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Thursday, July 31, 2025Dem Competition Gets Republican Hearts Beating; John Sanchez To Resurface In Wake Of Sandia Pueblo Endorsement Of Bregman; Sets Farmington Appearance; Hull Launches Announcement Video; Murphy Watches From Sidelines, Plus: Getting Meek Over Mimi The recent excitement in the Dem Guv chase between Deb Haaland and Sam Bregman is also causing Republican hearts to skip a beat. They see a better chance that the Dems may divide themselves and improve GOP prospects in next year's election. But first the GOP needs a first-tier contender. Former Lt. Governor John Sanchez would meet that standard and is now resurfacing just as Bregman's endorsement from Sandia Pueblo over Native American Haaland has rocked that race. Sanchez will appear August 5 in Farmington as part of a statewide tour sponsored by Americans for Prosperity, a conservative pro-business group founded by the billionaire Koch brothers. Sanchez will be accompanied by Four Corners state Rep. Rod Montoya who has been touting Sanchez for the Republican nomination and who once served as his chief of staff for Sanchez The Sanchez appearance may or may not foreshadow his entry but the Haaland-Bregman competition has to be encouraging. (The Sanchez appearance was announced prior to Sandia's endorsement of Bregman). At this point Sanchez is the only possible GOP contender who has statewide name ID. He also has the ability to raise money and has the most standing with Hispanic voters. However, his past campaigns have been faulted for being uninspiring and his service as lieutenant governor under Gov. Martinez was marred by her unpopularity. Meanwhile, waiting in the wings is wealthy Roswell oilman Mark Murphy, a longtime and important behind-the-scenes GOP player who says he is considering a run. He may be deferring to the better known Sanchez before diving in. He has the money to take his time. HULL'S STATUS  Despite unfounded rumors, I am reaching out to you to confirm my commitment. But the rumors were anything but unfounded. Hull, not ready to get in, erred by going public with a planned announcement date and then bailing out. It was his action that caused the "rumors" and cast a shadow over his steadiness and decision-making process. His video focuses exclusively on his long tenure as mayor, highlighting the city's status as the fastest growing in the state and as "the safest city in New Mexico." He polishes it off by dubbing himself "New Mexico's Mayor." The one minute video features distracting, amped up rock music as background. Hall does no narration. The video also says Hull has presided over "record job creation." However, the video comes on the heels of the announcement by Intel, the city's largest employer, that it is laying off more than 200 employees. Hull now says he is in the race but his fund-raising totals to be reported later this year will be closely watched to see if he will be truly viable. Not to take away from Hull's success as mayor but he is now on the statewide stage. In other words, Gregg, you're not in Rio Rancho anymore. But welcome to La Politica. MEEK OVER MIMI
Barring an unexpected twist, State Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, a Democrat, will not face sanctions for shouting at a legislative staffer in a heated moment during this year's 60-day legislative session. On a party-line vote, a legislative ethics hearing subcommittee recommended Wednesday that a complaint filed against Stewart for violating the Legislature's anti-harassment policy be dismissed. While the recommendation must still be accepted by a standing Senate committee, the finding appears likely to resolve the internal investigation into Stewart's actions. GOP Sen. Bill Sharer reacted: The precedent has now been set– Democrat Senators are free to abuse staff. Similar to how they govern, the Democrats sadly appear to care more about protecting themselves and their interests rather than doing what’s right for the everyday New Mexican. We hear you, Bill. You don't have to shout (but it's okay if you do). This is the Home of New Mexico Politics. Wednesday, July 30, 2025Dissing Deb: Sandia Pueblo Shocks With Bregman Endorsement For Dem Guv Nod; Native American Split Adds To Front-Runner Haaland's Early Woes But Also Highlights A Bregman Weakness
Deb Haaland continues to walk on a floor strewn with jagged glass in her long campaign for the 2026 Democratic gubernatorial nomination and her chief rival, Sam Bregman, is cashing in.
Cashing in comes to mind because the state's wealthiest gambling tribe, Sandia Pueblo, delivered a summer shock by endorsing Bregman for the nomination over Haaland who would, if elected, become the first Native American governor in state and national history. The diss of Deb comes soon after she jettisoned her campaign manager after other staffers attacked a lucrative digital ad deal he had signed with her. Then there is the continued hand wringing by her supporters over her messaging not projecting enough strength to ward off challenges such as Sandia's. The long odds of moderate Dem Bregman winning a primary dominated by progressives continues to improve, if only slightly, making his glee over the Sandia coup justified: It was a huge honor. I think that they appreciate the work that I've done with them, really trying to address crime on all the surrounding pueblos in Albuquerque. From my early days on the Albuquerque City Council, where I established the Hate Crimes Task Force to protect minority communities, to my work as Bernalillo County District Attorney, where my office launched the first of its kind Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Unit, I’ve always stood shoulder to shoulder with our Native communities. Sandia's slighting of Haaland came with extra zing by Pueblo of Sandia Governor Felix Chaves. But it seemed an over reach as he questioned the credentials of the former Secretary of Interior in pursuing justice for her fellow Native Americans: Sam Bregman is a proven fighter. At a time when Native Americans across the country are demanding justice and representation, Sam is the only candidate who has consistently shown up and delivered. The Pueblo of Sandia Tribal Council is proud to stand with him. However, Haaland's concern and results with Native justice issues was omnipresent during her tenure under President Biden. HAALAND PUSHBACK  The endorsement of Bregman came from the all-male 17 member Sandia Tribal Council. Women are prohibited from serving on the panel. That exposes a major problem he faces--garnering more female backing in a Democratic Party very much dominated by women. Haaland's campaign was predictably silent on the jolt they felt when Sandia went against them but one of her progressive supporters came with this: Sandia's break is not the first we've seen in Haaland's Native support. As Axios reported business was at the heart of an earlier split: As Interior Secretary, Haaland clashed with the Navajo Nation, the largest tribe in New Mexico, over the Biden administration's ban on oil and gas leasing on lands near Chaco Canyon. PSYCHOLOGY AND MONEY While Sandia boasts ample wealth its membership is a mere 500 but their Bregman endorsement is a big psychological boost. In the unlikely event that it foreshadows other tribes abandoning Haaland, it would signal major league trouble. What it does do for Bregman is bolster his fund-raising efforts even as tribes from around the nation are donating to Haaland. Haaland at last report had raised nearly $3.7 million. After spending $1.2 million, mostly on digital advertising, her campaign had $1.7 million in cash as of April. Bregman raised over $1 million in the five weeks after launching his campaign in April and had about $850,000 cash. Haaland does not want to see a contagion spread where Dems sitting on the sidelines fearful of endorsing Bregman start to feel their oats and come out publicly for him and with checkbooks in hand. Haaland will have a chance to show that the Sandia break is an outlier if and when the All Pueblo Council of Governors (APCG) representing the state's 19 pueblos, including Sandia, come with their '26 primary endorsement. She would seem to need it now that Bregman has exposed a fissure in the group. Haaland s a member of the Laguna Pueblo and worked at one time for San Felipe Pueblo, both gaming tribes. There is a third candidate in the Dem gubernatorial chase--former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima. Like Bregman, he is a moderate Dem. On days such as Tuesday when Bregman ran away with a nice trophy, Haaland has to be glad he is there. THE SANDIA FILE
In the 2024 cycle the pueblo donated $48,336, including $6,776 to Kamala Harris; $18,400 to a national Democratic committee; $6,600 to Sen. Heinrich; $6,600 to Rep. Leger Fernandez and $6,600 to Rep. Stansbury. The most recent Indian gaming compacts with the state were signed in 2015 and don't expire until 2037. Sandia Resort and Casino is the most profitable of the state's gambling tribes but it is an industry that has flat-lined in recent years. The state Gaming Control Board reports that in the first quarter of 2025 the pueblo's "net adjusted win" was $49 million. In the first quarter of 2019 it was $46 million. For Isleta Pueblo their adjusted net win in the first quarter of this year was $47 million, the same as the first quarter of 2019. The Gaming Board reports the state took in $21 million in revenue sharing from all Indian gaming in the state in the first quarter. That amounts to roughly $80 million a year, a tidy sum but not grand in the context of an $11 billion state General Fund budget. Finally, the state explains that the "net win" is not a gaming tribe's profit: Adjusted net win for New Mexico Indian casinos refers to the total revenue generated from gaming activities after deducting certain expenses, such as payouts to players and promotional costs. This figure is important for determining the financial performance of the casinos and for regulatory purposes. 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. Tuesday, July 29, 2025Reader Vox Populi: They Opine On School Vouchers, Declining Film Shoots, Nukes In ABQ, The Guv Candidates And Obscene Texting At APS Board Of Ed Joe, I think you missed a big part of the education equation: Parents. If the parents are involved, in their children’s education, the children will learn better. You might argue that vouchers help this but I maintain that vouchers generally go to households who do not need assistance. The legislative process is the same. Add a fig leaf for the face of the program (poverty, disability etc) and then find another way for the top 10% to receive a societal preference (see Poverty By America—Matthew Desmond (2023). And we will not get into the fiscal aspects of “pilot” voucher programs costing the state huge sums of money (see Ohio, Texas). They morph into massive transfers of income. Thanks, Karl. That's a bit cynical for our blood. Designing a bipartisan, limited voucher program with firm income guidelines etc. seems doable as we absorb the lessons from state's that have gone overboard. SCARY FILM OUTLOOK A reader following our coverage of the state's declining film industry comes with this: Joe, One major detail the state Film Commission seems to continually overlook is the growing perception in Hollywood that New Mexico's film crews are unprofessional, disorganized and full of “wannabes.” There's even a growing superstition that “filming in New Mexico is bad luck” — a sentiment fueled by the tragic Rust shooting. The reality is both the Film Office and the union leadership are well aware of this stigma. Yet instead of addressing it head-on, they continue to deflect blame, citing COVID-19 delays. It’s been nearly six years. That excuse no longer holds. The Rust shooting has cast a long shadow over New Mexico's film industry and rightfully so. A young, inexperienced armorer should never have been placed in such a critical position on only her second job. That falls squarely on the shoulders of the union. Earning a job like that should take years of proven skill and discipline. The silence from within the union is deafening. Rank-and-file members should be demanding accountability, yet leadership seems to have everything on such lockdown that no one dares speak out. NUKE SAFEGUARDS?  Joe, I guess everyone has forgotten how DOGE fired hundreds of people who were in charge of safeguarding our nuclear arsenals. Thankfully, they were hired back but let me tell you, the stupidity of firing those who safeguard these weapons has to be the worst fiasco by any known leader of the free world. I have not forgotten how vulnerable we were. My two cents. BACK TO VOUCHERS Reader Kerrie Cox writes: Joe, In my opinion--as the wife of a public school teacher and three public school children--the actual reason "so many public school students are failing" has nothing to do with education. It's the same reason that we will never be able to overcome our homeless problem by building houses. The underlying problem is drugs and alcohol. Vouchers are not going to alleviate this problem. The only parents who will utilize vouchers are parents who care about their child's education. These other kids will never attend ABQ Academy on a voucher. What public schools need is actually the opposite of school choice. Instead of constantly demonizing the public schools we need to show good parents that our public schools are amazing and that they should invest in their existing community rather than constantly searching for greener, yet still free, pastures. Sincerely, A Public School advocate who is also a Republican. GRILL THE GUV CANDIDATES
Joe: You might consider asking the folks running for Governor what specific changes to the Children’s Code they think are necessary to put a dent in juvenile crime. For example, does the current law give prosecutors and judges enough tools to hold parents accountable for their child's actions? If the answer is no, what changes are needed? In addition to amending current laws, what other concrete steps will they pursue if elected (e.g., curfews: yes or no)? If you want a second topic for Governor-wannabees to opine about, ask for their ideas regarding people with cardboard signs asking for money, ingesting illegal substances in public places, and relieving themselves in public. Don’t let them avoid the issue with feel-good meaningless slogans. What are the specific items they will push for if elected? Good luck avoiding the platitudes. Thanks, Jeff. Those are good questions that we will move to the front and center as the campaigns progress. Dems Deb Haaland, Sam Bregman and Ken Miyagishima are running for their party's nomination. Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull is running for the GOP nod. APS NAME CALLING  Joe, so a woman calls another woman stupid (the Stewart story) and it's front page news in the newspapers and your blog. But a man calls a woman a cunt and it's nowhere to be found. That wreaks of a patriarchal double standard. What gives? With social media (including text messages) so often off the rails it is hard to decide when coverage is merited. But here we are, and pleading not guilty to the charge of a "patriarchal double standard." By the way, the only media outlet we have seen cover the incident is KRQE-TV. Their full report is here. 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. Monday, July 28, 2025Tempest Over Senate Leader Stewart's Temper Tantrum Raises Questions Over Her Remaining Time In Power; Plus: Her Outburst Reveals Major Flaw In State Capital Outlay Program
The tempest over state Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart's verbal abuse of a legislative staffer raised questions at the capitol about Stewart's future atop the legislative heap. At 78, Sen. Stewart's time may be dwindling but Senate Democrats appear unlikely to give her the boot from leadership over the incident. Reacting to the Friday hearing of a legislative ethics subcommittee over the complaint filed by the abused staffer, one senator told us: There’s really s no alternative right now. Those who have run for Pro Tem before the caucus reviously are not positioned. The real power in this place is now with Senators (George) Munoz and (Joe) Cervantes. They represent an odd mix of pragmatic and liberal politics that has sidestepped Mimi's progressive impulses which are now considerably more tame. Munoz is chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee and Cervantes holds sway over the important Judiciary Committee. It is those panels presided over by moderate Dems where power has solidified--even after progressive Democrats in the 2020 Democratic primary ousted five conservative Democrats. Those conservative Dems had formed a coalition with Senate Republicans to keep the chamber under conservative rule. The progressives inched forward by taking them out but did not leap. The Pro Tem's ultimate power is the ability to fashion the membership of senate committees. Stewart has not moved to upset the Munoz-Cervantes applecart. Her temper tantrum, for which she has now apologized, will probably result in little more than a letter of reprimand. WHAT IT REVEALS  Capital outlay, commonly referred to as "pork," is crucial to the political identity of legislators who run for election on the approved construction projects as evidence of their effectiveness. Stewart's loss of temper reveals the major flaw in the current system. It lets the governor and the 112 politicians in the legislature determine what projects are funded with billions of dollars in capital outlay dollars currently coming from booming oil fields in SE NM. That system sets up a “three-way split” where the governor and legislators divide the capital outlay, often resulting in political decisions and minimal vetting of projects. Other states take the politics out of the process by going the data-driven route and providing a higher degree of transparency. Stewart now awaits any sanctions she will be subjected to by the ethics subcommittee. To avoid future raging, the leader may want to direct her anger at the serious inefficiency in the system and team with Senator Pete Campos and other longtime reform advocates to take politics out of capital outlay decision making. THE STEWART FILE  Her long prominence in education legislation is her chief accomplishment but as the state continues to rank last in the nation in public education, that leadership has been called into question. Her well-known temper exhibits her passion for her beliefs but also has made her a target. Former ABQ GOP state Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones, reacting to the incident that drew the ethics complaint against the Pro Tem, said on the socials: Leadership elections for the Senate Democratic Caucus are conducted before or at the start of the legislative session following an election. That would put the next Pro Tem following the 2028 election when senators next stand for election. If Stewart seeks re-election to her senate seat in 2028 she would be 81 years old.
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