The tactic “rope-a-dope” is a boxing fighting technique in which one contender leans against the ropes of the boxing ring to draw non-injuring offensive punches in an effort to tire out the opponent and, whilst on the ropes, tries to execute devastating offensive punches. The rope-a-dope is most famously associated with Muhammad Ali in his October 1974 Rumble in the Jungle match against world heavyweight champion George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rope-a-dope
In the 2026 New Mexico Governor’s race between Democrat Deb Halland and Republican Gregg Hull we have witnessed in the politcal arena what you can only call “Political Rope A Dope” over scheduling debates!
Republican Gregg Hull and Democrat Deb Haaland agreed to one 30 minute debate previously scheduled for October 8 at 6 p.m. on KOB and Haaland then said she was “unavailable.” Democrat Deb Haaland then said she was available to debate October 12, 13 or 14 in a joint, statewide debate broadcast across the local news networks KOB, KRQE, KOAT, KKOB and KVIA, but Gregg Hull refused to agree to any one of those 3 dates saying he is “unavailable” and wanting to keep the debate on October 8.
According to a September 26 Albuquerque Journal report “Democrat Deb Haaland has closed the window on debating Republican Gregg Hull before the Nov. 3 election for New Mexico’s next governor. The campaigns were unable to agree on a date, with Haaland saying that she is ending negotiations.” Haaland’s campaign proposed a debate at the Journal or one of its media partners on October 12, 13 or 14 and gave Hull’s campaign 48 hours to agree to one of those dates.
Haaland campaign manager Dylan McArthur wrote this in an email to the Albuquerque Journal:
“Since July, our campaign has held eight different dates for a debate. … However, Deb’s opponent is unwilling to agree to any of them, we will no longer be able to hold these dates and would like to move past this sideshow.”
PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS RECALLED
On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, the New Mexico primary election took place. It was the first semi-open primary in New Mexico history where independent voters could choose either the Democratic or Republican primary to vote in without having to register with that party. Overall voter turn out was the largest primary turnout in the last twelve years helped by the inclusion of independent voters who for the first time were allowed to vote in major party primaries. Independents voted Democratic with 28,000 and voted Republican with 10,000.
New Mexico history was made in the Democratic Primary for Governor when former Biden Cabinet Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland became the first Native American woman to be nominated for Governor of New Mexico. Deb Haaland garnered 72.3% (156,861 votes) of the votes to Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman’s 27.7% (60,189) cast around New Mexico. Haaland won every single county in the state by varying percentages. In Santa Fe County she won with 80% of the Democratic vote. In Bernalillo County Haaland won with 69%. In Dona Ana County, she won with 79%. In conservative Chavez County, thought to lean moderate Bregman, she won with 73%. Haaland won the Democratic Party primary in a landslide despite refusing to debate Bregman.
On the Republican side for Governor, former three-term mayor of Rio Rancho Greg Hull prevailed to win the Republican nomination claiming victory over business owner Doug Turner and cannabis entrepreneur Duke Rodriguez in a three-way race for the GOP nomination. Gregg Hull secured 47% of the vote (56,412), Doug W. Turner secured 36.9% of the vote (44,319) and Duke Rodriguez secured 16.1% of the vote (19,288).
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
Gregg Hull should have jumped at Debs Haaland’s last offer without any questions asked and without any bickering. But no, he just had to stand his ground to make a point. Haaland is the front runner and Hull needs all the exposure he can get. Hull missed the opportunity for debate by refusing to back off on the October 8 debate as did Channel 4 which says they will go forward with their “debate” with Hull appearing on stage all by his lonesome self I guess debating an empty chair.
Debates are needed, but no candidate is obligated to participate for the sake of satisfying the opposition demands for debating nor the media’s schedules. Republican Gregg Hull and the MAGA Republican crowd are seriously mistaken if they believe Democrats and Independent’s will vote for Hull simply because Haaland refuses to debate Hull. District Attorney Sam Bregman learned that lesson in a very humiliating way when Haaland refused to debate Bregman and she won the election with 72.3% (156,861 votes) of the votes to Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman’s 27.7% (60,189). It’s more likely than not that Hull will experience the very same fate as Bregman and as President Trump’s popularity continues to nose dive and Hull refuses to denounce Trump and the MAGA extremists.
Much hate, hostility, nasty criticism and outright racism has been thrown at Deb Haaland on social media over her refusal to debate, especially by the MAGA crowd as they degrade and question Haaland’s intelligence and competency suggesting she is scared to debate. Simply put Deb Haaland has played “Political Rope a Dope” with the MAGA crowd, Greg Hull and the news media, especially Channel 4 and the Albuquerque Journal and its driving them nuts.
Notwithstanding, the political posturing by both Gregg Hull and Deb Haaland over scheduling debates reflects poorly on them both. It has resulted in no debate at all, but you can thank Gregg Hull and the MAGA extremists for that and no one should slight Deb Haaland for outsmarting them and thumbing her nose at them.
Links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:
https://www.abqjournal.com/news/haaland-ends-talks-for-governor-debate/3128515
https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/deb-haaland-declines-any-new-mexico-governor-debate/
https://www.abqjournal.com/opinion/haaland-hull-respond-to-debate-challenge/3126823
POSTSCRIPT
Please click on the below to read Dinelli endorsement of Deb Haaland for Governor