Politics

Massive undecided vote keeps GOP governor primary in flux

2 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

A new poll suggests former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, who is endorsed by New Mexico State University College Republicans, currently holds the edge in New Mexico’s Republican gubernatorial primary, but with a massive share of voters still undecided, the race remains far from settled just weeks before ballots are cast.

According to a new poll conducted by Research & Polling Inc. for the Albuquerque Journal, Hull leads the Republican field with 30% support among likely GOP and participating independent primary voters. Small businessman Doug Turner follows with 21%, while former Cabinet secretary and businessman Duke Rodriguez trails at 9%. A striking 40% of respondents remain undecided, underscoring how fluid the race still is heading into early voting.

“Republican voters are still getting to know their three candidates for governor, so the race is up for grabs,” pollster Brian Sanderoff told the Albuquerque Journal.

The numbers suggest that while Hull has built an early advantage, no candidate has yet consolidated the Republican electorate in the open-seat contest to replace term-limited Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

One likely factor is name recognition. As the Journal noted, none of the three Republican contenders has previously held statewide or federal elected office, leaving many voters still unfamiliar with the field. Hull’s current lead may be aided by his 12-year tenure as mayor of Rio Rancho, the state’s third-largest city, giving him stronger visibility in the Albuquerque metro area and north-central New Mexico.

That regional strength appears to be fueling his advantage. The poll found Hull holds a commanding lead in both the Albuquerque metro and north-central parts of the state.

However, the race is far more competitive elsewhere.

Turner, who is endorsed by former Congresswoman Yvette Herrell, outperformed Hull in eastern New Mexico, traditionally one of the state’s most conservative regions, where 27% of voters surveyed backed Turner compared to 19% for Hull, according to the Journal. In southern and southwestern New Mexico, meanwhile, more than half of voters remain undecided, suggesting that region could become a decisive late battleground.

Rodriguez, who has the endorsement of former Gov. Gary Johnson, while trailing overall, showed stronger support among independent voters participating in the GOP primary under New Mexico’s new semi-open primary system. The Journal reported that 14% of independent voters surveyed backed Rodriguez, higher than his showing among registered Republicans.

A political action committee called Protect Our NM has been casting doubt on Rodriguez’s eligibility for the ballot via mailers, writing, “If Duke Rodriguez becomes the Republican nominee, Democrats could file to remove him from the ballot—potentially clearing the way for their far-left candidate to become governor with no Republican opposition.” It is unclear who is funding the the PAC, overseen by prominent political consultant Chris Cupit, but it will become evident when the next campaign filings are due in mid-May.

This comes as allies of Rodriguez’s campaign have been attacking Turner for alleged COVID-19-era contracts, which they are claiming are tied to Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Those claims, however, have not yet been substantiated with facts.

This year marks the first primary election under New Mexico’s semi-open primary law, which allows declined-to-state voters to choose a Republican or Democratic ballot without changing party registration. The impact of those voters remains uncertain, but their participation adds a new variable to the race.

The poll also highlights the fundraising disadvantage Republicans face heading into the general election. According to the Journal, the three Republican candidates combined had raised only about $1.5 million as of last month, compared to nearly $11 million raised by Democratic frontrunner Deb Haaland.

Still, the GOP primary itself remains highly competitive.

Unlike bruising primaries seen in other states, the three Republican candidates have largely avoided attacking one another so far, instead focusing their fire on Democrats and outlining similar conservative policy priorities. They largely agreed during this week’s KOAT gubernatorial debate, with one notable disagreement over the future of the state fairgrounds.

With early voting beginning Tuesday and four in ten Republican voters still undecided, the next several weeks could prove decisive.

Hull may currently lead, but the latest polling suggests New Mexico Republicans have not yet made up their minds — and the GOP nomination remains very much in play.

Republican candidates split on major NM issues in TV debate

Massive undecided vote keeps GOP governor primary in flux Read More »

Fashion magazine, MS NOW celebrate MLG being NM’s freebie queen

16 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is being celebrated by left-wing media and fashion elites as a national “Power Mom” for turning New Mexico into a testing ground for taxpayer-funded progressive social programs.

Lujan Grisham announced this week that she has been named to Marie Claire’s 2026 “Power Moms” list, an honor bestowed by the fashion and lifestyle publication on women it says are “making a difference for women and children.” The governor is set to receive the award Thursday night at an event in New York City.

The recognition comes largely because of her push to make New Mexico the first state in the nation to offer so-called “universal child care,” a sweeping taxpayer-funded entitlement program she has repeatedly touted as a national model.

“What an honor to join Marie Claire magazine’s 2026 list of ‘Power Moms’ making a difference for women and children!” Lujan Grisham wrote on X. “When we empower women by helping them with child care everyone wins.”

The governor also thanked MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) personality Mika Brzezinski and the hosts of Morning Joe for highlighting New Mexico’s program in a glowing segment on Friday, where the panel praised Grisham for her progressive agenda.

Brzezinski gushed to the governor, “You’re on this list, again, for your determination in making New Mexico the first state in the nation to offer universal child care.”

Meanwhile, Marie Claire Editor-in-Chief Nikki Ogunnaike applauded Grisham for “tak[ing] a stand for universal child care,” adding that the women honored this year are “reshaping the culture around motherhood.”

The magazine’s profile of Lujan Grisham, titled “Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, the Universal Child Care Whisperer,” portrays the governor as a trailblazer for building what it frames as a groundbreaking new welfare model.

Marie Claire praised her for using New Mexico’s oil and gas wealth to help balloon the state’s Early Childhood Trust Fund from $320 million in 2020 to $9 billion by 2024, providing the financial backbone for the program.

But the accolades come as the governor’s signature “freebie” program faces mounting legal and political trouble at home.

As previously reported first by Piñon Post, Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez recently scored an early courtroom victory against the administration after a district judge ordered the state to cease enforcement of several child care regulations tied to the program unless officials can justify them in court.

Rodriguez’s lawsuit alleges the administration unlawfully created the universal child care program without proper legislative authorization, without sufficient appropriation, and without following required rulemaking procedures.

The court’s Alternative Writ of Mandamus stated the challenged rules may have been enacted “without legislative authorization and without the necessary appropriation.”

That legal cloud has done little to stop national progressive media from celebrating Grisham’s agenda.

In addition to universal child care, Marie Claire highlighted several other taxpayer-funded initiatives championed by the governor, including:

  • 12 weeks of paid parental leave for state employees
  • Universal free school meals for K-12 students
  • Plans to expand paid leave mandates further statewide

To supporters, Grisham is a progressive innovator. To critics, she is simply the latest Democrat governor using temporary oil and gas windfalls to build an ever-expanding welfare state while seeking praise from elite national media.

The irony, critics note, is that while New York media outlets celebrate New Mexico as a progressive policy laboratory, many working New Mexicans continue to struggle with rising crime, poor schools, and one of the nation’s worst poverty rates.

Nonetheless, in the eyes of Manhattan magazine editors and MS NOW hosts, Lujan Grisham’s legacy appears secure: New Mexico’s “freebie queen” is now a certified “Power Mom.”

Fashion magazine, MS NOW celebrate MLG being NM’s freebie queen Read More »

New Mexico’s voter rolls are changing fast after primary overhaul

13 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

New voter registration data suggest New Mexico’s political landscape may be shifting in ways that could reshape future primaries, with both major parties losing registrants while “declined to state” voters surge following Democrats’ overhaul of the state’s primary election system.

According to the latest 2026 voter registration update compiled by Decision Desk HQ, New Mexico now has 1,422,544 total registered voters, with Democrats maintaining a registration advantage of 130,077 voters over Republicans. But beneath the surface, the latest numbers show notable movement away from both major parties and toward independent registration.

Democrats currently hold 573,297 registered voters, Republicans have 443,220, and voters registered as “other” or declined to state (DTS) now total 406,027.

Compared to April, Democrat registration dropped by 257 voters, while Republican registration fell by 378. Meanwhile, DTS/other registration surged by 6,731 voters in just one month.

The spike comes less than a year after Democrats and a handful of Republicans in the New Mexico Legislature passed legislation opening partisan primary elections to independent and DTS voters for the first time in state history.

Under the new law, voters registered as DTS can now choose either a Republican or Democrat ballot in the primary without permanently changing their registration, a major departure from New Mexico’s longtime closed-primary system.

Critics warned at the time that the change would incentivize voters to abandon party registration altogether while still participating in partisan nomination contests, potentially diluting party identity and encouraging crossover voting.

The newest numbers may be showing exactly that.

Since November 2024, Democrat registration has fallen from 590,301 to 573,297, a drop of 17,004 voters. Republicans have grown modestly from 435,362 to 443,220, a gain of 7,858, but that increase is dwarfed by the growth in DTS/other registration, which exploded from 351,422 to 406,027, an increase of 54,605 voters.

That means unaffiliated and third-party registration has grown nearly seven times faster than Republican registration since the last presidential election.

The trend raises significant questions about how the new semi-open primary system may affect both parties, particularly in competitive primaries where independent voters could now help determine nominees.

Some political observers speculate that left-leaning voters may be strategically registering DTS to preserve the ability to participate in either party’s primary depending on where they believe they can have the most influence. Others argue many voters simply prefer no formal party affiliation now that they can still cast a primary ballot.

Regardless of motive, the numbers suggest New Mexico’s electorate is becoming less tied to party labels even as Democrats continue to hold a substantial registration edge.

Still, that Democrat advantage has been shrinking over time.

In November 2016, Democrats led Republicans in registration by 199,883 voters.
By November 2020, that lead had fallen to 185,848.
By November 2022, it was 177,966.
By November 2024, it had narrowed further to 154,939.
Now, as of May 2026, the Democrat advantage stands at 130,077.

That represents a total Democrat registration advantage decline of nearly 70,000 voters over the past decade.

Yet despite the narrowing registration gap, Democrats still won New Mexico in the 2024 presidential election by just 6 points, according to the graphic.

Whether the continued rise of DTS voters ultimately benefits Republicans, Democrats, or neither remains to be seen.

New Mexico’s voter rolls are changing fast after primary overhaul Read More »

Meta drops bombshell warning ahead of NM trial

30 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Social media giant Meta is threatening to shut down access to Facebook, Instagram, and even WhatsApp in New Mexico if a judge orders the company to implement sweeping child-safety mandates sought by Attorney General Raúl Torrez.

The warning comes ahead of a bench trial beginning Monday in Santa Fe, where the New Mexico Department of Justice will seek court-ordered reforms to Meta’s platforms after previously securing a $375 million jury verdict against the company for violating the state’s consumer protection laws.

According to newly unsealed court filings first reported by Source New Mexico and expanded upon by The Verge, Meta says the state’s requested relief is so broad and burdensome that compliance may be impossible—leaving a full withdrawal from New Mexico as its only realistic option.

“Granting this onerous relief could compel Meta to entirely withdraw Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp from the State as the only feasible means of compliance,” the company said in its filing.

Meta argues that New Mexico’s demands would require the company to build entirely separate New Mexico-specific versions of its platforms, which it says would make little economic or engineering sense.

Mariia Shalabaieva, Unsplash.

“It does not make economic or engineering sense for Meta to build separate apps just for New Mexico residents,” the filing states.

The company further argued that many of the state’s proposed mandates are “technologically or practically infeasible,” and that some are so vague they violate Meta’s due process rights because the company would have no clear way of knowing whether it was in compliance.

Among the most aggressive changes sought by Torrez, according to court filings and reporting from The Verge and the New York Post, are requirements that Meta:

  • Ban infinite scroll, autoplay, and push notifications during school and sleeping hours for minors
  • Cap New Mexico minors’ use of Meta platforms at 90 hours per month
  • Implement age-verification systems for users
  • Detect 99 percent of newly uploaded child sexual abuse material (CSAM)
  • Reject underage accounts with near-perfect accuracy
  • Prohibit end-to-end encryption for minors
  • Display warning labels about risks associated with platform use
  • Permanently ban adults found engaging in child exploitation
  • Submit to oversight by an independent compliance monitor or committee

Meta says many of those requirements are unrealistic and impossible to guarantee in practice.

“Nor could Meta guarantee the perfection the State demands, making it impractical for Meta to operate in New Mexico,” the company argued.

Attorney General Torrez blasted the threat, accusing Meta of putting profits ahead of children’s safety.

“Meta is showing the world how little it cares about child safety,” Torrez said in a statement reported by KOAT 7.

“Meta’s refusal to follow the laws that protect our kids tells you everything you need to know about this company and the character of its leaders.”

Torrez also rejected Meta’s argument that the requested reforms are impossible, asserting the company has repeatedly altered its products and policies when it served its business interests.

“For years the company has rewritten its own rules, redesigned its products, and even bent to the demands of dictators to preserve market access,” Torrez said. “Meta simply refuses to place the safety of children ahead of engagement, advertising revenue, and profit.”

The current bench trial is the second phase of New Mexico’s broader legal battle against Meta, which began in December 2023, when Torrez sued the company and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, alleging Meta knowingly designed addictive products harmful to children and failed to adequately protect minors from exploitation.

Meta has said it plans to appeal the jury’s prior $375 million verdict.

The case is drawing national attention as one of the most aggressive state-level attempts yet to force judicial restructuring of a major social media platform’s business model.

If the judge grants New Mexico’s requested injunction and Meta follows through on its threat, New Mexico could become the first state in the nation to lose access to Meta’s core social media platforms as a result of court-ordered regulatory demands.

Meta drops bombshell warning ahead of NM trial Read More »

Republican candidates split on major NM issues in TV debate

26 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

New Mexico’s three Republican gubernatorial candidates squared off Wednesday night in a televised, 30-minute KOAT debate, offering voters a clearer picture of where the GOP primary contenders stand on taxes, education, crime, immigration, and the future of the state fairgrounds as the June 2 primary approaches.

The debate featured Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, businessman and former Human Services Secretary Duke Rodriguez, and businessman Doug Turner.

While the candidates largely agreed on broad conservative themes such as cutting taxes, supporting ICE detention contracts, and criticizing Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s outgoing administration, the debate also revealed notable differences on policy specifics and governing style.

All three candidates pointed to New Mexico’s crime and education crises as top priorities, though each emphasized different root causes and solutions.

Rodriguez argued crime is the state’s single biggest issue, saying it touches nearly every other policy area.

“When we deal with crime, we talk about fixing poverty, fixing a failing education system, dealing with mental health, addiction,” Rodriguez said. “All those issues collide.”

Hull, meanwhile, said education is the foundational issue.

“If we’re not educating our kids, we are failing them,” Hull said, arguing better schools would strengthen the workforce and reduce long-term crime.

Turner focused heavily on educational outcomes and CYFD failures, noting that nearly half of New Mexico’s third graders cannot read at grade level.

“We have been failing our children in this state for 30 years, and that has to end now,” Turner said.

All three Republicans blasted the recently enacted law banning local governments from contracting with ICE detention facilities.

Turner argued the law harms rural economies and makes little practical sense.

“ICE is going to use facilities somewhere,” Turner said. “They might as well go to our state and promote economic growth in those communities.”

Rodriguez said the law unfairly assumes New Mexico counties cannot run detention facilities humanely.

Hull said shutting down such contracts “sends a message that we’re not willing to hold people accountable.”

Perhaps the strongest consensus of the night came on tax reform, with all three candidates calling for major reductions.

Rodriguez took the most aggressive stance, promising sweeping tax elimination.

“I said eliminate state personal income tax,” Rodriguez declared. “Eliminate New Mexico gross receipts tax on all retail sales.”

Hull similarly endorsed eliminating the state income tax while calling for broader reform of gross receipts and property taxes.

Turner proposed reducing the personal income tax to 3% over time while also pursuing long-term gross receipts tax reform.

The debate’s clearest divide emerged over the future of Expo New Mexico and the state fairgrounds.

Hull strongly backed keeping the fairgrounds in its current Albuquerque location.

“The state fair needs to stay right where it’s at,” Hull said, calling it part of the city’s and state’s identity.

Turner broke with Hull, arguing the site should be redeveloped for more productive uses and the fair moved elsewhere.

“We’re 32,000 housing units short in this state,” Turner said, suggesting the land could be used for housing, a stadium, or other redevelopment.

Rodriguez took a middle-ground approach, saying the decision should be left to the next administration after stakeholder input.

The candidates also offered varying critiques of the state’s universal child care program.

Rodriguez, who recently sued the Lujan Grisham administration over the initiative, reiterated that he supports child care assistance but argued the current rollout is unlawful and unsustainable.

“It has to be a program that is lawful, legal, and sustainable,” Rodriguez said.

Turner said he supports the concept but wants means testing added.

“An extremely wealthy person shouldn’t have the state paying for their child care,” Turner said.

Hull questioned whether the state has the infrastructure and budget capacity to sustain the program long-term.

With early voting beginning May 5, the debate gave Republican voters one of their final major opportunities to compare the three candidates side by side.

Though all three candidates offered similar criticism of Democratic governance, Wednesday’s debate showed meaningful differences in tone, priorities, and policy specifics that could shape the outcome of the increasingly competitive GOP primary.

The winner will advance to face the Democratic nominee in November, along with independent candidate former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima.

WATCH:

Republican candidates split on major NM issues in TV debate Read More »

Gabe Vasquez votes against DHS funding, attacks ICE as race tightens

18 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez is once again facing scrutiny after joining other New Mexico Democrat congressional representatives, Teresa Leger Fernandez (CD-3) and Melanie Stansbury (CD-1), and voting against advancing funding for the Department of Homeland Security while simultaneously launching another rhetorical broadside against Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a move likely to further inflame concerns among moderates in his increasingly competitive southern New Mexico district.

Vasquez joined House Democrats this week in opposing a Republican-backed budget framework designed to unlock funding for border enforcement and immigration operations through the reconciliation process. According to Fox News, the House approved the measure 215–211, with every Democrat present voting against it while Republicans unanimously supported it.

The vote comes as the Department of Homeland Security has been operating under a funding lapse for more than 70 days, with the White House warning that DHS personnel could soon go unpaid if funding is not restored. According to Fox News, the administration has warned that absent congressional action, personnel including Secret Service agents, Coast Guard members, and other DHS employees could miss paychecks beginning in May. Vasquez in early April visited the Albuquerque Sunport to claim to support TSA agents, despite repeatedly voting against funding them via DHS.

But rather than support the funding measure, Vasquez issued a press release celebrating his opposition and attacking ICE directly.

“ICE doesn’t need another blank check to bankroll more violence, mass detention, and assaults on American citizens,” Vasquez said. He further blasted the proposal as a “slush fund” and accused immigration enforcement authorities of engaging in “racial profiling of Hispanic people and communities.”

The comments are likely to provide fresh ammunition to Republicans already targeting Vasquez as out of step with his district on immigration and public safety.

Earlier this month, Vasquez fled New Mexico for El Paso to attempt to close down the Texas-based ICE facility, Camp East Montana, claiming it is dangerous and unsafe, despite so many facts to the contrary.

National Republicans quickly seized on the vote, arguing it further demonstrates Vasquez’s hostility toward immigration enforcement and law enforcement generally.

The latest vote adds to a growing record of anti-ICE positioning by the Democrat congressman. Vasquez previously called for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s impeachment and has repeatedly pushed legislation demanding tighter restrictions and oversight on ICE detention and removal operations.

His stance comes at a time when immigration remains one of the top concerns for voters nationally and in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, a border-heavy battleground seat Republicans are aggressively targeting in 2026.

The timing may also prove politically awkward for Vasquez given the broader national climate surrounding Democrats and immigration enforcement.

His vote comes amid mounting criticism of Democrat politicians increasingly adopting anti-ICE rhetoric, including some on the left openly calling for the agency’s abolition. That broader trend has become a political flashpoint as Republicans seek to tie vulnerable Democrats to what they portray as radical immigration positions.

Republicans are already framing NM-02 as one of their top pickup opportunities in the country, with GOP challenger Greg Cunningham receiving backing from President Donald Trump, House GOP leadership, and the National Republican Congressional Committee, as the Piñon Post previously reported on.

With the race expected to be one of the most competitive in the nation, Vasquez’s continued opposition to border enforcement funding and his repeated attacks on ICE may further complicate his efforts to hold onto a district that Trump carried in 2024.

For Republicans, the message is straightforward: Gabe Vasquez is once again siding against immigration enforcement and DHS funding while border security remains a top concern for voters.

Whether that message resonates with swing voters in southern New Mexico may help determine who wins one of the most hotly contested congressional races of 2026.

Vasquez jumps state lines to attack ICE facility outside NM

Gabe Vasquez votes against DHS funding, attacks ICE as race tightens Read More »

Young men were allegedly gang raped at Epstein’s Zorro Ranch: report

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Shocking new allegations tied to Jeffrey Epstein’s New Mexico ranch are surfacing, with a horrific bombshell report from The Sun detailing claims that men were drugged and gang raped at Epstein’s secluded Zorro Ranch in what could mark one of the most disturbing revelations yet connected to the disgraced sex trafficker’s empire.

According to a report by The Sun, the allegations were aired in a recent Australian 60 Minutes documentary examining alleged abuse and possible cover-ups tied to Epstein’s 7,500-acre Zorro Ranch near Stanley, New Mexico.

Among the most explosive claims is testimony from an alleged witness who reportedly said he was brought to the ranch, drugged, and forced to witness horrific abuse involving multiple young men.

According to The Sun, the alleged victim described being drugged and witnessing “multiple young men” being raped at the ranch after he was incapacitated.

The allegation marks one of the first widely publicized claims suggesting Epstein’s alleged abuse network may have targeted male victims at the ranch in addition to women and girls.

The documentary, as cited by The Sun, states the alleged conduct adds to growing evidence that Epstein and his associates may have operated a far broader abuse network than previously understood.

The allegations add a grim new dimension to the ongoing scrutiny surrounding Zorro Ranch, which has long been viewed as one of the least-investigated of Epstein’s major properties despite repeated claims from survivors that abuse occurred there.

Survivor Chauntae Davies, who was trafficked by Epstein to multiple properties, described Zorro Ranch as the most terrifying place she encountered in Epstein’s network.

“The scariest was Zorro Ranch,” Davies said in the documentary, according to The Sun. “It’s in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by mountains and miles and miles of dirt.”

Davies said the isolated nature of the ranch made it especially frightening.

“There was a lot of time being in my room like a mouse in a trap waiting for a knock on the door,” she said.

When asked what happened when summoned by Epstein, Davies responded, according to The Sun: “Rape, full on, forced on sexual rape.”

The new claims come amid renewed efforts by New Mexico officials to investigate what may have occurred at the ranch, including separate allegations that women may have been killed and buried on the property.

According to The Sun, authorities have reportedly conducted physical searches and imaging of the sprawling ranch as part of that ongoing investigation.

The allegations are also raising renewed questions about why the property was not more aggressively searched years ago while Epstein was still alive.

Democrat former New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas told The Sun that he still cannot understand why New Mexico was effectively left out of earlier major Epstein investigations.

“For the life of me, I can’t understand why you would leave New Mexico out,” Balderas said.

While the allegations remain unproven and no criminal charges have yet emerged from the latest claims, the report is likely to intensify scrutiny on what may have occurred at Epstein’s remote New Mexico compound.

If substantiated, the allegations would suggest that the horrors at Zorro Ranch were even more depraved and wide-ranging than previously known.

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Journal poll exposes Democrat enthusiasm problem in key NM races

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A new poll from the Albuquerque Journal suggests New Mexico Democrats may be facing a growing enthusiasm problem in several key statewide primary contests, with massive numbers of voters still undecided and some far-left legislative candidates struggling to gain traction despite years in office.

According to the Journal poll, outgoing Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver holds a commanding lead in the Democrat primary for lieutenant governor, pulling 54% support compared to just 10% for state Sen. Harold Pope Jr.. Roughly 36% of voters remain undecided. The poll was conducted by Research & Polling Inc. for the Albuquerque Journal from April 17–24 among likely Democrat primary voters.

The lopsided margin suggests Pope, despite years in the Legislature and heavy promotion from progressive circles, has failed to connect with rank-and-file Democrat voters statewide.

Journal pollster Brian Sanderoff told the paper that Toulouse Oliver’s statewide name recognition is likely fueling her advantage, noting that “name recognition plays an important role in these lower-profile races.”

That dynamic appears to be hurting several other Democrat hopefuls as well.

In the Democrat primary for commissioner of public lands, longtime far-left state Rep. Matthew McQueen is badly underperforming, tied for second place at just 11% despite having served six terms in the Legislature and tyrannically chairing one of the House’s most influential committees.

McQueen trails former Democrat Party insider Juan Sanchez, who leads the race with 20%, while another 58% of voters remain undecided.

For a veteran legislator who has spent years championing left-wing environmental and regulatory policies at the Roundhouse, the showing is a striking sign that McQueen’s far-left record may not be resonating outside the Santa Fe political bubble.

Meanwhile, the Democrat primary for secretary of state is even more unsettled, with fully two-thirds of voters undecided between Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark and Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin, according to the Journal poll.

Taken together, the results paint a picture of a Democrat electorate that appears disengaged and unenthused in several major down-ballot races despite the party’s statewide dominance.

While establishment figures like Toulouse Oliver are benefiting from name recognition and incumbency-adjacent status, lesser-known progressive lawmakers and insiders appear to be struggling to motivate voters.

The poll also suggests that many Democrat voters may know little about the candidates seeking to fill critical statewide offices, including positions overseeing elections and public lands.

That lack of enthusiasm could create openings for Republicans in races Democrats typically expect to win comfortably, especially if GOP nominees can capitalize on voter fatigue with one-party Democratic rule in Santa Fe.

Toulouse Oliver’s lead also comes as she remains embroiled in a high-profile legal fight with President Donald Trump’s administration over access to voter registration records, a battle she has prominently used in campaign messaging.

Still, beyond the lieutenant governor race, the Journal poll indicates many Democrat primary voters remain uncommitted and perhaps unconvinced by the field of candidates their party has put forward.

With early voting beginning on May 5, several Democrat hopefuls now face a difficult reality: despite years in office and establishment backing, many New Mexicans in their own party still do not appear particularly excited to vote for them.

Journal poll exposes Democrat enthusiasm problem in key NM races Read More »

MLG melts down after GOP candidate scores courtroom win

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Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is lashing out after Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez scored an early courtroom victory against her administration’s socialist “universal child care” program, with a state judge ordering the governor’s administration to cease enforcement of several regulations tied to the program unless it can justify them in court.

The sharp rebuke came after Second Judicial District Judge Elaine Lujan issued an Alternative Writ of Mandamus ordering the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department to “immediately cease from any further enforcement” of multiple child care rules challenged in Rodriguez’s lawsuit, or otherwise appear in court and show cause why the state should not be compelled to comply.

Rodriguez had sued the administration arguing that Lujan Grisham unlawfully created the “universal child care” program without proper legislative authorization, without an appropriation to cover its costs, and without following lawful rulemaking procedures.

The court’s writ states that the challenged rules were allegedly enacted “without legislative authorization and without the necessary appropriation to cover the new financial obligations on the State budget imposed by the child care assistance benefit they created by rule.”

Rather than quietly address the ruling, Lujan Grisham erupted in a blistering public statement attacking Rodriguez personally and dismissing his candidacy.

“A third-tier Republican candidate for governor — who lives in Arizona — is using a frivolous lawsuit in a despicable attempt to mislead New Mexico families and generate headlines for a campaign that is going nowhere,” the governor said.

She insisted the child care program “is NOT being shut down” and claimed Rodriguez was “purposely sowing confusion and mistrust.”

But the governor’s response notably came after a district judge declined to dismiss the case outright and instead issued a writ directing her administration to halt enforcement of the challenged rules unless it can successfully defend them.

Rodriguez hailed the ruling as proof his lawsuit exposed serious legal flaws in the governor’s program.

“Today’s order represents a victory for the New Mexico Constitution, for government transparency, and for the people of New Mexico,” Rodriguez said. “The Governor can now choose whether to comply or defy the District Court.”

Rodriguez’s attorney, former Democrat state senator Jacob Candelaria, also mocked the administration’s prior confidence that the case would be thrown out.

“Governor Lujan Grisham’s legal prognosticators predicted the Court would dismiss this suit outright,” Candelaria said. “However, the Court did not simply hand the Governor the result she wanted.”

The dispute centers on Lujan Grisham’s much-publicized September 2025 announcement declaring New Mexico the first state in the nation to offer universal child care. Rodriguez and his co-petitioners argue the governor attempted to create that sweeping entitlement program through executive and administrative action rather than through a properly enacted statute.

The judge’s writ does not permanently strike down the program at this stage. Instead, it gives the administration the option to answer the petition and defend the rules in court, with a hearing scheduled for June 11, 2026.

Still, the ruling is a significant embarrassment for the governor, particularly given the unusually aggressive nature of her response.

Rodriguez seized on that reaction, arguing it shows the administration is panicking.

“I do understand how New Mexico state government works,” Rodriguez said. “The Governor can now do the right thing and start over, or she can continue to create chaos for families.”

The legal fight now threatens to become a flashpoint in the 2026 gubernatorial race, with Rodriguez positioning the case as evidence that Lujan Grisham and her allies have repeatedly overstepped legal boundaries in pursuit of progressive policy goals.

For now, one thing is clear: what the governor touted as a signature achievement of her administration is now under direct judicial scrutiny—and her furious response suggests the ruling hit a nerve.

MLG melts down after GOP candidate scores courtroom win Read More »

Trump DOJ scores massive takedown in historic New Mexico gang case

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President Donald Trump’s administration announced the completion of what federal authorities are calling the largest racketeering prosecution in the history of New Mexico’s federal district, marking the culmination of a decade-long effort to dismantle one of the state’s most violent prison gangs.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico, led by U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, revealed Monday that federal prosecutors have concluded their sweeping prosecution of the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico following the latest round of sentencing hearings, bringing to a close a years-long operation targeting the gang’s leadership, members, and associates.

According to federal officials, the investigation and prosecution ultimately resulted in state and federal charges against 178 individuals tied to the gang.

SNM, which originated in the New Mexico prison system following the infamous 1980 prison riot, has long been regarded as one of the state’s most dangerous criminal organizations. Federal authorities described the gang as a violent racketeering enterprise operating both inside correctional facilities and throughout communities across New Mexico.

Prosecutors said SNM maintained its power through murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, and witness intimidation, operating under a “blood in, blood out” philosophy that required prospective members to commit acts of violence to gain entry.

Using the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and the Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering statute, prosecutors pursued what officials said was one of the most complex criminal enterprise cases ever brought in the state.

The sheer scale of the operation was staggering.

Federal investigators indicted 156 individuals on federal charges involving 325 overt criminal acts spanning from 1980 through 2024. Authorities successfully charged and convicted gang members connected to 13 murders, including killings both inside and outside correctional facilities.

Among the most alarming revelations from the case was a disrupted 2015 plot to assassinate the then-secretary of the New Mexico Corrections Department and high-ranking members of the New Mexico State Police. Federal officials said the murder conspiracy was retaliation for the conviction of SNM associate Michael Paul Astorga in the killing of Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Deputy Jim McGrane.

The investigation itself relied on extensive undercover operations and intelligence gathering. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, agents conducted more than 110 undercover drug and firearm purchases, utilized dozens of confidential informants, and obtained court-authorized wiretaps to infiltrate the gang’s operations.

That effort exposed a sprawling criminal network trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine both inside prisons and throughout New Mexico communities.

A major enforcement action in September 2022 led to the seizure of $1.8 million in cash, 1.1 million fentanyl pills, and 160 pounds of methamphetamine, along with firearms and other contraband.

Twelve SNM members were sentenced to life in prison as part of the prosecution.

“This case required years of patience, discipline, and persistence from prosecutors, agents, and staff who stayed with it to the end,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “It was difficult work, but it was necessary work, and this office saw it through.”

Justin A. Garris likewise emphasized the magnitude of the case.

“It is impossible to overstate the enormity of this investigation,” Garris said. “For more than a decade, our team and partners stayed committed to dismantling violent crime and delivering justice for the victims and communities most impacted by this gang’s violence.”

The prosecution was led by the FBI Albuquerque Field Office’s Violent Gang Task Force, working alongside numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

The conclusion of the case represents a major law enforcement victory for the Trump administration’s Justice Department and federal partners, who say the operation has dealt a crippling blow to one of New Mexico’s most entrenched and violent criminal organizations.

While officials cautioned that gang activity remains an ongoing challenge, they argued the successful dismantling of SNM’s racketeering enterprise marks a historic step toward improving public safety in New Mexico.

Trump DOJ scores massive takedown in historic New Mexico gang case Read More »

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