Supreme Court

The suspense hanging over the contest for the '26 GOP gubernatorial nomination abruptly ended Wednesday as the State Supreme Court let stand a lower court ruling allowing Duke Rodriguez to remain on the June 2 primary ballot.

Rodriguez took note of his victory in a celebratory news release detailing the legal wrangling of the last several months, capping it with this declaration: 

Now that the New Mexico Supreme Court has spoken, no questions remain. I, Duke Rodriguez, can legally run for governor. And I will continue my run for governor. 

Rodriguez attorney and former Dem state Sen. Jacob Candelaria added:

The lesson here is that if you come for the Duke, you better not miss.

Political analysts said the court battle may have helped Rodriguez, showcasing his combative side and determination. The downside: it keeps attention on his Arizona ties, which his foes are quick to exploit.

With two months before the primary, Rodriguez looks like the early front-runner as former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull and ABQ businessman Doug Turner continue to scramble to raise cash and increase their visibility.

Rodriguez's loss to Hull at the March GOP preprimary convention was a setback but not a serious one--it was a convention of activists. Among rank and file Republicans, many of them solidly pro-Trump, Rodriguez is viewed as the most Trump-like contender in the field.

He's also pledged to spend up to $2 million of his own money, which could shake up the race once his first media buys hit the airwaves. Hull and Turner, meanwhile, are each hoping to raise at least $500,000--a tall order given Rodriguez's deep pockets and name ID.

Duke Rodriguez

Yet even Rodriguez’s strengths come with an edge. 

Campaign insiders--and even some friendly Republicans--say his personality can be both captivating and combustible. His booming confidence connects with many grassroots conservatives, but his flashes of temper and fondness for hyperbole have others wondering whether his enthusiasm sometimes turns into volatility.  

His foes are expected to hammer him over past donations to Democrats that were revealed on the blog in February. We asked Republican veteran Jamie Estrada to comment on whether those donations will be Rodriguez's doom:

The donations did hurt him badly at the March preprimary but they are not a be-all, end-all moment in this election. They could hurt more than they did Republican Darren White when he ran for ABQ mayor last year. Unlike White, who also made considerable Dem donations, Rodriguez has Republican challengers. But a game-changing moment? Hardly. His image as a no-nonsense, self-made businessman remains his biggest advantage--and his opponents know it.

Add one more factor: Rodriguez is the only Hispanic in the GOP race, a distinction that helps as Republicans try to broaden their appeal.

And while the Supreme Court composed of five Democrats didn’t rule on whether Rodriguez could serve as governor, it did affirm he can run. That, for now, closes the legal chapter—but leaves voters to decide whether the Duke’s fighting spirit comes with the steadiness needed to lead the state.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.