On Tuesday, May 19, the Albuquerque Journal held a Town Hall event it sponsored in the 2026 Governor’s race in the Democratic Party Primary before a live audience at the Journal’s Ray Cary Auditorium. The Town Hall was supposed to have been an event where Sam Bregman and Deb Haaland would jointly appear and be asked questions and discuss the issues with a Journal “panel”. The panel consisted of Journal Chief Editor Jay Newton Small, Editorial Page Editor Ryan Boetel, Journal Columnist and Political Commentator Jeff Tucker and Journal Capital and Political Reporter Dan Boyd.
The Democratic Primary between Bregman and Haaland has become a very expensive and hard-fought primary race that has featured back-and-forth criticism over debate dodging, plagiarism and personal attacks. What became the breaking news for the May 19 Journal Town Hall event was the fact that Deb Haaland cancelled the joint appearance. It turns out Haaland refused to appear because of the presence of Journal politcal columnist Jeff Tucker on the panel who wrote an editorial column endorsement of Sam Bregman. The Tucker endorsement of Bregman was scathing about Deb Haaland and it was a very personal, demeaning attack on her character and reputation. Tucker disingenuously said he “affectionately” nicknamed her “Know-nothing Haaland” because she’s habitually unaware of what’s going on. The link to read the Tucker Journal endorsement is here:
JOURNAL EDITOR JAY NEWTON SMALL’S TOWN HALL INTRODUCTION
In a truly remarkable beginning of the May 19 Town Hall, before her introduction of the four Journal panelist Sam Bregman, Journal Editor Jay Newton Small took the opportunity to talk about Deb Haaland’s cancellation and her refusal to debate Sam Bregman. In a May 17 editorial, the Journal reported that it offered to take Jeff Tucker off the stage for the Town Hall if Haalabnd agreed to debate Bregman. The offer did not matter and Haaland canceled 10 days before the scheduled forum.
In her introductory remarks, Newton Small reviewed her extensive personal national experience as a reporter before becoming the new Albuquerque Journal Editor. She talked at length about her years of experience covering national politcal campaigns and candidates running for president, including Bill Clinton, John McCain, Joe Biden and AL Gore and differentiated between the difference between candidates who refused to deal with the press, who dodged debates and refused to answer questions.
Journal Executive Editor Jay Newton-Small declared that Haaland’s refusal to appear and debate makes her a prime target for the paper’s investigative reporters and she said this:
“Every single time a candidate hides from you, it is very worrying. . .She canceled on us because she cannot answer any questions and that is terrifying to me.. ..The next four years, if she wins, guess what?” We are going to be investigating her because that is scary to me. If you do not have a candidate that cannot answer a simple question or debate an opponent and answer in public what your beliefs are, then that is really, really scary.”
The link to view the entire May 29 Journal Town Hall is here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwMy5iuDNiY
BREGMAN RESPONDS TO AND ANSWERS QUESTIONS
Notwithstanding Deb Haaland’s cancellation to appear with him at the May 19 Journal Town Hall, Bregman participated in the give-and-take that lasted nearly two hours. Bregman answered all the questions from audience members and Journal staffers. Highlights of his positions and comments are:
- Bregman said he does not support a moratorium on building new data centers in New Mexico.
- Bregman acknowledged there has been friction with Democratic legislators in the past over his proposed changes to the Children’s Code and thier rebuffing his proposal for stiffer criminal penalties for juvenile offenders convicted of serious violent crimes. Bregman said the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office has indicted 77 juveniles on murder charges in his three-plus years on the job. Bregman said this: “I’m very frustrated with my own party at the Legislature over this issue.”
- Bregman made it clear he would not hesitate to stand up to President Donald Trump if elected governor, expressing particular alarm about the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.
- Bregman identified New Mexico’s public education system as the most pressing issue facing the state, saying turnover at the top of the Public Education Department during Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s tenure has made it difficult to sustain academic gains. Bregman said this: “When you have to start over with a new secretary every year, that’s not beneficial.”
- Bregman cited healthcare access and diversifying the state’s economy as top issues he’d focus on, saying, “We have to have a sense of urgency.”
- Bregman reiterated previous comments that he would not support Deb Haaland if she wins the Democratic Party nomination, saying Haaland made an “epic failure of judgment” by allowing information to be posted to her campaign website about several properties owned by Bregman’s family. Bregman said this: “Yes, it is still my stance. … But it doesn’t mean I’m going to go out and support a Republican either — I want to make that clear.”
- Bregman took issue with criticisms leveled by Haaland’s campaign and in her commercial’s about his personal wealth, while defending his record as both a defense attorney and as Bernalillo County district attorney since 2023. Bregman said this: “Here’s the deal — New Mexico needs more success.! a… Every single citizen of this state needs the opportunity to have success. … To attack me because I’ve been successful, I think, says a lot about my opponent.”
https://www.abqjournal.com/news/journal-launches-livestreamed-town-halls/2993233
ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL EDITORIAL
On May 17, 2026, the Albuquerque Journal published the following editorial:
OPINION: Haaland Town Hall snub part of disturbing pattern
Campaigns best serve voters when candidates take tough questions in unscripted settings. That is why it is frustrating — and increasingly disturbing — that Deb Haaland has refused to meaningfully debate her Democratic primary opponent, Sam Bregman. Last week, she took it one step further and canceled her Journal Town Hall appearance scheduled for next Friday.
The concept of the Journal Town Hall series was to take our long tradition of Editorial Board meetings with candidates, leaders and organizations directly to the people. Rather than having candidates court board members to earn an endorsement in a race or policy, we thought we’d have those interesting and enlightening conversations in public. Anyone can come in person or watch them live, and suggest questions. The recordings are archived on our website.
All other gubernatorial candidates, regardless of political affiliation, chose to participate. We hosted independent candidate Ken Miyagishima, all GOP candidates, and Bregman is scheduled for Tuesday evening. They showed up, engaged, defended their records and got into the minutia of complex policies and ideas for improving New Mexico.
Haaland chose not to.
Her campaign said in a short email last week she was not available for this upcoming Friday’s event, but that lacks credibility given her recent track record. Haaland has repeatedly turned down opportunities to debate Bregman, including from the Journal and our media partners. She favors carefully curated campaign events and repeating talking points — “stand up to Donald Trump,” “private equity,” “Wall Street,” “billionaires” — over conversations with critics, journalists and undecided voters. At a time when New Mexicans are deeply concerned about crime, homelessness, education, economic development and child well-being, that’s not leadership. It’s avoidance.
A debate isn’t an inconvenience. It’s an obligation when asking for the public’s trust.
Canceling a town hall scheduled far in advance is even worse than refusing to seriously debate Bregman, an accomplished orator and trial attorney. Journal Town Halls are public forums where we give candidates ample time to introduce themselves and their priorities and get into the weeds about why they are the best choice to move New Mexico forward. But if a candidate doesn’t have any original thoughts or plans other than parroting those told to her by campaign donors and consultants — a town hall is frightening.
Haaland has made it clear that she plans to simply buy the Governor’s Office. She has the largest war chest by far, with more than $11 million pouring into her coffers, mainly from out-of-state donors who want to see a female Native American govern a state — damned by the results. Recent polls show she’s the primary front-runner by a large margin. Her defenders will cite those factors as a reason to avoid debates and town halls. But campaigning for the state’s top executive should be more than a lesson in risk avoidance. It should be about building trust and demonstrating leadership and thinking skills.
It’s particularly disturbing that Haaland is using this strategy because she built her political identity on representation, inclusion and giving a voice to people who feel unheard. Refusing to engage and have a conversation with the state’s largest newspaper sends a different message. It says that Haaland believes she’s too hoity-toity and important to engage with constituents who might question her and raise skepticism.
New Mexicans deserve more from a governor.
The irony is that Journal Town Halls are not partisan traps seeking gotcha moments. They’re public forums meant to inform voters. We created the series — and are working to branch out to have panels on policies and issues — as a way to practice what we preach: transparency.
We felt that meeting with candidates for office behind closed doors in a conference room and then endorsing a candidate wasn’t fair to the candidates or our readers. We felt it hinted at an air of superiority that we know best. This was our way of showing that we’re all New Mexicans first, regardless of our political beliefs, economic status and profession.
Haaland could still reverse course. She could reschedule her Journal Town Hall, or, better yet, agree to a Journal debate before the primary. We’ve got a venue that can open anytime, and we’re pretty sure Bregman would agree to a debate at the drop of a 10-gallon hat. But that would require her to focus more on earning the trust and not promoting her own brand.
Behind the scenes, Haaland’s campaign originally said she could only be available for an hour on a Friday night. Then, the campaign reached out and asked that Journal columnist and Editorial Board member Jeff Tucker not be allowed on stage after he wrote a column critical of her.
We offered to take him off the stage for the Town Hall, if she agreed to debate Bregman. Then Haaland canceled 10 days before the scheduled forum.
This whole charade of a campaign does give voters an answer to one of the most repeated phrases of her stump speeches. If she doesn’t have the courage to stand up to questions from journalists, everyday New Mexicans, Tucker and her Democratic political opponent, she certainly doesn’t have the fortitude to “stand up to Donald Trump.”
The link to the Albuquerque Journal Editorial is here:
https://www.abqjournal.com/opinion/opinion-haaland-town-hall-snub-part-of-disturbing-pattern/3041702
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
The Albuquerque Journal is known to be a very conservative, a very Republican leaning publication. Likewise, opinion column writer and member of the Journal’s Editorial Board Jeff Tucker is known to be very conservative who advocates the Republican agenda. It is no surprise that Democrat Deb Haaland refused to accommodate the Albuquerque Journal given its biasness and critical treatment of so many Democrats over so many decades. The Journal biasness against Democrats includes yours truly who has been on the receiving end of very negative Albuquerque Journal articles and editorials when serving as an Albuquerque City Councilor, running for Mayor twice with 30 years in between those runs as well as service as Bernalillo County Chief Deputy District Attorney. I have never been endorsed by the Albuquerque Journal. That’s called politics and freedom of the press which demands and requires respect in our democracy.
Whether you like, or even read, the Albuquerque Journal is not the point. The fact is that the May 17 Albuquerque Journal editorial makes more than a few legitimate points, especially when the editorial says this in part:
“A debate isn’t an inconvenience. It’s an obligation when asking for the public’s trust. … New Mexicans deserve more from a governor.”
Haaland’s refusal to debate and accommodate the Albuquerque Journal and other news outlets to debate Sam Bregman is likely justified in her own mind. After all Sam Bregman essentially did the same thing himself many times refusing to debate in a public forum when he ran for District Attorney against former United States Attorney Damon Martinez in the Democratic primary two years ago.
Haaland’s refusal to debate is no doubt justified by her campaign staff and political advisors likely believing a debate is way too risky for her to make mistakes notwithstanding her commanding lead in the polls and her huge lead by the millions in fundraising. Haaland likely believes there is no need to debate and confront Bregman when she has $11 Million dollars to run slick ads.
Deb Haaland has done the Democratic Party as well all Democrats and Independents in the state’s first semi open primary a real disservice by refusing to debate Sam Bregman. This is something that Democrats and Independent voters should not forget come the June 2 primary vote regardless of who they vote for, and they must decide if it really matters at all.
Please vote June 2!
POSTSCRIPT
On Sunday, May 24, the Albuquerque Journal, as part of its 2026 election coverage in the Democratic Primary for Governor, published on page C3 of its editorial pages the following Local Column by prominent Democrat and former Albuquerque Mayor Jim Baca.
HEADLINE: OPINION: Sam Bregman is the best choice for New Mexico’s future
BY: JIM BACA
New Mexico stands at a critical crossroads. As we confront a rapidly changing climate, historic droughts and an energy economy in turbulent transition, the leadership we choose for our state executive office matters more than ever.
While I respect Deb Haaland’s historic biography, she is not the best choice to lead New Mexico forward as governor. As Department of Interior secretary, she was not a decisive leader. She occupied the position and let the White House protect itself from the wrath of the energy oligarchs. That is why I, having devoted my public career to the responsible stewardship of our public lands and environment, am voting for Sam Bregman.
Throughout my career in public service — serving as the director of the Bureau of Land Management, the natural resource trustee for New Mexico, and twice as the state’s land commissioner, alongside my time as mayor of Albuquerque — I have operated under a foundational truth: Managing New Mexico’s landscape requires a person willing to enforce laws that protect public land.
Bregman has proven he can enforce laws against criminals in a very effective manner. He would fearlessly protect our natural resources in the face of threats from President Donald Trump and his administration.
First and foremost is the issue of water. In New Mexico, water isn’t just a resource; it is life itself. Our rivers, aquifers and acequias are facing unprecedented strain from prolonged desertification along with the worst drought we’ve seen in decades. As land commissioner and as Albuquerque’s mayor, I learned firsthand that protecting our water supply requires tough and sometimes unpopular decisions regarding urban growth, agricultural quotas and industrial accountability.
Now we need a leader focused on strict, science-based allocation and localized enforcement. We cannot afford a governor who doesn’t understand the unique challenges of New Mexico’s water crisis. True conservation means ensuring that our public lands remain intact for future generations while serving the public good. During my time leading the BLM, I fought hard to elevate conservation to its proper place alongside commercial interests. We are seeing a continuation of that battle today. Now it is a matter of life and death.
During the Trump administration, we have witnessed a relentless assault on our natural heritage, epitomized by federal efforts to open vast swathes of protected areas to short-term corporate exploitation. Trump’s public land policies have systematically prioritized extractive industries, sought to gut environmental reviews and actively undermined the multiuse mandate of our public acreage. New Mexico needs a governor that is tough enough to stand up to these assaults on our public lands. That is Bregman.
While the Biden-Harris administration — and the BLM itself — pushed back to correct Trump’s first-term assault on our public lands by introducing rules that placed conservation on equal footing with extraction, the Trump administration is now rolling those back. New Mexico needs a governor who can implement protections for our public lands locally without gridlocking our economy. That leader is Bregman.
We must transition to clean energy — there is no doubt about that. But that transition must be managed with extreme fiscal care. A sudden plunge of state revenue without a fully realized, diversified economic safety net will bankrupt our public education system and harm working-class families. We need a pragmatist who can bridge the gap between our current energy realities and our renewable future.
Having sat in the chairs of the land commissioner and the mayor of our largest city, I know that running New Mexico requires deep, localized executive experience. It requires understanding the complex mosaic of federal lands, state trust lands, water law and municipal budgeting.
Haaland is a politician with a compelling life story, but, at this pivotal moment, New Mexico cannot afford a governor who is not a strong leader. We need a governor strictly focused on New Mexico’s waters, New Mexico’s lands and New Mexico’s people. I am voting for Sam Bregman.
Jim Baca was the mayor of Albuquerque from 1997-2001. He went on to be New Mexico’s natural resources trustee.
The link to the Albuquerque Journal Jim Baca guest column is here:
The link to a related blog article on the Democrats Sam Bregman and Deb Haaland is here: