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Tuesday, November 11, 2025Ben Ray Endorses Keller But Heinrich Silent And As Uballez Stays On Fence, Plus: Special Session Short And Sweetened With Food Stamp Cash; Fixes A Hole Before It Is Dug Flash forward to the December 9 ABQ mayoral runoff and Ben Ray has wasted no time in giving an official nod to Mayor Tim Keller but Martin Heinrich, who earned the blog nickname of "The First Endorser" for always having his finger on the endorsement trigger, did not join with Lujan this time. Not that Heinrich has any love for Darren White, the Republican Sheriff who is Keller's rival in the runoff. It was White who Heinrich defeated in 2008 to launch his congressional career. (Here's our Election Night wrap from that year.) Heinrich is closely aligned with the progressive wing of the Dem party--more so than Lujan--and that puts him in the endorsement spotlight as progressive and third place mayoral finisher Alex Uballez calls for White's defeat but is still on the fence when it comes to an official endorsement of the two term mayor. There are strong ties between Heinrich and Uballez. The senator was instrumental in getting Uballez appointed as the US Attorney here under President Biden, an appointment that set in motion his run for elective office. Also, Heinrich is now in the middle of a raging battle over that US Senate vote reopening the government and that has inflamed progressives against more moderate Dems who voted for the opening. Heinrich sided with the progressives (as did Lujan) in voting to keep the shutters drawn on the federal government. And another also, Heinrich has a home near the Nob Hill/UNM area where Uballez performed best. It was from there that Heinrich started out in politics in 2003 as an ABQ city councilor. Then there's the see-saw relationship Heinrich and Keller have had over the years. With all that background The First Endorser may just let Lujan take his title away for this election. MAYOR '25 (Cont.)
Reader Xavier Medina Vidal writes: Joe, I am challenging your assumption that Uballez is missing the train. I'm asking that you explain to your readers the basis of your assumption. I’d say it’s fair to ask you how you arrived at this given your insights into NM politics. Thanks for the inquiry. We cautioned that Uballez could miss the train not that he has. Our reasoning is fairly simple. If Uballez wants a clear path to a future in state politics, he does not need to alienate the Keller crowd so he has to carefully balance his dissent with Keller and his expected eventual endorsement of him. That's more so if he has his eye on working with the city. Dissenters to that view would argue that Uballez only needs his small but dedicated progressive base if he wants to advance politically. An ABQ reader writes: If Uballez was truly cut out to be mayor, then he either pisses or gets off the pot and shows some leadership with those who are his most ardent supporters and says he will not support Keller, or he takes them along on a convincing journey and explains why voting for Keller should be done. Taking a stance is a sign of leadership and being wishy-washy and coy is a sign of what? I am not sure what it is a sign of, but it does not have a good look. If he shows some leadership and courage, I could remain interested in him. GETTING SPECIAL
The sky will not fall on New Mexico's 460,000 SNAP recipients. The special session of the legislature called by MLG made a speedy dash of it Monday in a three hour meet where they authorized a $162 million spend just in case the reopening of the federal government falls through. Food stamps were already assured through November but Dem legislators and the Guv said they would rather be safe than sorry--and did so sooner rather than later. Most Republicans agreed. The measure passed 52-9 in the House and 30-6 in the Senate. Collectors of vintage La Politica photos may want to make a keeper of the one posted here. It is of Acting Gov. Howie Morales signing the SNAP legislation sent up to him. He wields the yellow pen because MLG is attending a Brazil climate conference (nice work if you can get it). He rarely gets the spotlight so let's have the Lieutenant Governor take us outta here today. It's yours, Howie. . No New Mexico families will go hungry thanks to the efficient work of our state legislators and the leadership of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. I am proud that we came together in the best spirit as New Mexicans to make sure vulnerable families in our state are taken care of. This legislation ensures New Mexicans can feed their families this holiday season. And this gentle readers is. . . The Home of New Mexico Politics. |
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