Politics

MLG’s office accidentally makes the case against anti-ICE law

10 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

A letter from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office is raising new questions about the legal footing of New Mexico’s anti-ICE House Bill 9 after the governor’s own staff appeared to acknowledge that immigration enforcement is under federal jurisdiction.

In a response to a constituent who contacted the governor’s office about ICE operations, the Office of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wrote that “jurisdiction over immigration enforcement rests with federal agencies,” adding that this reality limits “state and local law enforcement’s ability to intervene.”

That statement is now drawing attention because it appears to echo one of the central arguments made by critics of HB 9: immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, and New Mexico’s attempt to restrict local cooperation with federal immigration authorities may be on shaky legal ground.

The letter, addressed to a New Mexican concerned about ICE operations, reads in part, “It is essential to recognize that jurisdiction over immigration enforcement rests with federal agencies, limiting state and local law enforcement’s ability to intervene.”

The governor’s office then directed complaints about alleged misconduct to the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.

The response was posted publicly on Facebook by Lana Kozikowski, who wrote that she contacted the governor’s office in an attempt to receive an explanation for why Lujan Grisham signed HB 9, the Democrat-backed “Immigrant Safety Act.” The law targets local government cooperation with federal immigration authorities, including DHS facilities and existing agreements between DHS and local law enforcement agencies.

Kozikowski argued the governor’s office response showed the administration already knew the state was entering federal territory.

“She knew HB 9 and SB 264 amendments would be unlawful but passed them anyway,” Kozikowski wrote.

Screenshot of the Facebook post regarding HB9 and Lujan Grisham’s office’s response.

The post quickly drew hundreds of reactions and comments from New Mexicans who saw the same contradiction. One commenter wrote, “They know the law is illegal and unenforceable, but they want to cause division and create chaos so they can play victims.” Another wrote, “Excellent, you got it in writing!”

The letter does not explicitly say HB 9 is illegal. But it does appear to concede the basic principle now at the center of the growing legal and political fight: immigration enforcement belongs to the federal government.

That matters because HB 9 has already triggered fierce opposition from counties and communities that rely on federal immigration detention contracts, including Otero County. Critics have warned the law threatens jobs, local revenue, public safety, and long-standing cooperation between local entities and federal authorities.

The U.S. Department of Justice has also sued New Mexico over HB 9 and Albuquerque’s related anti-ICE ordinance, arguing the state and city are interfering with federal immigration enforcement. Federal officials contend that state and local governments cannot obstruct federal operations by cutting off facilities, contracts, or cooperation needed to carry out immigration law.

The governor’s office letter now gives critics another talking point: even Lujan Grisham’s own staff acknowledged that immigration enforcement is federally controlled.

For people against open-borders, the issue is straightforward. If the governor’s office admits that immigration enforcement is a federal matter, why did Lujan Grisham sign a law aimed at disrupting local partnerships with federal immigration authorities?

HB 9 supporters have portrayed the law as a protection for immigrant communities — despite it doing the opposite. Opponents argue it is an anti-ICE political stunt that puts New Mexico in conflict with federal law while threatening local economies and public safety.

The contradiction was not lost on commenters responding to the Facebook post. One wrote, “Am I the only one seeing the blatant hypocrisy?” Another argued the administration was trying to “make it illegal for federal agencies to enforce the law” while telling people to report violations to the same federal government.

The governor’s office may have intended the letter as a routine constituent response. Instead, it has become a new wrinkle in the HB 9 fight — one that appears to undermine the administration’s own position.

At minimum, the response raises an obvious question: if Lujan Grisham’s office recognizes that immigration enforcement rests with federal agencies, why is New Mexico trying to block the local infrastructure and agreements that help those federal agencies do their jobs?

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Left turns on Heinrich after he waits to kiss the Haaland ring

25 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, a far-left Democrat, is learning what happens when a Democrat fails to immediately fall in line behind the party’s newest progressive standard-bearer.

According to a Santa Fe New Mexican report by Daniel J. Chacón, Heinrich drew backlash from left-wing Democrats after he posted a congratulatory message Wednesday celebrating several Democratic primary winners — but noticeably left out Deb Haaland, who had just trounced Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.

Haaland, Joe Biden’s former Interior secretary and a national progressive favorite, won the Democratic nomination in a blowout and is now set to face Republican Gregg Hull, the former three-term mayor of Rio Rancho, in November. The Associated Press reported that Haaland and Hull will face off in the general election after Tuesday’s primary results.

But before Democrats could even fully pivot to November, the party’s activist wing began eating its own.

Manny Crespin, a Democratic National Committee committeeman and former vice chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, blasted Heinrich over the omission.

“Your true colors are shining right through, Senator Martin Heinrich!” Crespin wrote in response, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.

“At a moment when Democrats should be lifting one another up and uniting after a primary, Senator Martin Heinrich remains noticeably silent in recognizing many of these Democratic victories and campaigns. This is not by accident. His silence is purposeful and intentionally undermining,” Crespin wrote. “For someone not originally from New Mexico, you would hope there would be a deeper understanding of our culture and our values.”

Others also noticed Haaland’s absence from Heinrich’s message.

“And Deb?!” Sherry Eichorn commented on Facebook, according to the report.

“No Deb Haaland?” Brandon Scott Jensen asked.

Some commenters, however, appeared pleased Heinrich had not rushed to praise Haaland.

“Glad to see you didn’t endorse Haaland! Vote [Republican Gregg] Hull for governor!!!” Jon Hovis wrote.

“For the first time, I agree with you leaving Haaland [off] your list,” Juan Garcia added.

The backlash underscores a growing tension inside New Mexico’s Democratic Party: after Haaland crushed Bregman, the progressive left appears to expect immediate public loyalty from every major Democrat — even those who may have had reservations about her candidacy or stayed neutral during the primary.

Heinrich attempted to clean up the situation the next day by posting a photo with Haaland and saying he was proud to endorse her.

But that only triggered another round of criticism from Crespin, who mocked Heinrich for waiting until after Haaland had already won.

“Senator, respectfully … endorsing someone after they already won is not leadership. That is showing up after the parade ended and trying to claim you helped organize it,” Crespin wrote, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. “New Mexicans are smart. They notice who takes risks early and who waits until it is politically safe to stand in the photo afterward. But hey, congratulations on the safest endorsement in modern New Mexico political history. Truly profile-in-courage material.”

A Heinrich spokesperson denied that the timing had anything to do with the online backlash, telling the Santa Fe New Mexican the “timing was coordinated at a staff level and had nothing to do with any social media posts.”

“Senator Heinrich’s endorsement of Deb Haaland is based on their work together, her experience, and his commitment to work alongside her in delivering for New Mexico,” the spokesperson said.

Heinrich’s eventual endorsement praised Haaland personally and politically. Native News Online reported that Heinrich said, “I’ve worked with Deb a long time, and I can tell you this: Deb is incredibly kind, leads with compassion, and cares deeply about New Mexico and the people who call it home.” He also said Haaland had the experience needed to “fight back against Donald Trump.”

Still, the damage was already done among some on the left. To them, Heinrich’s post-primary endorsement was not enough. He had not bowed quickly enough.

For conservatives, the episode is revealing. Heinrich is no Republican. He is a liberal Democrat who has long aligned with the party’s environmental, gun control, and anti-Trump agenda. But in the modern New Mexico Democratic Party, even a reliably left-wing senator can face instant backlash if he is perceived as insufficiently enthusiastic about the progressive favorite.

The Santa Fe New Mexican’s report also noted that Hull appeared on the outlet’s Around the Roundhouse podcast after winning the Republican nomination. Hull described his early days in New Mexico, including a stint delivering newspapers for the Santa Fe New Mexican. He recalled that on the morning his first child was born in August 1987, he and his wife completed the paper route before going to the hospital.

“The next morning — she wasn’t with me that time,” Hull said, “but the next morning, I was throwing the paper route again.”

While Democrats are policing each other’s loyalty to Haaland, Hull is now preparing for a general election race focused on whether New Mexico continues one-party Democratic control or changes direction in November.

The Heinrich flare-up may fade quickly, but it offers a preview of the pressure campaign ahead: New Mexico Democrats are expected to rally behind Haaland, and anyone who hesitates may find the progressive left waiting.

Left turns on Heinrich after he waits to kiss the Haaland ring Read More »

ABQ Jewish community shaken after violent synagogue attack

13 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

An Albuquerque man is facing multiple charges after police say he smashed windows at two Jewish institutions in the city, causing major damage and heightening concerns over antisemitism in New Mexico.

According to reporting from the Santa Fe New Mexican, 25-year-old Rex Crofton was arrested in connection with the vandalism at Congregation Albert Synagogue. A criminal complaint filed Wednesday in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court charges Crofton with desecration of a church, two counts of criminal damage to property, and a hate crime sentencing enhancement.

Police were called to Congregation Albert on Tuesday evening after witnesses reported a man smashing windows near the entrance before leaving the scene. Witnesses told police the damage totaled around $40,000, according to the complaint.

KOAT reported that an employee called police around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, as the synagogue was wrapping up its workday.

“We were getting ready to wind down our day when an individual approached our building and smashed some of the panels on our front door and then left,” Senior Rabbi Celia Surget told KOAT.

Surget asked that the exterior of the synagogue and the boarded-up doors not be shown, emphasizing that the congregation is more than the damage done to its building.

“Our community is more than just what happened to our front doors. It’s about the people who make it. It’s about the exchanges that happen here,” Surget said.

Police later arrested Crofton after reviewing license plate-reading camera footage in the area that linked his vehicle to the incident, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.

KOAT reported that police say Crofton was seen on security cameras about 10 minutes later doing the same thing at the Jewish Community Center on Wyoming Boulevard.

Ron Winger of the JCC said the suspect was unable to get inside the building.

“He banged on the first set of doors. Those doors opened. He then banged on the second set of doors. He did not get in the facility,” Winger told KOAT.

Winger said the JCC’s security protocols worked, including procedures to protect children who were present for camp.

“We have camp going on and we took care of the kids. They were evacuated as our protocol calls for, but we didn’t have any interruption in service,” Winger said.

By Wednesday morning, JCC members noticed an increased law enforcement presence. One member, identified by KOAT as Robert, said he saw a police car when he arrived for an early workout.

“I worked out this morning; there was a police car saying that. I was wondering why when I went in, I thought, that’s kind of odd,” he said.

Asked what he believed motivated the damage, Robert was blunt.

“They’re Jewish. Plain and simple. Antisemitism, without a doubt,” he said.

A judge approved an extreme risk protection order against Crofton on Thursday, allowing authorities to confiscate his firearms. According to the police petition cited by the Santa Fe New Mexican, relatives described Crofton as suffering from bipolar disorder or schizophrenia and said he had begun expressing “extreme antisemitic views” about a year ago.

Crofton was scheduled to be arraigned Friday.

The Jewish Community Relations Coalition of New Mexico said it activated its security network program after the incident, alerting community leaders and helping coordinate a heightened response.

“Tuesday’s attacks reinforced the urgent need for additional security resources, training, and support to help Jewish organizations across New Mexico meet the growing security challenges they face,” Juan Dircie, the organization’s director, said.

The Friends of Israel Project, a New Mexico-based organization, also issued a forceful statement condemning the vandalism.

“This is truly heartbreaking,” the group wrote. “Seeing a synagogue and Jewish Community Center vandalized right here in New Mexico brings back the chilling echoes of Kristallnacht. The night synagogues were smashed and Jewish communities were attacked across Germany. That was only the beginning.”

The group said Jewish New Mexicans should never be made to feel unsafe in their own communities.

“Our Jewish neighbors should never have to feel unsafe in their own community. As a New Mexico-based organization, this hits close to home. We refuse to stay silent while Jew hatred targets our neighbors,” the statement continued.

“To our local Jewish community: you are not alone. We see you, we stand with you, and we will continue fighting antisemitism with everything we have through education, truth, and real relationship-building until our communities are truly safe.”

The FBI has also been contacted about the case. KOAT reported that FBI representatives said only that they are actively investigating the incident.

For Albuquerque’s Jewish community, the damage was more than broken glass. It was a reminder that antisemitism is not confined to national headlines or college campuses — it is showing up at synagogues and community centers in New Mexico.

As the criminal case proceeds, Jewish leaders and allies are calling for vigilance, accountability, and a clear public stand against antisemitic hate.

ABQ Jewish community shaken after violent synagogue attack Read More »

Far-Left wins show who really runs NM Dems

35 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

New Mexico Democrats are not moving to the center. They are doubling down on the far left.

That was the unmistakable takeaway from Tuesday’s primary election results, and even the left-leaning outlet New Mexico In Depth is now acknowledging it.

In a post-primary analysis titled “Democrats are in a progressive mood,” New Mexico In Depth wrote that the political mood in a state where Democrats control every statewide office and hold commanding majorities in the Legislature “did not shift toward the center” on primary night. The outlet pointed to both the governor’s race and legislative primaries as proof that Democrat voters are embracing the progressive wing of the party.

At the top of the ticket, former Biden Interior Secretary Deb Haaland crushed Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman in the Democrat gubernatorial primary by a margin that surprised political observers. Veteran New Mexico pollster Brian Sanderoff noted during the Albuquerque Journal’s election night webcast that Haaland was even winning in traditionally more conservative Democrat areas.

“…even in Chaves County and Curry County, places where the Democrats are even conservative, Deb Haaland is ahead. She’s ahead in Roswell and she’s ahead in San Juan County,” Sanderoff said, according to New Mexico In Depth. “…how is it that Sam Bregman is even losing the most conservative counties in the state?”

Sanderoff said Haaland’s victory was not shocking, but the scale of it was.

The result confirms what conservatives have warned for years: the Democrat Party of New Mexico is no longer being driven by moderates or “commonsense” Democrats. It is increasingly dominated by the activist left.

New Mexico In Depth noted that more than 217,000 voters participated in the Democrat gubernatorial primary — nearly twice the roughly 120,000 who voted in the Republican gubernatorial primary. The outlet also reported that, as of 5 p.m. Election Day, almost 25,000 independent voters had participated in the Democrat primary.

For Republicans, that turnout gap is a warning sign heading into November. For conservatives, it is also a reminder that New Mexico’s growing far-left political machine is organized, motivated, and still largely unchecked in Santa Fe.

The legislative results were just as revealing.

New Mexico In Depth wrote that progressives “batted away well-funded centrist challengers,” won open seats, and in one high-profile case ousted a more moderate Democrat incumbent: Rep. Marian Matthews of Albuquerque.

Matthews lost her House District 27 Democrat primary to Abby Foster, a progressive challenger backed by the left. New Mexico In Depth described the race as the exception to the night’s general rule that incumbents are difficult to defeat, noting that progressives had targeted Matthews for the second election cycle in a row.

That result matters because Matthews was one of the few Democrats who occasionally presented herself as a “big tent” voice inside the party. Her defeat sends a clear message: even Democrats who merely appear too moderate are now vulnerable to the activist wing.

Other results reinforced the same trend.

In House District 69, progressive incumbent Michelle Abeyta defeated former Rep. Harry Garcia 68% to 32%, ending Garcia’s attempt to reclaim the seat after losing to Abeyta in 2024. In House District 70, progressive incumbent Anita Gonzales defeated former Rep. Ambrose Castellano 62% to 38%. Castellano had also been viewed as one of the more practical Democrats during his time in the Legislature.

In House District 41, Yolanda Jaramillo defeated Debbie Rodella 55% to 45% in another open-seat race. Rodella had previously served in the House from 1993 to 2018 before being ousted by progressive Rep. Susan Herrera. Jaramillo’s win kept that northern New Mexico seat in the hands of the newer progressive wing.

New Mexico In Depth also noted that progressive Democrats now control both chambers of the Legislature and that this control has been built over the past decade through primary races.

That is the real story for conservatives heading into November.

This election is not just about Haaland versus Republican nominee Gregg Hull. It is about whether New Mexico continues down a path of one-party progressive control — higher spending, anti-energy policies, weak-on-crime legislation, attacks on gun rights, abortion extremism, and more government control — or whether voters finally demand balance.

Hull won the Republican gubernatorial primary with 47% in a three-way race, a result New Mexico In Depth described as strong and one that suggested he likely would have won handily in a two-person contest.

But Republicans now face a difficult environment. Democrats are energized, progressives are ascendant, and the so-called moderate wing of the Democrat Party is losing ground.

For conservatives, the lesson is simple: New Mexico Democrats are not moderating. They are moving further left — and even their own media allies are admitting it.

Far-Left wins show who really runs NM Dems Read More »

Haaland vs. Hull is set — but Dems have a new problem

38 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

New Mexico’s 2026 primary election results are in, setting up a November governor’s race between Democrat Deb Haaland, Joe Biden’s former U.S. Interior secretary, and Republican Gregg Hull, the former mayor of Rio Rancho.

According to unofficial results from the New Mexico Secretary of State, all 2,204 precincts were fully reported as of early Wednesday morning, with 343,768 ballots cast statewide for a turnout of 24.41%. The results remain unofficial until certified.

Haaland easily defeated Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman in the Democrat primary, taking 156,861 votes, or 72%, to Bregman’s 60,189 votes, or 28%. KOB 4 projected Haaland the winner and reported that she used her victory speech in Old Town Albuquerque to promise a fight against President Donald Trump’s policies and influence.

“Are you ready to fight for healthcare? Are you ready to fight for safe communities? And are you ready to fight for our children’s education?” Haaland told supporters, according to KOB.

But the Democrat primary ended with a major fracture. Bregman told KOB he would not support Haaland in the general election.

“I will not be supporting Deb Haaland, no,” Bregman said.

Bregman said his refusal stemmed from Haaland’s campaign allegedly exposing his and his relatives’ home addresses. That public split could complicate Democrats’ attempts to unify heading into November, especially after a bitter primary that saw both candidates spend heavily while repeatedly invoking Trump to energize left-wing voters.

On the Republican side, Hull won a three-way primary with 56,412 votes, or 47%, defeating businessman Doug Turner, who received 44,319 votes, or 37%, and former state cabinet secretary and cannabis executive Duke Rodriguez, who finished with 19,288 votes, or 16%. The Associated Press reported that Haaland and Hull will now face off in November, with Hull campaigning on economic development, crime reduction, and ending one-party control in the state.

The lieutenant governor races also produced clear results. On the Democrat side, current far-left Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver defeated far-left state Sen. Harold Pope Jr. by a wide margin, 168,109 votes to 42,127, or 80% to 20%.

On the Republican side, state Sen. David Gallegos won the GOP nomination with 56,359 votes, or 50%, followed by Aubrey Blair Dunn with 42,752 votes, or 38%, and Manuel “Manny” Lardizabal with 14,147 votes, or 12%.

In the race for secretary of state, Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin defeated Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark in the Democrat primary, 106,968 votes to 94,424, or 53% to 47%. Republican Ramona Goolsby was unopposed and received 96,149 votes.

The Democrat primary for commissioner of public lands also produced one of the night’s most decisive down-ballot results. Juan de Jesus Sanchez III defeated far-left state Rep. Matthew McQueen and Jonas Moya. Sanchez received 113,881 votes, or 56%, while McQueen received 66,232 votes, or 33%, and Moya finished with 21,988 votes, or 11%. Republican Michael Jack Perry was unopposed and received 96,683 votes.

In federal races, Democrat U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján defeated Matt Dodson, 180,516 votes to 33,883, or 84% to 16%. Republican write-in candidate Larry E. Marker received 4,770 votes, enough to secure his name on the November ballot, according to the unofficial results. In Congressional District 2, Democrat Gabe Vasquez was unopposed with 46,723 votes, while Republican Greg Cunningham defeated Jose Orozco, 26,673 votes to 4,870, or 85% to 15%, setting up a high-profile southern New Mexico race centered on crime, the border, and public safety.

The legislative results showed a continued leftward march in several Democrat primaries. In Albuquerque’s House District 27, incumbent Rep. Marian Matthews, viewed as one of the more moderate Democrats in the House, appears to have lost her nomination to far-left challenger Abby Foster. Unofficial results show Foster with 2,160 votes to Matthews’ 2,018, or 52% to 48%.

Other races showed progressive incumbents holding off more commonsense Democrat challengers. In House District 69, Rep. Michelle Paulene Abeyta defeated former Rep. Harry Garcia, 1,968 votes to 935, or 68% to 32%. In House District 70, Rep. Anita Gonzales defeated former Rep. Ambrose Castellano, 3,336 votes to 2,033, or 62% to 38%.

Those results matter because Democrats already hold large majorities in Santa Fe, and primary outcomes often determine how far left the caucus moves on issues such as crime, energy, taxes, gun rights, abortion, parental rights, and government spending.

There were also some notable Republican-side legislative results. In House District 66, unofficial results showed a possible recount, with Leanne Gandy narrowly leading Dan Lewis, 999 votes to 989, while Trinidad Malone received 230 votes.

The November ballot is now taking shape. Democrats will try to extend their control over every statewide office, while Republicans will argue New Mexico needs a course correction on crime, education, taxes, energy, border security, and economic growth.

Haaland enters the general election with national Democrat support and a progressive record from Washington. Hull enters as the Republican nominee arguing that New Mexico needs a break from one-party Democrat rule.

With Bregman refusing to endorse Haaland, McQueen losing badly in the Land Office race, Matthews apparently falling to a farther-left challenger, and Republicans nominating Hull, Gallegos, Perry, Cunningham, and others, the 2026 general election is now officially underway.

Haaland vs. Hull is set — but Dems have a new problem Read More »

Primary Election Day arrives in NM: Key races to watch

4 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Primary Election Day is here in New Mexico, and voters are choosing party nominees for governor, lieutenant governor, statewide offices, the Legislature, and more.

For conservatives, this year’s primary is especially important. New Mexico is choosing nominees in the race to replace term-limited Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, while all 70 state House seats are also on the ballot.

Polls opened at 7:00 a.m. and close this evening at 7:00 p.m. across the state. voter info can be found here.

Governor

The top race is for governor.

On the Democrat side, Joe Biden’s former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is facing Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman.

Haaland is the national progressive favorite and a former Biden Cabinet official. Bregman is running more heavily on his record as a prosecutor and has tried to make crime a major issue in the race. Both have spent heavily on TV ads and other communications to voters — usually negatively invoking President Trump in an attempt to activate far-left voters.

On the Republican side, former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, businessman Doug Turner, and former state cabinet secretary Duke Rodriguez, a cannabis executive, are seeking the GOP nomination.

Hull is running on his executive experience as a former mayor. Turner has focused on business, education, and economic issues. Rodriguez has emphasized health care and has also challenged Gov. Lujan Grisham’s universal child care program in court.

Whoever wins the Republican primary will face a tough but critical general election fight in a state where Democrats currently control every statewide office.

Lieutenant governor

The lieutenant governor races are also competitive.

On the Democrat side, Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver is running against state Sen. Harold Pope Jr.

Toulouse Oliver is already a statewide officeholder, while Pope brings legislative and military experience.

On the Republican side, the candidates are Aubrey Blair Dunn, state Sen. David Gallegos, and Manuel Lardizabal.

Gallegos is a conservative state senator from southeastern New Mexico. Dunn comes from a well-known New Mexico political family. Lardizabal, a pastor, is also seeking the GOP nomination.

U.S. Senate and write-in candidates

Democrat U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján is seeking another term.

There is no Republican candidate printed on the primary ballot for U.S. Senate, but Larry E. Marker is running as a certified Republican write-in candidate. According to the Associated Press, Marker must receive enough valid write-in votes to qualify for the November ballot.

Other Republican write-in candidates for statewide office include Joshua James Jawrence for state auditor and James F. Ellison for state treasurer, according to the Republican Party of New Mexico.

Secretary of state

Another race conservatives should watch closely is the Democrat primary for secretary of state. Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark and Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin are competing to become the Democrat nominee for New Mexico’s top elections office. Source New Mexico describes the race as a matchup between two county clerks.

The office is especially important because it oversees elections, campaign finance filings, ballot access, and the rules that shape how New Mexico elections are administered. With Maggie Toulouse Oliver running for lieutenant governor instead of the secretary of state job due to term limits, voters will see a new chief election official after November. On the Republican side, Ramona Goolsby, a retired nurse practitioner and veteran, is positioned as the GOP candidate for the general election.

Land commissioner

The Democrat primary for commissioner of public lands is also worth watching. The office controls the New Mexico State Land Office, which manages millions of acres of state trust land and plays a major role in oil and gas leasing, renewable energy development, grazing, conservation, and revenue for schools and other public institutions. KUNM noted that the office oversees roughly 9 million surface acres and 13 million subsurface acres held in trust for public institutions, and that oil and gas make up the overwhelming share of State Land Office revenue.

The Democrat race features state Rep. Matthew McQueen, Jonas Moya, and Juan de Jesus Sanchez III. McQueen entered as a little-known far-left legislator, and polling has suggested he may be in trouble, with Sanchez showing strength and Moya also competing for support. That makes the race one of the more unpredictable down-ballot Democratic contests on the primary ballot. Money has been but behind both candidates on the TV airwaves and elsewhere, with McQueen’s strategy to try to claim experience despite his looks (repeatedly says he would not ever win a “beauty contest”), while Sanchez has focused on his home-grown roots and New Mexico values. 

For conservatives, the race matters because the Land Office has enormous power over New Mexico’s energy economy. The next commissioner will influence how aggressively the state pursues oil and gas development, renewable energy projects, conservation restrictions, land swaps, and revenue generation for schools. On the Republican side, Michael Jack Perry, vice chair of the Chaves County Commission, is the GOP candidate who will advance to the general election. 

Legislature

All 70 seats in the New Mexico House of Representatives are up for election this year.

These races will decide whether Democrats keep their large majority in Santa Fe or whether Republicans can gain ground on issues like crime, education, taxes, energy, parental rights, and government accountability.

Several Democrat primaries are also worth watching because they show an internal fight inside the Democrat Party: more moderate, commonsense Democrats trying to hold ground against hard-left challengers, many backed by progressive groups or tied to pipelines such as Emerge New Mexico.

That divide is visible in races such as House District 70, where former Rep. Ambrose Castellano is challenging Rep. Anita Gonzales in a Democrat primary rematch. Castellano was one of the more commonsense Democrats in the House and opposed the socialist paid family leave bill before losing his seat to Gonzales in 2024.

Another key race is House District 69, where former Rep. Harry Garcia is trying to reclaim his seat from Rep. Michelle Paulene Abeyta. Garcia has been viewed as a more commonsense Democrat, while Abeyta represents the leftist wing of the party. The race is a rematch after Abeyta unseated Garcia in 2024.

Another Democrat primary to watch is House District 27 in Albuquerque, where incumbent Rep. Marian Matthews is facing progressive challenger Abby Foster. Matthews has branded herself as a “big tent Democrat” focused on practical solutions and has warned against the idea that there is only “one way to think” inside the Democrat Party, saying, “this is nonsense” and “it’s not one way or the highway.” Source New Mexico noted Matthews is seeking reelection against Foster in a district that has both Democrat and Republican primaries.

For conservatives, the race matters because Matthews has often been viewed as one of the more pragmatic Democrats in the House, while Foster represents the younger, farther-left activist wing trying to push the caucus further left. The winner of that Democrat primary will face either Republican Jahnelle Louise Garcia or Robert Godshall in November.

These races matter even for conservative voters in heavily Democrat districts. A hard-left primary winner can help push the Legislature further toward higher spending, anti-energy regulations, soft-on-crime policies, and more government control. A more moderate Democrat, while still a Democrat, may be less likely to rubber-stamp the most extreme parts of the progressive agenda.

One state Senate seat is also on the ballot. In Senate District 33, which includes parts of Otero, Chaves, and Lincoln counties, Republican Rex Wilson is running after being appointed to the seat. He does not have a Republican primary opponent but is expected to face a Democrat in the general election.

What is at stake

This primary comes as New Mexico continues facing serious problems: violent crime, fentanyl, weak education results, border concerns, high spending, and growing dependence on oil and gas revenue to fund big-government programs.

The governor’s race will determine whether voters get a clear contrast in November between the current progressive direction of the state and a more conservative approach focused on public safety, tax relief, school reform, and economic growth.

The legislative races matter, too. Even if Republicans do not win the governor’s office, gaining seats in the House could help slow or block far-left legislation in Santa Fe.

For official information about polling locations, sample ballots, and personalized voter details, readers should use the New Mexico Secretary of State’s voter portal here.

New Mexico voters have a lot on the line today — from the future of the governor’s office to the makeup of the Legislature and the direction of the state.

Primary Election Day arrives in NM: Key races to watch Read More »

Even supporters say MLG, Dems botched ‘universal child care’

22 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

New Mexico Democrats rushed to declare victory on “free” universal child care. Now, even supporters of the far-left policy idea are warning that the state’s big-government experiment is running headfirst into reality.

In a blistering new Vox article titled “How to screw up universal childcare,” Sara Mickelson, a former deputy cabinet secretary at New Mexico’s Early Childhood Education and Care Department and an avowed supporter of universal child care, warned that New Mexico’s program is becoming a national cautionary tale.

The article is not written from a conservative perspective. In fact, Mickelson openly praises the concept of universal child care, calling it the type of “bold, life-changing social policy” advocates have long wanted. But even she says New Mexico’s implementation has gone badly wrong.

“Unfortunately, the most ambitious new attempt at universal childcare in America right now is in danger of making a mistake that has derailed past efforts: throwing money at parents without providing enough care for them to spend it on,” Mickelson wrote for Vox.

That is the central flaw in Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s “free” (taxpayer-funded) child care scheme: the state opened the floodgates for taxpayer-funded demand, but failed to ensure there were enough child care providers, classrooms, workers, and infant-care slots to meet it.

According to Vox, New Mexico increased the number of children receiving child care assistance vouchers by 78% from 2019 to 2025. But over that same period, the state’s regulated child care capacity grew by just 1.9%, from 70,108 slots to 71,455.

In other words, Democrats handed out more taxpayer-funded promises while the actual supply of care barely budged.

Vox noted that the state’s own estimates showed New Mexico still needs nearly 16,000 physical child care slots and at least 5,000 new professionals to staff them. Those targets, according to the article, remain unmet.

Mickelson described the state’s approach as a “textbook policy failure,” writing that New Mexico prioritized “expanding demand-side subsidies” and giving parents vouchers for free child care, while failing to sufficiently increase the number of places where families can actually bring their children.

That means the program may be “universal” in politicians’ press releases, but not in the real world.

One early childhood leader in McKinley County told Vox, “There is universal childcare, but at the same time, there are not enough providers.” She added, “Although it’s universal, it really isn’t accessible across the board.”

The problem is especially severe for infants and toddlers, who require more adults per child and are therefore more expensive to care for. Vox cited Legislative Finance Committee data showing the share of children under age 2 enrolled in the state’s assistance program dropped from 21.3% in 2020 to just 11.6% in 2025.

The result is exactly what critics warned about: a massive new government entitlement that sounds generous on paper but does not magically create workers, buildings, classrooms, or quality care.

The financial picture is no better.

Senate Bill 241, the Democrat-backed universal child care law, allows lawmakers to appropriate up to $700 million between 2026 and 2031 from the Early Childhood Education and Care Fund, according to the governor’s office. The fiscal year 2027 budget includes a $160 million increase for child care assistance, bringing the total child care budget to $606 million, plus another $30 million over three years for wage scale and career ladder support.

But legislative analysts warned that the plan does not create a new recurring revenue source to match the ongoing costs. The fiscal impact report for SB 241 states the bill’s $700 million transfer authority supports “near-term expenditures” but “does not establish a new recurring revenue source aligned with the projected ongoing costs of the program,” leaving long-term funding as a future recurring liability. The report estimated the incremental funding gap needed to sustain the expansion could reach approximately $340 million to $400 million annually by the close of fiscal year 2029.

Searchlight New Mexico reported in May that the Early Childhood Education and Care Department started overspending just weeks into the expansion, with Legislative Finance Committee analysts warning that unexpected enrollment increases could complicate budgeting in future years and raise questions about the program’s sustainability.

Even the Associated Press noted that lawmakers left the door open to future copayments if public finances deteriorate, despite Democrats’ sales pitch of “free” care for families of all income levels.

That is the problem with government freebies: eventually, the bill comes due.

The governor and her allies claimed New Mexico would be a “national model” for early childhood care and education. But Vox’s critique suggests New Mexico may instead become a national warning sign — proof that politicians cannot simply declare something “free,” subsidize demand, and expect supply, quality, and affordability problems to disappear.

The article also pointed to failed or troubled rollouts in places like Quebec and South Korea, where governments rapidly expanded subsidies without first building enough supply and workforce capacity. According to Vox, those efforts produced consequences ranging from years-long waitlists to quality concerns.

To be clear, Vox’s author wants universal child care to work. That is what makes the criticism so damning. This is not a conservative opponent saying the idea is unaffordable, unrealistic, and poorly executed. This is a supporter of the concept warning that New Mexico’s version is built on the same mistakes that have caused similar schemes to falter elsewhere.

New Mexico Democrats sold universal child care as a landmark achievement. But families cannot enroll their children in a press release. They need actual providers. They need actual classrooms. They need actual workers. And taxpayers need a program that does not blow through hundreds of millions of dollars while still failing to deliver what politicians promised.

Even Vox is now saying the quiet part out loud: New Mexico’s “free” universal child care experiment is not living up to the hype.

Even supporters say MLG, Dems botched ‘universal child care’ Read More »

MLG tells Democrat men to stay home

16 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham raised eyebrows this week after telling a Democratic National Committee audience that Democrat women don’t need men to win elections — before quickly attempting to walk back the remark moments later.

Speaking Thursday before the Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee in Washington, D.C., Lujan Grisham was helping make the case for moving New Mexico’s presidential primary earlier in the 2028 election cycle. During her remarks, however, it was an off-the-cuff comment about male voters that quickly drew attention online.

“If women, Democratic women, just show up and vote, we’re good. We don’t need any of the men,” Lujan Grisham said.

The governor immediately appeared to recognize the political problem with the statement and attempted to clarify.

“I want the men,” she added shortly afterward.

The comments came as Lujan Grisham discussed the Democrat Party’s ongoing struggles with certain voting blocs, particularly Hispanic men. During her presentation, she acknowledged that her own political coalition had shifted during her reelection campaign, citing frustrations among some Hispanic male voters over COVID-era policies and border-related issues.

The remarks quickly spread across social media, where critics seized on the governor’s initial statement.

Robby Starbuck, a Heritage Foundation visiting fellow and social media personality, shared a video of the exchange on X and mocked the governor’s message.

“Incredible. Just incredible. Democrats should definitely run on this message in 2026,” Starbuck wrote, accompanied by a laughing emoji.

The viral moment overshadowed much of the governor’s broader presentation, which was intended to persuade Democrat Party leaders that New Mexico deserves a prominent role in the next presidential nominating process.

According to reporting from Source New Mexico, Lujan Grisham and state Democrat Party officials argued that New Mexico is uniquely positioned to test Democratic messaging because it is a majority-minority border state with a significant rural population. Party officials highlighted concerns about Democrat erosion among Hispanic voters, especially Hispanic men, and argued that trends seen nationally are playing out in New Mexico as well.

State Democrat Party Executive Director Sean Ward told committee members that “the voters that we’re losing nationally are in New Mexico,” pointing specifically to border security concerns and changing voting patterns among Hispanic men.

Lujan Grisham also argued that immigration and border issues affect New Mexico differently than many other states, saying national conversations often fail to recognize the unique realities faced by Southwestern border communities.

But for many observers, those policy arguments were overshadowed by the governor’s comments about male voters.

The episode comes at a time when Democrats nationwide are grappling with declining support among working-class voters, rural voters, and men. Post-election analyses following the 2024 presidential election showed significant movement toward Republicans among Hispanic men and other demographic groups that Democrats have traditionally relied upon.

Ironically, Lujan Grisham’s own presentation acknowledged those challenges. Yet her suggestion that Democratic women alone could carry elections without men immediately became the headline moment of the event.

Whether intended as a joke, a moment of enthusiasm, or a serious political observation, the governor’s comments provided fresh ammunition to critics who argue that Democrats increasingly dismiss or alienate male voters.

MLG tells Democrat men to stay home Read More »

‘Breaking Bodycams’ exposes the crime stories NM media sanitizes or buries

10 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

A new YouTube project is aiming to show New Mexicans the raw, disturbing public safety cases that its creators say are being underreported, sanitized, or ignored by legacy media outlets.

The project, called Breaking Bodycams, publishes raw law enforcement body camera footage and case information involving violent crimes, illegal immigration, drug trafficking, cartel-linked activity, and other cases its creators say the public deserves to see for itself.

The channel can be found on YouTube at youtube.com/@breakingbodycams.

According to information provided about the project, the focus is to provide “raw bodycam videos and information about stories that are either underreported, or completely ignored.” The goal is to release at least two videos per week.

The first major case being highlighted by the channel involves Ruben Dario Gonzalez, a Venezuelan national accused in the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl in the Albuquerque area.

In the Breaking Bodycams video, the narrator says, “Rubén Darío González is not from Albuquerque, as the local legacy media inaccurately reported. Instead, González is from Venezuela. He told police he crossed the border into the United States claiming he deserves asylum.”

The video states that Gonzalez was charged with six felonies and one misdemeanor, has pleaded not guilty, and is awaiting trial.

The case was also discussed on the Scott Jennings Show, where longtime New Mexico political strategist Jay McCleskey said the project was created to bypass media filters and give the public access to the underlying records and footage.

“You basically have it exactly right,” McCleskey said after Jennings described the project as using court records, government documents, and bodycam footage to show cases involving foreign nationals and illegal immigrants accused of serious crimes. “I mean, as you know, I do campaigns and we’ve talked about these cases for a long time and we find the records and we put them in campaigns. You try to talk to the media, but it just gets censored.”

McCleskey said this particular case pushed him to launch the project.

“And finally, this case, when this case you’re talking about occurred, it set me over the top,” he said. “And I said, you know what, I know what these cases are because we’ve done the research. And so I’ve started requesting body cams for them and basically figured we’re going to go around the media. We’re going to show the public exactly what is happening in these cases.”

According to McCleskey’s description of the case, the 13-year-old girl was skateboarding in February when a man approached her and allegedly claimed her father had sent him as an Uber driver.

“He spoke his very broken English,” McCleskey said. “She didn’t know what was going on, but she thought maybe my dad sent him as an Uber.”

McCleskey said the suspect then allegedly kidnapped and assaulted the girl through the night before she was able to escape around 6 a.m. by convincing him to let her use the restroom at a gas station. Instead, she found a Good Samaritan in a vehicle and asked for help.

“The Good Samaritan calls 911,” McCleskey said. “So what you see in the body cam where it opens is the police officer pulls up, and as he’s pulling up, the victim, who we blur obviously, and the Good Samaritan point out the suspect, who suddenly flees.”

McCleskey praised the responding officers.

“The police officers acted great. They did a great job. They apprehended him right away,” he said.

But McCleskey said the larger issue is what the public was not told clearly when the story first broke.

“But again, when the story breaks, the public here doesn’t know anything,” he said. “It’s 34-year-old Albuquerque man.”

That is the central argument behind Breaking Bodycams: that New Mexicans are often given vague descriptions of suspects and incomplete reporting on violent crimes, especially when the accused offender’s immigration status or foreign-national background may raise uncomfortable questions about sanctuary policies, border enforcement, and public safety.

McCleskey said one outlet, the Santa Fe New Mexican, mentioned that Gonzalez told police he was from Venezuela and seeking political asylum. But he said Albuquerque television outlets did not emphasize that fact.

“All the TV stations, all the Albuquerque — none of them mentioned it,” McCleskey said.

He argued that the omission matters because it prevents the public from understanding the consequences of New Mexico’s sanctuary policies.

“The public deserves the truth because there’s a quick, easy solution to this, which is to end sanctuary policies,” McCleskey said. “And we’re a sanctuary state and a sanctuary city in Albuquerque.”

McCleskey also said the channel will not stop with one case. He said Breaking Bodycams plans to highlight drug trafficking and cartel-linked cases, including a forthcoming video involving an Arizona sheriff’s deputy traffic stop tied to fentanyl pills headed toward New Mexico.

“We’re going to start in New Mexico, but we’re going to bring it nationally,” he said.

The project arrives as New Mexico continues facing intense concerns over violent crime, fentanyl, cartel activity, and the effects of border-state policies. McCleskey argued that Albuquerque’s status as a “catch-and-release city” creates conditions that benefit criminals.

“If you’re a cartel, you’re operating in a catch-and-release city that is a sanctuary city,” he said. “They’re never going to hold an illegal immigrant in jail, so you’re going to get released back on the street within 24 hours.”

He also pointed to New Mexico’s driver’s license policies, saying Gonzalez had a New Mexico driver’s license despite allegedly being in the country illegally.

“This man who’s in the country illegally kidnapped and raped this girl had a New Mexico driver’s license,” McCleskey said.

The case remains pending, and Gonzalez has pleaded not guilty.

For viewers, Breaking Bodycams is offering a direct challenge to the way crime is often packaged by legacy outlets. Instead of relying on sanitized headlines or brief police summaries, the project is asking New Mexicans to watch the footage, examine the facts, and decide for themselves.

Those interested can watch and subscribe at youtube.com/@breakingbodycams.

‘Breaking Bodycams’ exposes the crime stories NM media sanitizes or buries Read More »

Gabe Vasquez’s latest immigration push says it all

24 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez is once again showing where his immigration priorities stand, pressuring the federal government to move faster on deportation protections and work permits for DACA recipients while southern New Mexicans continue facing concerns over border security, crime, fentanyl, and public safety.

According to Organ Mountain News, Vasquez sent a letter Wednesday to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow demanding action over delays in Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals renewal processing. Vasquez warned that thousands of DACA recipients in New Mexico could lose work authorization and deportation protections even after submitting paperwork on time.

“New Mexico is home to more than 4,000 DACA recipients who have built their lives here, followed the rules, and know no other home,” Vasquez said in a statement. “These New Mexicans are playing by the rules and have done everything the right way, but because USCIS is failing to process renewals on time, they could lose their work authorization and face deportation. That is unacceptable.”

DACA was created under the Obama administration in 2012 and gives temporary deportation protections and work permits to certain illegal immigrants brought into the United States as children. Recipients must renew their status every two years and continue meeting eligibility requirements.

Vasquez’s office claims renewal wait times have increased nearly 400% since 2025. His office also said more than 40 DACA recipients have contacted staff this year after filing within USCIS’ recommended 120- to 150-day renewal window, paying fees, and submitting required documents.

According to the report, some applicants could face lapses in work authorization, deportation protections, and health insurance coverage if renewals are not processed quickly enough.

In his letter, Vasquez argued that DACA recipients “have done their part and USCIS should do the same.”

But Vasquez’s latest immigration push is not happening in a vacuum. It follows a long record of hard-left positions on immigration and border enforcement that have drawn criticism from Republicans and public safety advocates across New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District.

As the Piñon Post has previously reported, Vasquez has repeatedly attacked immigration enforcement, including inflammatory rhetoric aimed at ICE. He has said ICE needs “melting” and accused the agency of having “no regard” for immigrants’ “humanity,” comments that critics say show hostility toward the very enforcement agencies tasked with securing the border and removing illegal immigrants.

Vasquez also bragged about voting against the Laken Riley Act, legislation named after the Georgia nursing student murdered by an illegal immigrant. The measure was designed to require federal immigration authorities to detain illegal immigrants accused of certain crimes, including theft-related offenses.

For Republicans, that vote became another example of Vasquez siding with Washington Democrats’ open-borders agenda instead of prioritizing public safety.

Now, instead of demanding tougher enforcement, stronger border security, or consequences for illegal immigration, Vasquez is using his office to push federal officials to move more quickly on preserving deportation protections and work permits for DACA recipients.

The congressman’s office claims New Mexico’s more than 4,000 DACA recipients contribute over $47 million annually in state and local taxes. His office also said about 2,400 children in the state have at least one parent who is a DACA recipient.

Vasquez also supports the American Dream and Promise Act, which would create a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients — another signal that his immigration platform goes far beyond temporary relief and into broader amnesty-style policy.

Supporters of DACA argue recipients were brought to the United States as children, built lives in local communities, and should not be punished for decisions made by their parents. But critics argue Washington’s repeated expansion of protections for illegal immigrants encourages more illegal immigration, weakens enforcement, and ignores the concerns of citizens living in border states.

Those concerns are especially potent in southern New Mexico, where voters regularly deal with the effects of the border crisis, including human smuggling, cartel activity, fentanyl trafficking, strained law enforcement resources, and pressure on local communities.

The contrast is likely to become a major issue in the 2026 race. Vasquez is facing Republican Greg Cunningham, a Marine combat veteran and retired Albuquerque police detective, who is expected to make public safety, law enforcement, and border security central themes of his campaign.

The fight over DACA renewals may sound bureaucratic, but it reflects a much larger divide: whether New Mexico’s representatives should prioritize border enforcement and the safety of American citizens, or continue expanding protections for people who entered or remained in the country illegally.

Vasquez has made his position clear. As New Mexicans continue demanding secure borders and safer communities, he is laser-focused on making sure DACA protections and work permits move faster through Washington.

Gabe Vasquez’s latest immigration push says it all Read More »

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