On December 1, two term Democrat Mayor Tim Keller and Republican former two term Bernalillo County Sherriff Darren White entered the “political arena” and debated live on KRQE News 13  for a full hour. It was the third and final televised  debate between the two.  Acting as the debate moderators were longtime news anchors Dean Staley and Jessica Garate.

The candidates were given one minute for opening and closing statements and asked 12 questions by the moderators and given one minute and a half to answer. They candidates were asked to identify one characteristic of their opponent they admired.

DEBATE HIGHLIGHTS

As has been the case in the past two televised debates, crime, the homeless and the city being a “sanctuary city versus an immigrant friendly city”  to deal with undocumented committing crime were the three major topics the candidates were asked about and how they would deal with those problems.

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

Both incumbent Mayor Tim Keller and former Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White focused heavily on crime and what they would do. Both attacked each other on the subject.

Darren White repeated  the accusation he has made in past debates that crime is out of control and said the fundamental  role of government is to keep the public safe.  He said he would hire a new APD  Chief of Police, one that people would be proud of and who would have the confidence of APD sworn. He asserted that APD is top heavy with command staff of upwards of 50 people and said he  would reduce the size of mid management  and reassign them to patrol work. He said that there is a need for proactive policing practices and prosecution and that he would institute a Juvenile Unit to address the increase in juvenile crime. White said there is a real need to return to “proactive policing” measures including traffic law enforcement and that there is too much emphasis on technology such as the traffic speed cameras.

Mayor Keller for his part asserted that crime is down in all major categories for the first time in 10 years and said his efforts and programs to reduce crime are now paying off. He said there is a need to continue with what APD is doing to bring down crime because it’s  working.  He said APD must have confidence in its leadership and that APD  would not have confidence in Darren White given White’s past vote of “No Confidence” of him by APD. Keller said “There is no confidence in the future leadership of Darren White [by APD sworn]” and said that is why the APD union has endorsed his re-election to a third term.

White responded by saying  “Mayor, your hypocrisy knows no limits”  and pointed  out a survey taken by the APD Union years ago of its membership during the Department of Justice reform efforts that found that APD rank and file did not feel they were supported by Mayor Keller and his administration, essentially saying APD rank and file have no confidence in Keller. White noted the survey was taken of the hundreds of  union sworn police. White noted Keller’s recent union endorsement was voted upon by  only the 4 union elected officers .   White repeated his accusation that crime is out of control, that crime is not going down and said that there have been 767 murders during Keller 8 years as mayor and that during  his predecessor Mayor Richard Berry’s two terms there were only 377.

Both Keller and White were asked about APD staffing. White asserted that APD is at the very same staffing level as it was 30 years ago when he was an APD cop  and is the same as it was when Keller was elected. He said APD’s  low staffing numbers is a national problem and said he would implement aggressive recruiting practices.

Keller for his part said APD is in fact increasing staffing levels and recruitment is up and that APD’s reliance on technology, such as the speed cameras,  has in fact free up APD to address crime and pointed out APD has increased its clearance rate. Keller said that the Albuquerque Police Department is already doing proactive policing and that crime rates across the board are going down.

White disagreed, saying that during Keller’s eight years in office, there were twice as many murders as in the previous eight years.

Darren White said this about the City’s crime rates:

“It’s the same reason why the Governor deployed the National Guard, saying that our city was in a crime crisis and the city was not equipped to handle it, again Mayor, another failure on your part.”

Keller didn’t dispute the crime problem, but said it is improving and said this:

“That means it’s been going up for ten years, even before I became mayor. So I acknowledge that, but when it does go down for the first time in 10 years, that is also true”.

THE HOMELESS CRISIS

The moderators noted that according to the recent Point in Time Survey of the homeless  that city has upwards of 3,000 homeless.  The two candidates were asked how they would deal with the crisis. As has been the case in the past two debates, the two clashed over how to handle the homeless crisis in the city.

Mayor Keller said homelessness is a very complicate issue and that there  is a need to take an all the above approach to solve it. Keller said the issue includes  the need to increase availability of affordable  housing,  address drug addiction and mental illness and shelter.  Keller said he  stood behind his five Gateway Center  shelter system that he created as Mayor and  said this:

“Every night we take care of a thousand people off our street, but we have a long way to go, and I understand that the difference is we have built a system that can then be expanded and we know that actually works in the long run.”

White for his part said that the homeless crisis under Mayor Keller has only gotten worse and that the number of  homeless in the city has more than doubled during Keller’s tenure as mayor.  White said he supported the use of making available services and resources  to the homeless  but said wants a far more aggressive approach by arresting people opting to stay on the street. White said the homeless should not be left alone, that its illegal for the homeless  to camp anywhere they want and that city should be proactive dealing with the homeless like “a rat on a cheeto.”  White said this:

“If they refuse that offer, we will make it very clear that the laws will be strictly enforced. It’s reprehensible, it’s not compassionate that we let homeless people use drugs and die on our streets every single day.”

Mayor Keller acted offended, saying White was referring to the homeless as “rats” and  for his part strongly disagreed with White’s approach of simply doing sweeps, arresting and jailing the homeless as a solution to deal with the crisis.  White snapped back and said he was not referring to the homeless as “rats” but how the  city should deal with the crisis.

Keller labeled White’s approach of more arrests and jailing  as “cruel and illegal”.. Keller said the city cannot “arrest itself” out of the crisis and that more beds and shelters are needed and that is what the city is doing with the Gateway system. Keller also said that the Albuquerque Community Safety Division (ACS)  was created primarily to deal with the unhoused and daily the ACS is providing the necessary intervention to get the unhoused off the streets.

Whit responded asserting  that Keller is saying “we have a homeless problem we cannot solve, so get over it” and accept it.  White also disputed Keller’s assertion that White’s policies of displacement will result in a “mass casualty event” and White said the homeless are already dying on the streets from drug overdoses.

“I ♥ Tim Keller” YELLOW SWEATSHIRTS GIVEN TO HOMELSS

On Sunday, November 30,  Mayor Tim Keller’s campaign accused Darren White’s supporters of being behind the distribution to the homeless on Central of bright yellow sweatshirts that feature the phrase “I ♥ Tim Keller” emblazoned on the front.  In a social media post, Keller’s campaign said using unhoused people as political props is  and called on White to condemn the incident. On December 1, White’s campaign manager denied the campaign’s involvement in the incident

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_e8a97515-6200-482c-8f87-601340c9c899.html

During the debate both candidates were asked if they or their campaigns were responsible for yellow sweatshirts.  Both candidates denied that they or their campaigns were involved or responsible and said they did not know who was responsible for the sweatshirts.

SANCTUARY CITY VERSUS IMMIGRANT FRIENDLY POLICIES

Mayor Keller and Darren White  sharply disagreed  over the city’s  “immigrant friendly” status versus “sanctuary city” status.

EDITORS NOTE:  Albuquerque is not  and has never been a “Sanctuary City” but is an “Immigrant Friendly City” as declared by City Council Ordinance enacted over 20 years ago.  A “Sanctuary City” is a jurisdiction that prohibits local  law enforcement  from enforcing immigration laws leaving that work exclusively  to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “Immigrant Friendly” cities on the other hand enact policies that are favorable to undocumented people to allow services and its local  law enforcement personnel do not make arrests for violations of federal immigration laws and only make arrests of undocumented people for violations of local ordinances and state laws.  Albuquerque’s Immigrant Friendly ordinance prevents city resources from being used for immigration enforcement or for sharing information about an individual’s immigration status, unless legally required.  City employees, including law enforcement, and all city  departments are not allowed to ask for a person’s immigrant status, and no department is allowed to maintain statistics on immigrants.

White said he’d focus on those illegally in the country who  commit crimes.  White said this

“If somebody is in our country illegally and they get arrested, we will allow immigration to be in the booking center so they can check everyone that comes in the door.”

Mayor Keller argued that moving away from the city’s current “immigrant friendly policy” would be a major  mistake.  Keller said this:

“If you end that policy, you will have an ICE-friendly policy, and you will get what you see in other cities you have the fear, and you have literally people pulling people out of cars in masks going into restaurants, that is already happening in Albuquerque in masks without warrants.”

ALBUQUERQUE’S  ECONOMY  

The candidates were asked how they would grow and improve the city’s economy.

Mayor Keller said the city in fact has a strong economy and he emphasized on the major investments by major tech companies thar are bringing jobs to the city including Netfle.

Darren White for his part emphasized the need to tackle crime and the homeless saying both are destroying small businesses. White also said the city must do better when dealing with business and went so far as to say there is a need to “out source” planning department services.

PLAYING NICE WITH EACH OTHER

The candidates were asked to identify a positive attribute in each other.

Darren White said he recalled running into the Mayor Keller with his children during the state fair and he witnessed Keller interacting with his children and White said this:about MayorKeller:

“I can tell that he’s a good papa, and his kids love him very, very much, and I admire it because that’s important to me as well”.

Mayor Keller said this about his interaction Darren White at the state fair:

 “He taught me about the races and like how to bet, which I didn’t really understand.”

Darren White joking responded “Come on, Mayor, there’s gotta be something better than I taught you how to run the ponies”  to which Keller responded that White has a real sense of humor which he has shown in past private exchanges. Keller also complimented White on his experience in dealing with the media.

The link to a relied upon and quoted news source is here:

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/albuquerque-mayoral-candidates-spar-over-crime-and-homelessness-during-krqe-debate/

LINE OF QUESTIONING WITH VIDEO ANSWERS

The questions asked during the debate were:

Q: What would you do to bring down violent crime and property crime in Albuquerque?

Q: Should officers conduct more traffic stops?

Q: How will you retain experienced law enforcement and increase officer numbers without compromising hiring standards?

Q: What changes will you advocate to prevent offenders from cycling through the system?

Q: What is your vision for solving Albuquerque’s homeless problem?

Q: How do you deal with the majority of people experiencing homelessness who refuse to accept help?

Q: What is your message to business owners who feel under siege by the unhoused population?

Q: Who gave the ‘I love Tim Keller Hoodies’ to the homeless?

Q: What is your position on people in Albuquerque illegally?

Q: How will you grow Albuquerque’s economy?

Q: What is your response to criticisms regarding the United Stadium at Balloon Fiesta Park?

Q: What will it take to make people feel safe on city buses?

Posted on the KRQE News 13 web site are each of the questions asked with the candidates answers. The links to the line of questioning and the candidates answers are here:

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/watch-albuquerque-mayor-candidates-face-off-in-final-televised-debate/

VIDEO: Albuquerque mayor candidates face off in final televised debate

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The KRQE New 13 one hour debate was a healthy discussion of the major many  issues  facing the city. Both candidates maintained their composure throughout, there were no major mistakes not gaffs  and there was no drama. In the final analysis, both Keller and White did well and it can be viewed as a draw.

Early voting is from December 1 to December 6. The runoff election day is December 9 and as usual voter turnout will be critical. Please vote!

Links to related articles on past two debates are here:

KOAT TV 7 Debate Between Tim Keller And Darren White Was Healthy Discussion Of Serious Issues Facing City; Both Clash On Crime, Homeless Crisis Accusing Each Other Being Failures; Please Vote December 9!

KOB 4 TV Debate Between Tim  Keller And Darren White Degenerates Into Political Mud Slinging Match; Voters Real Losers Of Debate; Please Vote December 9

On Sunday November 29, the Albuquerque Journal published on its editorial opinion page the below “Local Columnist” opinion column by Progressive Democrat and former United States Attorney for New Mexico Alexander Uballez who was one of 6 candidates who ran for Mayor against Tim Keller and came in third garnering 18.79% of the vote on November 4. Because no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, a runoff for Mayor is now scheduled for December 9 between the two top vote getters Mayor Tim Keller, who secured 35.69% of the vote and Republican Sherriff Darren White who secured 30.65%

Journal Editor’s Headline: “Keller Is The Right Choice”

Local Column By Alexander Uballez

“Our campaign was about delivering results for working families, protecting the most vulnerable, respecting our tribal neighbors and building a city that works for us all.

I ran because people are frustrated that Albuquerque feels stuck. That is why most of us voted for change on Nov. 4. The anger and apathy are real; and this is exactly what candidates like Darren White count on. White knows that when people grow disillusioned, cruelty can masquerade as change. It is a trap, one that turns our frustration into a weapon and moves us backward.

So while we deserve better, we cannot lose sight of the fact that worse is possible.

White’s record makes that clear. Under his watch, the Albuquerque Police Department was defined by a culture of aggression and excessive deadly force, a crisis that cost lives, shattered public trust and forced the city into a decade of federal oversight, let alone tens of millions of dollars in reform costs.

He is alleged to have interfered in law enforcement matters, from removing his former wife from a DWI investigation to compromising the death scene of civil rights attorney Mary Han. He earned a rare rebuke of his own rank-and-file through a vote of no-confidence from the State Police Officers Association. And after resigning in protest over marijuana legalization, he went on to make millions in the marijuana industry. This is a career defined by a disregard for the law, for the officers that served under him, and for the public he was sworn to protect.

As mayor, White would return Albuquerque to the worst mistakes of its past: cutting core public services, criminalizing homelessness and mental illness, turning our immigrant neighbors over to the Trump administration, and inviting new scandals that put his interests above the city’s needs.

That is not the change we voted for.

That’s why, on election night, I made it clear: Our work now is to keep White out of City Hall. That night, between our campaign and Mayor Tim Keller’s, a majority of voters chose a forward-looking vision — one rooted in real solutions like Albuquerque Community Safety, investment in prevention and intervention, services and treatment for the unhoused and zoning that allows smart people-centered growth.

While we may have disagreed about how to best achieve these goals, we cannot be complacent about the goals themselves.

Our true challenge in this runoff is not that voters will choose White, but that they will choose to stay home. Our work now is to inspire those who are angry and apathetic — not just to vote against regression but to vote for a future grounded in dignity, shared success and protecting our neighbors. Keller is now the only candidate whose plan keeps us on a path toward that future.

This election will shape the conditions in which we work together to build our city over the next four years. Our charge is clear: Keep Darren White out of City Hall. Then keep organizing after Election Day so that Keller delivers for the people of Albuquerque.

We vote to create the conditions to demand a government that protects immigrant neighbors, strengthens public safety, treats the unhoused with dignity, honors tribal consultation and sacred sites, provides rental assistance and tenant protections and adopts community-benefit agreements so working-class residents have a voice in our city’s growth.

This campaign has shown me something I have always believed: Albuquerque’s greatest strength is not our politicians, it is our people. It is because of you — our neighbors, our friends, our communities — that we can take on the hard work ahead.

I believe better is possible. On Dec. 9, vote accordingly.”

The link to read the Uballez column is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/opinion/article_47de6224-c105-44f6-a6fd-daf0b4dbc3e0.html

ELECTION RESULTS RECALLED

The results of the November 4, 2025  election for Mayor of Albuquerque were reported by the New Mexico secretary of State as follows:

• Timothy Keller             47,911                (36%)
• Darren White               41,137                (31%)
• Alexander Uballez      25,213                 (19%)
• Louie Sanchez             8,647                   (6%)
• Mayling Armijo              7,673                  (6%)
• Eddie Varela                2,280                   (2%)
• Daniel Chavez             1,366                   (1%)

TOTAL VOTES                 134,227                 (100%)

The links to news sources are here:

https://electionresults.sos.nm.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=MUX&map=CTY

https://www.kob.com/politics-news/decision-2025-metro-area-election-results/?cb=1763357730135

Since none of the seven candidates received 50% of the vote, a runoff will now be held on December 9 between Tim Keller and Darren White.

ELECTION NIGHT CONCESSION

Alexander Uballez mounted the fiercest challenge of the other four candidates receiving 25,213 or 19% of the vote. Uballez positioned himself as a more  progressive alternative to Keller saying that Keller was not doing enough to deal with protecting undocumented immigrants and that Keller has been a failure dealing with the homeless in a compassionate manner.

On election night, Alexander Uballez in his concession speech said this of his third-place finish:

“While we wanted to be in the runoff, our campaign is not stopping here. 20% is the bloc that will decide the runoff. … We cannot allow the keys to Albuquerque to be handed over to Darren White who would roll-over for Donald Trump.”

With his remarks on election night, Progressive Democrat Uballez urged his supporters not to support Darren White but stopped short of formally endorsing Mayor Keller outright.

KELLER AND UBALLEZ MEET TWICE

On November 18, the Albuquerque Journal reported that Mayor Tim Keller and Alex Uballez  met twice after November 4 election day to discuss the possibility of Uballez formally endorsing Mayor Keller for a third 4 year term. Representatives from four nonprofit organizations that backed Uballez’s campaign attended one  meeting with Uballez to met with Keller. The 4 organizations were Organized Power in Numbers, New Mexico Native Vote, New Mexico Working Families and Organizers in the Land of Enchantment (OLÉ).  All 4 organizations are considered highly progressive and assisted the Uballez campaign either with donations, volunteers or phone banking.

Among the demands Uballez made of Keller for a formal endorsement was to ask Mayor Keller to commit to eliminating homeless encampment sweeps, expand city rental assistance programs  and work with tribal groups to protect Albuquerque’s petroglyphs. Uballez did  not ask for anything for himself but did ask for concessions on policy matters that could be used to convince his supporters to vote for Keller’s reelection. Keller declined to make any commitment on the issues discussed.

The four progressive organizations who attended the Uballez-Keller meeting issued a joint statement on Monday, November 11 that described the meeting as productive but not definitive. The statement said this:

“The majority of the people of Albuquerque reject Darren White’s outdated and ineffective approach; but to turn them out to vote again in a runoff, they need to be catalyzed by a bold and comprehensive vision from the mayor that does more than defending what has been and points to the better that would be possible if they come out to cast a ballot again.”

In a statement issued on Monday, November 17, Mayor Keller said that he was not inclined to agree to Uballez’s  demands just to get his endorsement and backing.  Keller said this of his meeting with Uballez and the progressive organizations:

“We had productive meetings and identified a great deal of common ground, but we made it clear that we will not engage in quid pro quo endorsements for his support or anyone else’s.”

The link to the relied upon and quoted news source is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/election/article_bda264ac-5eca-4f0d-9509-285aeae53b9e.html

On November 20, the New Mexico Working Families Party (NM-WFP) announced its endorsement of Mayor Tim Keller.  According to a press release issued by NM-WFP, the organization is focused on a platform of “affordability, jobs, homelessness and right relation to indigenous land in the city.”

The link to the relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.dailylobo.com/article/2025/11/keller-earns-key-endorsement-as-runoff-fast-approaches

The progressive organization Indivisible ABQ  has also endorsed Mayor Keller by simply saying this on its web page:

Indivisible Albuquerque Endorses Mayor Tim Keller

We asked our members to vote on this endorsement and the response was overwhelming. We support Tim Keller and urge you to vote for him. His opponent in this run off Dec 9 will be disastrous.  

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The outcome of the December 9 runoff election between Tim Keller and Darren White is not certain and voter turnout will be critical. Based on the politcal attack ads being run by both candidates against each other, the runoff is proving to be the most divisive and negative runoff election in the city’s history. It is very sad to say, but the blunt reality is the runoff election between Tim Keller and Darren White is between the two most disliked candidates for Mayor running against each other.

TWO DISLIKED CANDIDATES

First place finisher in the November 4 election Tim Keller secured 36% of the vote to get into the run off meaning that 64% of the voters voted for another candidate. Second place finisher in the November 4 election Darren White secured 31% of the vote to get into the runoff meaning that 69% voted for another candidate.

Tim Keller is the progressive Democratic Mayor with a low approval rating of 42% who has failed to get the homeless off the streets despite spending upwards of $350 million on five shelters over 3 years with 125 service contracts and programs for the homeless. Keller for 8 years has presided over a city with high historical crime rates despite promising to bring them down and presided over a DWI scandal riddled APD that has 900 sworn with only 350 patrolling the streets after he broke his promise to have 1,100 sworn APD officers when he first ran in 2017.

Republican White is the  former elected official with decade’s of disgraceful conduct and discredited public service. White seeks to divide voters by vilifying the homeless and undocumented immigrants from day one of campaigning with fear mongering thrown in for good measure akin to Donald Trump. White has left high level political appointments in state and city government in controversy or chaos. As the City’s Chief Public Safety Officer appointed by Republican Mayor Richard Berry, White slashed police pay by 8% across the board which lead to a lawsuit costing the city over $5 million. White severely cut officer ranks and slowed hiring and triggered a staffing crisis that APD has yet to recover from it.

DEMOCRATS EXCORIATE UBALLEZ

Since election night November 4, Progressive Democrat Alexander Uballez has been severely excoriated politically by many of Mayor Keller’s progressive supporters and his enablers as well as Bernalillo County Democratic Party members and activists for his failure to formally endorse Mayor Keller for a third term. Many Keller supporters have not been satisfied with Alexander Uballez’s telling his supporters do not vote for Darren White but to vote for Mayor Tim Keller. The criticism reached an “apex of nastiness”  when the argument was made by many Democratic party activists and one politcal gossip columnist in particular that if Progressive Democrat Mayor Keller loses to MAGA Republican Darren White, Uballez will be blamed for Keller’s loss and that Uballez has no future within the Democratic Party for elective office.

The underlying presumption made by Democratic party activist who demanded that Alexander Uballez formally endorse Tim Keller is that Uballez voters are too stupid to decide between the two runoff candidates of Keller and White and that Democratic voters will merely follow the instructions of their failed candidate Uballez. The presumption is laughable! Democrats never walk “goose step” like MAGA Trump supporters. Simply put, New Mexico Democrats engage in spirited debates, sometimes downright hostile, over their candidates and issues, but in the end always seem to get behind their candidates after primaries. The 2016 Democratic Primary between Hillary Clinton and Independent Bernie Sanders comes to mind. 

ELECTION OUTCOME DEPENDANT ON UBALLEZ SUPPORTERS

The outcome of the December 9 runoff election between Progressive Democrat  Mayor Tim  Keller and MAGA Republican Darren White will likely hinge on the 19% of the votes cast for Democrat Alexander Uballez if and only if they get out and vote on December 9. It will NOT hinge on a Uballez endorsement nor anyone else’s endorsement.

Brian Sanderoff, the president of Albuquerque-based Research & Polling Inc. that did the Albuquerque Journal poll, told the Albuquerque Journal a Uballez endorsement of Mayor Keller could be politically significant noting that Uballez received as much as 60% of the votes cast in one University of New Mexico voting precinct considered progressive Democrat. Sanderoff said it is not likely that Uballez supporters would back White, but it is not a certainty that they will support Keller in the runoff election or just stay home. Sanderoff said this: “The question is, will they vote?”

The November 16 Albuquerque Journal guest opinion column by Alexander Uballez should be considered a formal endorsement of Mayor Keller even though the word “endorsement” is not used. Democratic Party activists  will no doubt say otherwise and they should be ignored and do us all a favor and just shut up.  Uballez obviously feels he has done enough to help Keller by encouraging his voters NOT to vote for Darren White but vote for Tim Keller.

The Democratic Party activists should recognize that Uballez represents a strong voice demanding accountability that is very much needed within the Democratic party, especially for future elections. Uballez likely has many of his own private reasons for not endorsing Keller sooner nor using the word “endorsement”.  Those reasons likely  include how he was treated by Mayor Tim Keller or the Keller campaign. Despite the treatment, Uballez endorsed Keller. 

ENDORSEMENTS DO NOT WIN ELECTIONS

In the final analysis, endorsements do not win elections. Uballez with his guest column  published by the Albuquerque Journal has now essentially endorsed Tim Keller. Keller should be gracious enough to thank Uballez for his support and ask Uballez supporter’s  to now vote for him in the runoff. Uballez has told his supporters once again not to vote for Darren White and that should be enough of an endorsement, even for Democratic Party activists seeking unity and they should respect him for it and knock off their vilification of Uballez.

It’s now up to Democratic voters to decide to show up election day and vote for Keller no matter their reservations. It is also up to Mayor Tim Keller to make his own case that he is truly deserving of their vote and being elected to a third four-year term over extremist MAGA Republican Darren White.

Early voting for Albuquerque’s runoff election begins December 1 and run through December 6. Election day is December 9.  Please vote!