Lawmakers were incensed over the veto of the smallish $50 million bill but one that contained a small batch of meaningful pork for each of their districts. So incensed that party caucuses met in the veto's aftermath to determine if the Legislature should call themselves into extraordinary session for only the second time in history to override her veto. 

At last check that move had generated considerable support but was coming up short with some Senators balking. The possibility of MLG calling a special session was also out there as well with all the election year danger that could entail if there is not a pre-determined outcome.

It takes a lot to unite conservative Republicans with progressive Democrats but MLG has managed to do that nearly impossible feat with her in-your-face veto. 

If the Guv is mad she has plenty of reasons. The Legislature took her to the state Supreme Court and won over her insistence that she could direct federal Covid relief money on her own; they rejected her controversial pretrial detention crime bill; ditto for the voter rights reform and that curious hydrogen act that she has developed a near obsession over.

If it's the polls she's upset about there's cause for that as well. Independents are adrift, Republicans are unified against her handling of Covid and Hispanics are not as sure as a bet as they have been for the Dems.

The Indys lean fiscally conservative so roughing up the Legislature and their pork bill could play well with them. But the recent legislative session was not a disaster for the Governor--a mixed bag, yes. So putting a hot poker in the eyes of the lawmakers comes across as overreach and could hurt politically later in the election year.

The uncertainty of a session--special or extraordinary--during a primary campaign with many competitive races and which would halt fund-raising for a time--is a delicate matter. That's especially so after she has alienated so many of the electeds as well as her progressive base with her increasing tack to the right out of fear of a conservative surge. 

Her best bet? Either a special session or extraordinary one where her veto can be overridden but also pass rebates (at her request) for gas price relief which would nationalize the session and give both sides a win. Anything more ambitious is a trek into a dark forest. 

There's much to ponder and that's the problem. After a session blessed with historic surpluses and that will rain down goodies on every corner of the state, the expectation was that MLG would settle into a rebuilding mode, soothing key constituencies and gradually moving the race into the "likely Dem" category. But her suddenly rocking the boat leaves this race unsettled and the political waters murky. 

As the saying goes: "Revenge is a dish best served cold" not in the heat of the moment. 

Perhaps watching the Guv-legislative clash most closely are progressive House Democrats who are receiving stiff June primary challenges from moderate Dems. If that pork bill stays sunk they will be accused of not bringing home the all important bacon. 

Whether that happens or not it appears the progressives will have their hands full. 

A group that expects to raise considerable funding from pro-business interests such as oil and gas has formed the Working Together New Mexico PAC to target a half dozen House progressives as well as support Brian Colón for Attorney General and Joseph Maestas for State Auditor. 

Moderate Dem ABQ City Councilor Louis Sanchez is co-chair of the PAC with former PRC Commissioner Karen Montoya. He says: 

The Dem challengers of progressives being supported by the PAC directed by consultant James Hallinan, are: 

The PAC, which says it is focused on backing "commonsense Democrats," is also supporting Dem BernCo commission candidate Erin Muffoletto. 

CAO Sarita Nair

That the progressives have lost the momentum in ABQ politics became clear when the city council last week defied them by passing a bill that would again allow single use plastic bags at the grocery stores. Now comes the resignation of leading progressive light Sarita Nair, who has served as ABQ's Chief Administrative Officer since being appointed by Mayor Keller upon his 2017 election. 

 Keller hailed Nair, the first woman to hold the top job, as a "transformative leader" who helped lead the city thru the pandemic. That she did but the escalating crime crisis the city faced during her tenure and her struggle to manage APD will also be hallmarks of her tenure. 

Insiders say Nair and other progressives at City Hall are upset with the Mayor’s turn to the right on crime and the inattention to the behavioral health crisis. 

The earth has shifted under Nair's feet and this is a good time for a reset. In addition to the council leaning more centrist, they also are asserting themselves more by demanding to reconfirm top Keller executives now that he has been re-elected. Never mind that the president of the USA has to win Senate confirmation for his cabinet picks just once, not again when he is re-elected. 

As for who replaces Nair, the obvious choice is Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Rael who previously served many years in the post. No-one will call Rael "transformational" but he does keep the trains running on time. And he is a moderate Hispanic male, a Dem constituency that has felt left out in the cold. 

As for Nair, walking in her shoes is like walking on hot coals. Her service is noted.