Tuesday, June 07, 2022Primary Election Day '22 Arrives: Key Races To Watch; Our Election Night Coverage begins at 6:30 On KANW 89.1 FM and KANW.COM Will the state's majority party begin a journey to the center tonight as economic uncertainty takes center stage and suddenly makes all those "woke" issues look like possible nightmares for the Dems? There will surely be talk this campaign season of gun control, abortion and MeToo that occupies the progressive wing. But the economy and inflation will be most on the minds of swing voters who will decide any close races that develop. We could get our first clues of a more programatic Dem Party tonight by watching key House Democratic primaries. In District 40 in north central New Mexico, former state Rep. Joseph Sanchez may have a leg up on State Rep. Roger Montoya. Sanchez is the more moderate of the two and a win would signal a snapback to the middle of the road in that rural Hispanic area. The potential for a revealing contest is in Santa Fe area House District 46 where progressive Rep. Andrea Romero faces two opponents, the major one being moderate Dem and Santa Fe County Commissioner Henry Roybal. If Romero should fall or win in a squeaker that could be seen as another back off from the progressives. In District 26 former Dem state Rep. Eleanor Chavez, another unapologetic progressive, meets decidedly moderate Dem Cherise Quezada. If the progressive candidate can't hold there it could be read as a swing back to the center. The Colon vs. Torrez race for the Dem nomination for AG has been a run to see who could get to the right on crime faster than the other guy. But Torrez remains the darling of the progressive wing. If he loses it will mean moderate Colon ate into mostly liberal Bernalillo County more than expected. In terms of policy a progressive state House would be more resistant to tax cuts and rebates while those issues, along with more emphasis on economic development, would rise in importance if moderate Dems add to their ranks. That's significant at a time when the state is awash in record surplus revenue but also with inflation ravaging middle and lower income New Mexicans. The pendulum will swing, it always does. But timing it can be like timing the stock market. We'll see in a few short hours on KANW what voters have to say. MORE TO WATCH FOR --In the GOP Guv race, the Alligators will look to see that Ronchetti eclipses the 40 percent mark he exceeded in the Journal poll. A finish below that mark and they start throwing shade. --In the state House Dem primaries, if moderate Dems beat more progressive opponents in at least 4 of the primaries, it will be a sign of encouragement for moderate Dem Rep. Patty Lundstrom to run against liberal Dem Rep. Javier Martinez for the House speakership. --The election for State Auditor is effectively tonight. There is no Republican running and the Libertarians have fielded a write-in candidate. The race is between Dems Joe Maestas and Zach Quintero. TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT  Our panel of experts are rarin' to go. Dem state Rep. Moe Maestas and former GOP state Rep. Alonzo Baldonado will be on hand and joined by ABQ westside Dem Rep. Joy Garratt. Attorney and political junkie David Buchholtz is back as is veteran GOP analyst Bob Cornelius. And look at this. . . KANW 89.1 FM is now the second most listened to radio station in the ABQ metro, according to the latest Nielsen ratings conducted in April. That's one heck of an accomplishment for a noncommercial station. The combination of traditional New Mexico music, a heavy news diet from NPR, a slice of local news and years of community involvement has vaulted the station to the top. But without leadership it could not have happened. Former City Councilor Michael Brasher has been General Manager for something like 45 years. (You read that right.) Brasher is complemented by an ace team, including program manager Kevin Otero. The station went on the air in 1950 and is heard across NM via translator stations. It is owned by the ABQ Public Schools and has had the steadfast support of Superintendent Scott Elder and the ABQ Board of Education, including President Yolanda Montoya-Cordova. Congratulations to all. We're proud to be a part of this great legacy for the people of New Mexico. See you on the radio tonight. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.   (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2022 |
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