Joe Biden’s ex-U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland secured a dominant share of support from Democrat Party insiders at the New Mexico Democrat Party’s pre-primary convention, easily defeating Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman in the race for the party’s gubernatorial nomination.
Delegate voting placed the far-left Democrat far ahead of her other far-left rival, with Haaland receiving more than 73% of the votes cast, while the anti-gun Bregman captured roughly 26%. Although the margin highlights Haaland’s strong backing among party delegates, both candidates cleared the required threshold to appear on the June 2 primary ballot.
Under New Mexico election law, statewide candidates must receive at least 20% of delegate support at their party’s pre-primary convention to automatically qualify for the ballot. Candidates who fall short can still gain access to the ballot by gathering additional voter signatures. Because both Haaland and Bregman surpassed the threshold, neither will need to pursue the petition route.
Haaland’s decisive showing means she will also receive the top position on the Democrat primary ballot, as convention results determine ballot order.
The Democrat Party held its gathering at the Inn of the Mountain Gods in Mescalero, where party activists and delegates met to determine which candidates would move forward to the primary election. Voting continued electronically for more than a day after the convention adjourned, allowing delegates who participated virtually to cast ballots before results were finalized and released.
Haaland, who previously represented New Mexico in Congress and later served as Interior secretary, has long been associated with the progressive wing of the Democrat Party. Her campaign has emphasized expanding government programs and advancing policies aligned with national Democrat leadership.
Bregman, while trailing significantly at the convention, attempted to frame the outcome as a reflection of party insiders rather than the broader electorate. His campaign indicated it plans to focus on reaching voters statewide rather than relying on internal party events.
The gubernatorial race is one of several Democrat contests this election cycle, though many statewide Democrat officials face little or no primary competition. Democrats currently hold every statewide office in New Mexico and have controlled those positions in recent election cycles.
In the Democrat contest for U.S. Senate, incumbent Sen. Ben Ray Luján received an overwhelming majority of delegate support. His challenger, Matt Dodson, failed to reach the 20% threshold required for automatic ballot access.
Several Democrat incumbents are running without primary opponents, including U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury, Teresa Leger Fernández, and Gabe Vasquez. Attorney General Raúl Torrez, State Auditor Joseph Maestas, and State Treasurer Laura Montoya are also unopposed in their party’s primary elections.
Another contested race took place for lieutenant governor, where Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver received the majority of delegate support. State Sen. Harold Pope Jr. also surpassed the threshold needed to qualify for the ballot.
The race for secretary of state featured three candidates. Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark received the largest share of delegate support, followed by Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin. Former Veterans Services Department Secretary Sonya Smith did not receive enough support to automatically qualify.
Delegates also voted in the Democrat contest for state land commissioner. Juan De Jesus Sanchez III finished first among party delegates, with state Rep. Matthew McQueen securing second place. Jonas Moya did not receive enough support to meet the required threshold.
While Democrats gathered in Mescalero, Republicans held their own pre-primary convention very close by in the Ruidoso area. In the GOP gubernatorial race, Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull finished first among delegates, followed by businessman Doug Turner, with both qualifying for the primary ballot.
The pre-primary conventions provide an early snapshot of support among party activists, though the results do not always predict the outcome of the broader primary electorate. The June 2 primary election will ultimately determine which candidates move forward to the general election.
Welcome to DEI, Buddy! I guess paybacks is a sucker. Now you know how the rest of us feel
Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse!
Pray for NM
if you pay attention you learn democrats NEVER LEARN A THING. here we go with another incompetent fool to be our governor. This state is last for a reason, IT’S VOTERS. I heard former ABQ city councilor Pat Davis on the radio yesterday. He advised Deb not to debate Bregman. BECAUSE SHE CANT. She will embarrass herself. Pat Davis said some stupid comment about having each candidate do a filmed statement, in a SAFE environment where only democrats ask democrat questions. SAFE FROM WHAT, THE TRUTH ? this is how insane these people are. dem voters WILL TAKE THE BAIT. THEY ALWAYS DO
NM is like cuba, most of the people want freedom but the communists leadership is doing everything to stifle the peoples choice.
I thought only born and raised West Virginia hicks like me were supposed to be the most ignorant folks in the union… until I moved to NM and then I discovered Deb and her ilk. I now feel like a genius.
It’s completely, utterly ignorant and apathetic state. It’s so sad.
She will not debate Bregman. Her handlers are smart enough to know that he would eat her alive. If you watched any of her congressional testimonies, she cannot speak off the cuff, without a teleprompter she is burnt toast. Yet she will probably win because of the DEI culture in NM. Not what is good for all.
This not democrats this is socialists. I abhor them all of them
I find it interesting that the very first sentence of the very first paragraph makes the following statement: ” Joe Biden’s ex-U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland secured a dominant share of support from Democrat Party insiders …..”; acknowledging that ‘party insiders’ are those individuals who make up the delegates at a pre-primary convention. The story goes on to note that what happens at the convention will not necessarily translate to voting by the general population.
However, the Republicans characterize the participation at their pre-primary convention as a ‘grass-roots’ endeavor rather than acknowledging that ‘party insiders’ are as dominate at the Republican event as are the Democrats at their convention.
To characterize the votes of some 400+ delegates at a convention of some 442,000 registered Republican voters (as of 12/31/25) as ‘grass roots’ is anything but that and we should acknowledge that fact.
OMG…I cannot believe Deb won her nomination by that percentage…I’m not in favor of Bregman now that he’s gone woke….buttttttttt Dumber than dumb Deb cannot be our next Governor….the present Governor has more brain cells than Deb and that’s not saying much.
I’m calling out all those who are registered voters…Republicans, Democrats Independents ..please educate yourself on all who are running for the office of Governor…we need a change, the present leadership has sunk New Mexico further into darkness and despair.
We have a beautiful State, be inspired to make it better my becoming involved in the election process…know your candidates character, reputation, goals. Ask questions….DEBATE the issues so the voters can judge for themselves, and pray big time.
Of course she will be the governor! They need a PUPPET. Someone the equivalent of ‘Auto-Pen Biden’ can control, while “they” run things.
Here’s hoping Bergman’s 26% eventually see the light and vote for Gregg Hull over Haaland.
I would like to recommend that the Pinon Post, do a survey on why Deb Haaland is backed by everyone at the Round House. I believe it is due to her lack of knowledge and basic understanding of New Mexico law. They want someone who lacks the knowledge base to sit on the governor’s desk because they can push legislation thru and it’s apparent she doesn’t do the research and will sign any bill that comes across the desk. She wasn’t even competent enough on the Hill to speak to congress. I’m sure their is content on social media when she had to explain herself for her leadership it’s pitiful and it’s embarrassing. Remember democrats want to keep everyone as dumb as can be so they can be reelected. All they have to do is push their agenda. Everyone is bad if they are conservative, think very differently than leftist ideology. So they bring up ICE, racism because “she will be the first Native American governor” but has anyone looked into her education and is she really qualified. No she is not, and pushing the same old ideology first black person, first native american, first immigrant, first DACA receipent, etc, etc, etc, and no one doesn’t stop and think “are they qualified” NO. I don’t know about you but I am a true Native New Mexican and I’m tired of people pushing their agenda (democrats) for their own standards and not thinking about New Mexican’s. New Mexican’s wake the “f” up or we will be like California taxed to death, government spending out of control, gas prices through the roof, and I can go on and on. Please put the word out Pinon Post why Deb Haaland isn’t qualified to set as our governor.
The Dims had a choice—-dumb and dumber—-dumber won!
May God have mercy on us all if Haaland is elected as our next governor. She is not qualified to be a dog catcher. She will be a puppet for the far left socialist/communist in office and who know may even have evil ice queen MLG as her advisor on what to say and when to say it. If you saw her in congress at a committee questioning her job as Secretary of the Interior, she could not answer any questions, just said “I have to ask my staff.” Yes she is not the brightest bulb in the box that is for sure. And of course they will use “first native American to become governor.” That is not a qualification to become governor of NM. WAKE UP NEW MEXICANS AND STOP voting in incompetent people into office. We will never prosper into the great state we could be with them at the helm.
You Go Deb! You are a smart educated powerful woman! The best the nay sayers can do is call you names, while ignoring your accomplishments and high qualification for holding leadership positions in our state.
What accomplishments?? Those handed to her?? Why no debate?? Because her utter incompetence will be on display. Bergman would wipe the floor with her.
She’s real sharp (not). Did you see her attempt to testify before congress?
NEW MEXICO PICKS THE STUPID PEOPLE IF SHE BECOMES GONERNOR WE ARE SCREWD I SAY ATTACK THE INDANS PUT THEM IN THEIR PLACE SHE IS UGLY AND DUMBER THEN A BAG OF HAMMERS
First…she is already the governor no matter what the subjects say. The PARTY will be in control no matter who the face is that supports the PARTY agenda…line by line. A burro could be our gov if the PARTY wanted.
Another puppet being put in place by the communist regime through rigged elections.
Her Law degree is in Tribal Indian Law from UNM. Never practiced law on the Reservation or in private practice. Never applied for or took the Bar exam. Her Undergraduate work at UNM was awarded as a non-traditional degree in English. Served as an administrator on a couple of Reservations. Served as one of Biden’s useful idiots. That’s its folks!
I read she failed the bar exam. I could be wrong, but I doubt she could pass it even in an easy jurisdiction like NM.
Really, really sad…according to Wallethub, New Mexico is 50th, dead last. I can’t believe what the dems have done to this state. Of course they have their convention at Inn of the Mountain ‘gods’ which is obviously idolotrous.
It is time to serve the ONE, TRUE God. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father, but by him. We cannot expect godly people to run for office when they worship many other ‘gods’.
Thou shall have no other gods before ME.
Thought shall not make unto thee ANY GRAVEN IMAGE, Zozobra??
Thou shall not kill…NM is late-term abortion capital.
God cannot bless NM because of all of the disgusting murder of babies and worshipping of other false gods, period.
You can’t even say “vote for the lessor of two evils” –Hopefully voters look back and see these two idiots prior activities and lack of doing what the people want and bowing to the party. Haaland is an embarrassment to the Indian culture and turned her back on the people when she walked to the plane for Washington! Bregmann stated he will push against federal law and allow ILLEGALS to run free.. Lord help us if either of these two weasel their way in to office!