary of State featuring Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark and Dona Ana Clerk Amanda Lopez Askin.

Both sides are now up with soft TV ads, unlike the vicious combat taking place on the socials. (Clark ad here. Lopez Askin ad here.)  

Clark was forced into tweaking her ad by the state Dem Party who complained she was making it seem as though the party was endorsing her candidacy when she put up on the screen "chosen by the Democratic Party." She dropped the phrase "chosen by" and the Dem party logo something they don't do in contested primary elections.  

Clark did win the party's state preprimary and said that win was what the ad intended to convey. Insiders say she resisted a call from the party to pull the ad down in its entirety. The Democratic party said that is not the case and only asked the campaign to change certain aspects which the Clark campaign did. 

Lopez Askin has out raised Clark but Clark has a larger voting base in the North than Lopez Askin has in the South. Clark also appears to have an edge in the ABQ media market. 

But progressives like Sen. Katy Duhigg are relentless in their attacks on Clark for reasons that are not always clear. But Clark's independence from segments of her party is clear. Lame duck MLG has endorsed Lopez Askin but Clark has that preprimary support from Dems across the state. 

Outgoing SOS Maggie Toulouse Oliver, now campaigning for the Dem nomination for lieutenant governor has also endorsed Lopez Askin who says in her TV spot that she wants to emulate MTO in the office. 

A supporter of Clark's responds:

The current Secretary of State was a disaster when it came to transparency. Look at the mess that is the campaign finance web site. She had ten years to get it right and could not or did not want to. That has deprived us of transparency over the huge money that has since flowed into politics from PAC's and also proper oversight of candidate fund-raising and spending. Toulouse Oliver constantly blamed the legislature for not providing enough funding, refusing to take responsibility for the fiasco. Clark could be the solution. 

Toulouse Oliver

Does that view signal Clark could have a more aggressive posture than Lopez Askin to supervising dark money, PAC spending and candidate finance reporting? It seems so. Much of that money now comes from progressive-backed national groups and billionaires. Perhaps that explains some of the fierce push back Clark is receiving but whose reasoning can seem ambiguous. 

Both of these women are smart and tenacious but are being shaken by the stress and unexpected emotionalism of this battle. It is the first exposure of both to the bright lights of statewide La Politica.  Which candidate best keeps their composure and plows ahead without mistakes may be the one who takes the prize. 

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