On May 18, 2026 the Albuquerque City Council voted to approve the City’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget with  the passage of R-26-17, which appropriates $1.5 billion for operating the City Of Albuquerque for Fiscal Year 2027, and R-26-28, which set the One Year Objectives for the City of Albuquerque for Fiscal Year 2027.

https://www.cabq.gov/dfa/documents/fy27-proposed-budget-with-weblink-final-4-01-2026.pdf

(EDITOR’S NOTE:  A slight delay occurred with the publication of this article because of reporting on the 2026 Primary election.)

The city council approved its amended  version of the $1.47 billion budget on a 7-2 vote. Voting YES to approve the 2027 city budget were Democrat City Councilors Klarissa J. Peña, Joaquín Baca, Tammy Feibelkorn, Nichole Rogers, Stephanie Telles and Republicans Dan Champine and Renee Grout. Voting NO were Republican City Councilors Dan Lewis and Brook Bassan. The City Council worked through multiple amendments to the budget during a lengthy meeting before adopting it.

OVERVIEW OF ENACTED  2027 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET (R-26-17)

There are 27 City Departments and each budget is reviewed by the council by what is called the committee of the whole made up of all city councilors. The city budget is what is called a performance based budget. Through out the year, city departments are tasked with compiling statistics and information on the departments to justify budgets and  increases or decreases in personnel levels.

The City Council signed off on $882 million in general fund appropriations for the fiscal year that begins on July 1 and ends June 31. The general fund is primarily funded by gross receipts tax dollars and it covers basic city services such as the police and fire departments and park maintenance.

The approved 2027 general fund budget is around $23 million, or 2.6%, more than fiscal year 2026 and it is about $7 million more than in Mayor Keller’s originally proposed 2027 budget. The approved total budget, which came in lower than the $1.5 billion 2026 budget, marked the first year the city’s budget has declined since 2024.

In Keller’s proposed budget, city operating funds decreased by $35 million because  of inflation, higher healthcare costs and federal funding cuts. To make those cuts, Keller’s proposed budget eliminated or deactivated 247 positions, many of which were restored by councilors in their budget substitute. Councilors also restored some funding to several departments, like transit, animal welfare and parks and recreation, that saw decreases in Keller’s proposed budget.

The City Council left the largest  department  budgets untouched such as the Albuquerque Police Department (APD)  and Fire and Rescue (AFRD). APD  makes up 32% of  the general fund appropriations and the city council approved a 2% increase in its budget.  AFRD makes up 16% of the general fund appropriations and the council approved a 4% increase in its budget.

Mayor Tim Keller originally proposed cutting close to $35 million from the proposed new city budget, eliminating roughly 250 city worker positions and increasing some city fees. The spending plan sparked arguments, including over the budget for the Animal Welfare Department. Debate occurred over funding for the city’s “Vision Zero” to improve pedestrian and traffic safety.

The Committee Substitute Budget Resolution (R-26-17), sponsored by Budget Chair Councilor Renee Grout, passed by the council  restores or increases funding in several operational areas. Those areas include Code Enforcement staffing, Animal Welfare field services, Open Space staffing, transit operators and mechanics, Senior Affairs staffing support at the Conway Wood Multigenerational Center, park maintenance funding, cybersecurity investments, and increased funding for the Office of Inspector General. The approved budget includes recurring funding for BioPark Zoo animal food, and long-needed Library IT operational support. It includes operational support for Transit Department services.

Councilors said the final budget prioritizes the city’s five year goals. The adopted budget outlines funding priorities across several areas, including public safety, infrastructure, transit services, community development, environmental protection,  human and family services and city workforce support.

City leaders said the budget maintains investments in essential services while addressing workforce needs and operational demands in a difficult financial environment. Funding was also directed toward improving permitting and development processes and preserving long-term infrastructure priorities. City leaders say the plan is intended to maintain current services while supporting long-term goals for Albuquerque. City staff will monitor progress on those goals throughout the fiscal year and provide updates to the council.

During the budget review process, Councilors identified concerns regarding the presentation and treatment of projected available fund balance amounts within the General Fund. The Committee Substitute preserves fiscal flexibility through reserve mechanisms tied to year-end expenditure performance and audited financial results.

The  adopted amended budget maintains the Council’s focus on improving permitting and development processes, supporting essential City services, and maintaining long-term infrastructure investment priorities.

PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS AN THE UNHOUSED

Under the city council’s approved fiscal year ‘27 budget, public safety and increased services to the unhoused remain the City’s top priorities in the approved budget. The approved budget directs more resources to frontline response in the 3 public safety departments as follows:

ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT (APD)

The proposed APD  budget was increased by 2% in the 2027 fiscal year to about $278.2 million and comprise nearly 32% of the city’s general fund appropriations. The APD  budget calls for $3.8 million to support staff raises, subject to police union negotiations. APD cut eight command staff and 52 civilian positions for a total savings of $5.9 million and doubled the number of funded positions for police service aides from 50 to 100. The budget calls for 1,100 sworn officer positions. In November, APD had 901 sworn officers.

APD resources are being shifted from administrative command structures into field operations. The department identified redundant or non-critical positions and  reduced command staff by 8 positions generating savings that have been reinvested to fund 100 Police Service Aides, allowing sworn officers to focus on core law enforcement duties. APD also continues recruitment and retention efforts toward a goal of 1,100 sworn officer positions and is transitioning 43 existing sworn personnel into field operations.

ALBUQUERQUE FIRE RESCUE (AFR)

The  Albuquerque Fire Rescue approved budget includes $4.4 million for a negotiated wage increase for firefighters. Overtime appropriations were increased by $409,000. AFR staffing is expected to remain essentially unchanged at 828 full-time positions. The AFR proposed  FY27 budget  will prioritize field response by realigning staffing and reducing reliance on overtime, including integrating support personnel into regular field operations to strengthen coverage city-wide while containing costs. AFR will also see its highest pay increases in city history.

ALBUQUERQUE COMMUNITY SAFETY (ACS)

Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) was given a 10.5% budget increase to $19.8 million for the  2027 fiscal year, including $261,000 for raises. The budget increase is intended to increase field response and street outreach. ACS personnel have backgrounds as social workers, clinicians and counselors and respond to 911 calls reporting people suffering from addiction, homelessness and mental health emergencies. The approved budget would fund 156 full-time positions, up from 142 currently. The ACS department will have a $2 million investment to expand field response and double the size of its Street Outreach Team, freeing up APD officers and strengthening the City’s ability to respond to behavioral health calls and homelessness with specialized, civilian-led interventions. $500,000 would be reallocated for motel vouchers.

HOMELESSNESS, HOUSING, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

The council approved  FY27 budget continues to build a coordinated system of care designed to move individuals from crisis to stability through outreach, shelter, treatment, and housing. The coordinated system is know as the Gateway system.

The approved  FY27  budget increases funding by 9.5% to $48.9 million for the city’s Health, Housing and Homelessness Department, and fully funds the Gateway System of Care  for the unhouse. The council approved FY27 budget includes $8 million for affordable housing vouchers. The approved budget contains funding for 98 full-time positions, of which 78 are paid from the city’s general fund. Another 20 personnel are  paid by grant funding.

The Gateway System is fully funded under the  FY27 budget to ensure operational stability as services continue to come online, supporting shelter, treatment, and housing pathways for those most in need. Expanded outreach through ACS will strengthen connections into this system and improve coordination across services.

The Gateway System of support for people struggling with homelessness and drug and substance addiction consists of the following:

1. Gateway Center– (Located on Gibson.) Campus providing medical, behavioral, and social services including overnight beds, first responder intake, medical sobering and respite. Old Lovelace Hospital city purchased for $15 million costing $95 million to remodel into shelter and supposedly providing  assistance to upwards of 1,000 unhoused per month.
2. Gateway West – Safe, supportive 660-bed facility for individuals experiencing homelessness, offering specialized resources and case management. (Annual Impact: 5,700 Individuals. Open 24/7 Since 2019)
3. Gateway Family – Supportive housing center for families with overnight beds, meals, and case management to help achieve stable housing. (Annual Impact: 987 Individuals Open Since 2020.
4. Gateway Recovery– 50-resident micro-community offering low-barrier beds, recovery services, and support for 18 – 24 months. Annual projected Impact: 50 – 100.
5. Gateway Young Adult – Housing and support for young adults ages 15-25 experiencing homelessness, tailored to their unique needs. Annual projected Impact: 120 Individuals. On March 25, the city opened the $17 million transitional housing facility for homeless youth

https://www.cabq.gov/health-housing-homelessness/gateway-system-of-care

The Health, Housing and Homelessness Department budget also includes targeted investments, like $500,000 in reallocated funding to support motel vouchers through expanded outreach efforts, providing immediate, flexible shelter options in partnership with Albuquerque Community Safety Department (ACS).

NEW DIVERSION INITIATIVE

The City Council cut Mayor Keller’s new diversion initiative for the unhoused in half from $400,000 to $200,000. The new program will be led by the City Attorney’s Office and  designed to address the cycle of low-level, non-violent offenses that often result in brief and ineffective periods of detention without treatment or long-term resolution. Under this diversion program, eligible individuals will be assessed by a social worker or case manager at the point of prosecution and offered structured diversion options, including shelter intake, case management, substance use or mental health treatment, or other supportive services.

This approach shifts the City’s response from a system that cycles individuals through arrest and release to one that uses legal intervention as a pathway into services, while maintaining accountability for participation. By aligning enforcement with treatment and housing resources, the program is designed to reduce recidivism, decrease strain on the courts and detention system, and improve outcomes for individuals experiencing homelessness and behavioral health challenges.

COUNCIL’S  INCREASED BUDGET AMENDMENTS

City Council discussions and debate focused on balancing proposed spending budget amendments and adjustments while keeping essential departments and programs fully funded. Throughout the May 18 City council meeting, city councilors tried to create balance between proposed budget cuts and ensuring departments and programs are funded properly.

The City Council passed more than a dozen amendments, including one clarifying voucher cuts and others funding priorities in their districts and addressing public concerns. The City Council’s substitute budget was passed with $1.5 million in funding cuts to housing vouchers, one of the larger changes to Keller’s proposed budget.

An amendment sponsored by Grout, Fiebelkorn and Joaquín Baca restored $200,000 of the requested $400,000 to a diversion program tailored to the unhoused who are facing criminal charges  and to  provide them alternative  services to jailing.

An amendment addressed concerns over voucher cuts, clarifying that 2026 vouchers were not fully expended and if they run out mid-year “will be prioritized by the Council.”

Another amendment removed  council funding cuts to “Vision Zero”, allowing for millions to be made available for a list of projects like pedestrian crossing signals and a road diet on Lomas Boulevard, among others.

CLASH OVER $11.8 MILLION DISCREPANCY

The approval of the operating budget occurred  days after the City Council and the Keller administration clashed over an identified $11.8 million discrepancy in Mayor Tim Keller’s initial budget proposal. $11.8 million discrepancy was discovered by council  in the city’s financial projections while reviewing the mayor’s proposed $1.4 billion fiscal year 2027 budget. The identified discrepancy changed the budget math and it allowed the council to restore 272 city positions that Mayor Keller’s propose budget  had deactivated while increasing reserves. During a heated Committee of the Whole meeting, the executive and legislative branches clashed over whether this newfound cash actually exists.

The majority of the disputed $11.8 million, which makes up 1% of the general fund appropriations, was put toward city employee raises, with $4.5 million for a 1% cost-of-living increase and $3.7 million toward compensation adjustments. The leftover $3.6 million was used for other priorities, including traffic safety projects.

The clash occurred after the  introduction of Councilor Renée Grout’s substitute budget resolution, which councilors unanimously approved with amendments. Council staff said they found an $11.8 million ending balance from FY2026 that was not carried into the proposed FY27 starting fund balance. Grout  said her staff consulted the Local Government Division of the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), which advised that treating the projected savings as available revenue for the next fiscal year was a “reasonable” approach. Grout told the on line news agency City Desk that  finding the funding helped the council preserve core services, remove proposed surcharges for stormwater, solid waste and the BioPark and fund compensation study recommendations aimed at raising full-time employee pay to the 25th percentile. She said councilors did not want to raise fees, as families continue to face higher costs, and argued that the mayor’s proposed fee increases were not backed by council legislation.

The administration pushed back against what it labeled “high-risk” amendments, warning of dire consequences. Chief Financial Officer Carla Martinez challenged the council’s claims of state support, noting a DFA deputy director was unaware of any such conversations. In a press release, the administration stated the council’s “outdated data” would endanger key city programs. Martinez warned the $11.8 million “unrealized amount” could trigger layoffs and bond rating damage. The meeting turned personal as Councilor Dan Lewis accused Martinez of calling budget staff liars; Martinez told Lewis, “Please don’t put words in my mouth,” and said she was simply asking who council staff had spoken with at DFA and for written proof of their claims.

ENACTMENT OF CITY’S ONE YEAR OBJECTIVES ( R-26-28)

In addition to passage of the City’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget through the passage of R-26-17,  the City Council passed  Resolution R-26-28, which establishes the City’s one-year objectives. The resolution R-26-28 sets the one-year objectives for the City of Albuquerque and is mandated by the City Charter and Budget Ordinance, requiring the Council to annually review and adopt the objectives, which are aligned with the City’s broader five-year goals.

Mandated by the City Charter, these objectives ensure that taxpayer dollars are tied to tangible outcomes across eight primary five-year goals:

• Human and Family Development
• Public Safety
• Public Infrastructure
• Sustainable Community Development
• Environmental Protection
• Economic Vitality
• Community and Cultural Engagement
• Governmental Excellence and Effectiveness

City Councilor Renee Grout explained the significance of the passage of both  R-26-28 and R-26-17 this way:

“These objectives provide clear direction for the Administration and allow the City Council to effectively monitor progress throughout the fiscal year. … They ensure that our budgetary allocations are directly tied to achieving tangible outcomes for our City and our neighbors. … Councilors can now effectively monitor progress throughout the fiscal year. .., They ensure that our budgetary allocations are directly tied to achieving tangible outcomes for our City and our neighbors. …”

City Council staff will actively monitor and report on the progress of these objectives throughout F/Y27. Furthermore, the resolution requires the Administration to provide a report on the accomplishments and challenges related to the F/Y 2026 objectives within 90 days, reinforcing the City Council’s commitment to accountability and continuous improvement.

CITY COUNCILORS AND MAYOR  REACT TO BUDGET PASSAGE

District 9 City Councilor Renée Grout, the Chair of the City Council’s Committee of the Whole (COW),  emphasized the significance of the enactment of both City’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget through the passage of R-26-17 City Council passage of  Resolution  R-26-28 establishing  the City’s one-year objectives. Grout said this:

“[This budget] was an historic ninth budget from this administration. I don’t know if there’s ever been a budget with this many discrepancies and outright omissions. … The most important thing is having a structural, accurate, and balanced budget that’s transparent and meets the needs of our citizens. The passage of the City’s largest-ever budget and the adoption of the City’s one-year objectives move our City forward.” 

“We’ve Prioritized public safety, including increasing funds to Animal Welfare and Code Enforcement Departments, protected the City’s lowest paid employees by bringing their compensation up to the 25^th percentile based on the Evergreen study, and provides a 1% across the board increase for a total of 3% for our front-line workers. The allocation of funds to these key departments, alongside the adoption of our FY 2027 objectives, aligns our budgetary priorities and our strategic goals for the City.”

“The Council’s goal was to produce a more structurally sustainable budget that balances workforce needs, operational realities, and fiscal reserves in an increasingly constrained revenue environment “This is a working budget that reflects extensive review, significant discussion, and the Council’s responsibility to ensure long-term financial stability for the City.”

Democrat Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn, who voted to approve the budget, said she saw the process as a “give and take” and she was happy the council could restore funding for transit, open space and animal welfare, the last of which saved six positions and covered the stray cat trap and neuter program.  Feiblekorn said this:

“I didn’t get everything I wanted, but neither did anyone else, and I think that’s to be expected when there are nine councilors and a mayor vying for resources. This year, we had very limited resources, so I think the juggling of priorities was harder this year than in past years. … [I am] continually dismayed  by the amount put into the larger departments while others faced cuts. …  We are always willing to cut transit, we are always willing to cut parks and recreation and open space. … These are also really important departments in our city, but we continue to just put more and more and more money into APD, and I just wonder at what point we’re going to stop doing that.”

Mayor Tim Keller for his part said changes made during the council’s budget process helped preserve several critical programs and investments but added he remains “deeply concerned” that this budget may not be balanced. Keller said the council’s amendments fixed “some major issues” in its original plan,  including restoring funding the council had initially removed from traffic safety projects and halfway funding a diversion program to address those unhoused who are facing criminal charges and  jail for  city code violations.

Keller said this in a statement following the City’s Council vote:

“The amendments tonight did a lot to save this budget and the critical investments it represents. In the short term, we saved the diversion program for the unhoused, protected investments in pedestrian safety, and took a real step toward frontline worker pay. But I remain deeply concerned that this budget may not be balanced. It’s built on shaky ground with uncertain forecasts and high-risk assumptions that may require major revisions, even cuts by early fall. We have to work together on long-term structural stability so we can protect core services, support our workers, and keep Albuquerque moving forward.”

Republican City Councilor Dan Lewis, who voted NO on the budget adoption,  said in a statement after the vote that he supported the amendments that gave raises to city employees and eliminated proposed fee increases, like a fee Keller had proposed for providing stormwater services. However, Lewis said this:

“I could not support the final budget because it will only increase projected deficits in future years.  This budget is filled with extravagant spending on the mayor’s pet projects and programs that have shown no measurable results in addressing the city’s crime, homelessness, and economic challenges.”

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The single most important function of the Albuquerque City Council is enactment each fiscal year of  the annual city operating budget that commences July 1 and ends June 30 each year.

The City Council budget process is one of the very few times that  city council can bore deep down into each of the city department budgets. All too often, Mayor’s and their political operatives view the City Council more of an annoyance as opposed to being a legitimate oversight function.

All to often, it becomes a process of members of the City Council asking the Mayor and his top executives the main question “What is it in this budget do you not want us to know about?” or to put it in a more crass way “What is it that you are hiding in this budget  or lying about?”

For the previous 8 years, and throughout Mayor Tim Keller’s two terms, the city council has essentially acted as a rubber stamp giving Keller essentially all he wanted, even a tax increase the  first year as he was Mayor in 2017. Keller’s concern that the enacted budget “may not be balanced” is laughable. By law the budget is required to be a balanced budget with no deficit spending based on projected revenues and the city council retains all control over city finances and can amend, adjust  or reduce expenditures any time they want and as the need demands.

This year, the city council exercised sound financial judgment with their enactment of the 2027 budget.  Simply put, the City Council did their job.

On June 9, it was reported that  Mayor Tim Keller allowed the 10-day signing deadline for the enacted budget to pass without any line item vetoes.  The budget become law without his signature and  employee raises will  move forward. Under city charter rules, the budget automatically took effect once that deadline expired. But Keller made sure to distance himself from the Council’s math, stating, “The budget will become law, though I remain concerned about the Council’s decision to build it around an overly-optimistic forecast that could put core services at risk.”

Albuquerque’s record $1.5 billion budget heads to the state, without Keller’s signature

Links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.koat.com/article/albuquerque-city-council-approves-budget-2027/71347521

https://www.newsradiokkob.com/2026/05/19/albuquerque-city-council-approves-1-5b-budget-for-fiscal-year-2027/

https://www.kob.com/news/top-news/city-council-approves-1-5b-budget-for-albuquerque/

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/albuquerque-city-councilors-approve-fiscal-year-2027-budget/

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/city-council-passes-147-billion-budget-after-juggling-priorities/3046203

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/keller-proposes-147-billion-city-budget-for-2027/3015664

https://www.cabq.gov/council/find-your-councilor/district-9/news/city-council-amends-and-approves-citys-fy27-budget-workforce-investment-fiscal-stability-and-long-term-sustainability-remain-focus

https://abq.news/2026/05/clash-of-the-budgets/

On Tuesday, June 2, 2026,  the New Mexico  primary election took place.  This 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.

Below are the Bernalillo County primary election results for the offices of Bernalillo County Sherriff, Bernalillo County Assessor, Bernalillo County Commission, District 5 and Probate Judge.

BERNALILLO COUNTY SHERRIFF JOHN ALLEN ELECTED TO SECOND FOUR YEAR TERM

There were only  two candidates running in the Democratic primary for Bernalillo County Sherriff and no Republican ran for the office. Therefor the top vote getter in the Democratic Primary was elected Sherriff and will be sworn in on January 1, 2027.  The two Democratic candidates were Incumbent Sheriff John Allen and former Quay County Sheriff Philip Snedeker, whom Allen defeated four years ago in a previous race. Sherriff Allen prevailed  over former Quay County Snedeker and won his election to a second four year term. The vote was as follows:

• John Allen: 70.22% (48,507 votes)
• Phil Snedeker: 29.78% (20,576 votes)  

Sherriff Allen declared victory and said this:

“Thank you to the voters for choosing me again. … We’re going to continue to fight crime. BCSO is proactive, and we’ll be even more proactive as we move forward in my second term.”

In 2023, Sherriff Allen previously defeated Snedeker and five other challengers in the Democratic primary, winning 41% of the vote before becoming the first Black sheriff of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Allen will continue overseeing a department of approximately 300 deputies in New Mexico’s largest sheriff’s office. Allen said he hopes to keep the agency staffed at 96% or higher.

During his campaign, Allen emphasized expanding the use of technology to improve response times and data collection. He said the goal is to provide deputies with more tools to address higher-priority calls, making response times his top priority.  Allen also said he is working to expand behavioral health and addiction services to better serve both incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county.

Sherriff Allen said he also plans to become more involved in addressing homelessness while maintaining a balance between compassion and accountability. He said homelessness has expanded into unincorporated areas of the county.

As Allen begins another four-year term leading BCSO, he said his overarching goal is to make the department even more proactive, both internally and in its efforts to combat crime throughout Bernalillo County. One way Allen hopes to increase proactive policing is by assigning more deputies to crime hotspots. He identified areas on Albuquerque’s West Side near Gibson Boulevard and 98th Street, as well as the International District, as locations where crime occurs more frequently.

The links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://results.bernco.gov/

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/bernalillo-county-sheriff-john-allen-wins-democratic-primary/3050132

https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-statewide-office-election-results-primary-2026/71284570

https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-primary-election-results-june-2026/71272976

BERNALILLO COUNTY ASSESSOR

There were only  two candidates running in the Democratic primary for County Assessor and no Republican ran for the office. The winner of the Democratic Primary will be sworn in as County Assessor. Democrat Incumbent Damion Lara and Deputy County Treasurer and former two term County Clerk Linda Stover were the two Democrats. Following are the results of the primary election:

• Damian Lara: 47.88% (35,403)
• Linda Stover:  52.12% (35,543 votes)

Linda Stover will be sworn in as the new county Assessor on January 1, 2027 as Lara completes serving his term until then. Stover  said this about being elected as the new County Assessor:

“I’m looking forward to the new beginnings in the county assessor’s office and being able to actually work for the public and for the residents in Bernalillo County. …. There’s a lot that needs to be looked at and things to be done.”

Incumbent Damon Lara is an attorney and was elected assessor in 2022. He  ran on his work helping lower the tax rate, called a mill rate, for the largest bracket of residential properties and making progress in economic development in Albuquerque. Lara said this about his loss:

“I know that a lot of people who weren’t used to paying their fair share were very upset, but I know that I did the right thing.” 

BERNALILLO COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 5

There are a total of five elected Bernalillo County Commissioners who serve staggered terms. They are elected to four year terms with only two consecutive terms allowed. In 2026, the County Commissioners for District 1 and District 5 were on the ballot.

Democrat County Commissioner Barb Baca ran unopposed and therefor she was elected to a second four year term and will be sworn in on January 1, 2027.

There were two Democrats and two Republicans running in the primary for Bernalillo County Commission District 5. The top Democrat and top Republican vote getters will face off  each other in the November 4 general election.

Incumbent Bernalillo County Commissioner Eric Olivas secured  a solid lead over Byron Powdrell in the Democratic primary for the District 5 County Commission seat.  Olivas secured 55.54% (8,453 votes) to Powdrell’s 44.46% (6,791votes).

During the primary, Olivas said he would expand the sheriff’s office’s metro team to increase public safety, update behavioral health services and address infrastructure issues in the East Mountains.  Olivas said this about his win:

“My team has the unofficial results from around the city, so we’re thrilled. I’m very grateful to the voters for allowing me the opportunity to keep serving,” he said, adding that he looked forward to a “spirited, competitive, race” come November.

During the primary, Powdrell said he would seek to bolster public safety, particularly in Southeast Albuquerque, and tackle mental health issues, specifically for those isolated in the East Mountains. Powdrell did not concede on Tuesday night but acknowledge the uphill battle before him as votes were being counted. Powdrell said this:

“We didn’t have a large team and we did the best we could. I feel that my team did an awesome job.”

Thomas Riley won the Republican primary for District 5 against Wayne Yevoli.  Riley secured  70.57%  (5,639 votes) to Yevoli’s29.43% (2,352).

Incumbent Democrat Bernalillo County Commissioner Eric Olivas will now face off with Republican Thomas Riley in the general election.

Links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-statewide-office-election-results-primary-2026/71284570

https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-primary-election-results-june-2026/71272976

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/some-bernalillo-county-primary-races-apparent-others-too-close-to-call/3055082

BERNALILLO COUNTY PROBATE JUDGE

There was one  Probate Judge position on the June 2  primary ballot, with four  Democrats running and no Republicans running. The top vote getter will be declared the victor and will be sworn into office January 1, 2027:

• Democrat Veronica Hernandez:         40.74% (26,979 votes) (WINNER)
• Democrat Carmela Starace:                31.44% (20,815 votes)                      
• Democrat Robert Padilla:                    17.05% (11,287)
• Democrat Joeseph Gandert:               10.77% (7,134)

CONCLUSION

Congratulations and best wishes  to Bernalillo County Sherriff John Allen for being elected to a second term as Sheriff, to County Assessor elect Linda Stover, and to Probate Judge elect Veronica Hernandez with all three to be sworn in on January 1, 2026.

Best wishes to Incumbent Democrat Bernalillo County Commissioner Eric Olivas and Republican Thomas Riley as they campaign against each other for Bernalillo County Commission District 5.

On Tuesday, June 2, 2026,  the New Mexico primary election took place. This 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. This report is on the Governor and Lieutenant Governor races.

DEMOCRATS NOMINATE HAALAND AND TOULOUSE OLIVER  FOR GOVERNOR AND LUIETENANT GOVERNOR

On June 2, New Mexico history was made in the Democratic Primary for Governor on two levels.  Former Biden Cabinet Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland became the first Native American woman to be nominated for Governor of New Mexico and Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver won the  nomination for Lieutenant Governor.

Both women won their  Democratic Party nominations in a landslide against their male opponents. They  became the very first all-female ticket in New Mexico history for Governor and Lieutenant Governor in this fall’s general election.

Both Haaland’s and Toulouse Oliver’s victories were called by news outlets a mere 34 and 51 minutes respectively after polls closed at 7:00 p,m. .

As of 7:34 pm, June 2, in the Governor’s race Deb Haaland garnered 72.3% (156,861 votes)  of the votes to Sam Bregman’s 27.7% (60,189) cast around New Mexico.

With her second term as secretary of state expiring at the end of the year, Toulouse Oliver secured her landslide victory over her sole challenger in the Democratic Primary primary, state Sen. Harold Pope Jr., who has represented District 23 since 2021. As of 7:51 p.m. Toulouse Oliver garnered 80% (168,109) of the votes to Pope’s 20% (42,127) cast around New Mexico.

DEB HAALAND CLAIMS VICTORY, SAM BREGMAN CONCEDES

On June 2, Deb Haaland claimed victory at  Albuquerque’s Old Town Plaza where  upwards of  300 supporters and attended. During her remarks, Haaland cited her past struggles with alcoholism and reliance on government assistance programs. Haaland  vowed to overhaul New Mexico’s beleaguered child welfare system and stand up to President Donald Trump if elected governor. Haaland said this:

“Like so many New Mexicans,  I’ve been through hard times. … New Mexicans want a leader who will stand up for working people and who is ready to take on Donald Trump.”

Bernalillo County District Attorney conceded defeat in a statement after polls closed Tuesday.  He said he planned to call Haaland to congratulate her, but he stopped short of saying if  he planned to vote for her for in November. Bregman said before that he would not endorse Haaland if he lost the primary to her after Haaland  posted his relatives’ homes on her campaign website. He called the move a “cheap political trick” and a “failure in judgment” adding, “what she did was endanger my family.”  Haaland never apologized with her campaign saying the addresses were public record.

Bregman said this in his concession:

“While tonight’s results were not what we hoped for, I am deeply grateful to every New Mexican who supported our campaign.”

REPUBLICANS NOMINATE HULL AND GALLEGOS FOR GOVERNOR AND LUIETENANT GOVERNOR

The results of the Republican primary for Governor and Lieutenant Governor were a lot closer than the Democratic primary.

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)

On the Republican side for Lieutenant Governor, state Senator David Gallegos won a three-way race against private attorney Aubrey Blair Dunn and Manny Lardizabal.  State Senator David M. Gallegos secured 49.8% of the vote (56,359), Aubrey Blair Dunn secured 37.8% of the vote (42,752) and Manny Lardizabal secured 12.5% of the vote 14,147.

GREGG HULL CLAIMS VICTORY

Former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull declared victory shortly after 10 p.m. on Tuesday evening  before upwards of 200 supporters at the Oasis Event Center in Northwest Albuquerque. In his victory speech, Hull said New Mexicans have a clear choice in the November general election, citing the difference between his views and Haaland’s. Greg Hull said this:

“We ran a campaign that focused on the issues, a campaign that focused on who we were and not a campaign that attacked or tore people down. …  I respect that she has served in various positions over her career, but New Mexico families are hurting, and policies of the last eight years under one-party control of this state have failed the state.”

VOTER TURNOUT

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.

Deb Haaland’s landslide victory was 72% to Sam Bregman’s 28% as she 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%

Unofficial results show in the Democratic governor primary 218,000 votes were cast.

Upwards of 28,000 independents voted in the election. The secretary of State reported that 74% of Independents voted in the Democratic  primary or about 28,000.

Without the independent vote, the Democratic Primary turnout for governor was upwards of 190,000 compared to the 176,000 Democrats who cast ballots in 2018, the last primary with no incumbent.

The Republican  turnout hit 120,000, up from the 117,000 who cast ballots in in the ’22 five way gubernatorial primary. The independents added 10,000 to the GOP total this year so more Republicans actually voted for governor in 2022 than 2026.

Over 10% of the registered independents chose to take part in the primary. That was in line with analyst forecasts. The number is expected to grow in future cycles.

Link to relied upon news source:

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/elections/bernalillo-county-exceeds-voter-turnout-in-new-mexico-primary/

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/new-mexico-governor-primaries-spark-high-voter-turnout/ar-AA24DB2c

June 4 post, New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan  https://www.joemonahan.com/

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Given the landslide victory of Deb Haaland over Sam Bregman as well as the huge voter turnout amongst Democrats, it is clear that Deb Haaland is the clear front runner to be elected Governor come the November general election. Adding to her momentum is the historical nature of her candidacy in that  she will  be the very first Native American woman ever elected governor of  any state if she wins in November. Then there is her ability to fundraise millions to run, having already raised $12 Million for the primary.

The 2026 New Mexico primary for Governor was the most expensive primary in the state’s history. According to finance reports filed with the Secretary of State, Democrats Deb Haaland raised over $12 Million while Sam Bregman raised upwards of $4 Million. Republican fundraising efforts were dwarfed by comparison. Gregg Hull raised $544,920, Doug Turner raised $703,189 and Duke Rodriquez self-financed to the tune of $1.5 Million.

Control of New Mexico’s Governor’s Office has flipped back and forth between Democrats and Republicans over the last 40-plus years.  The last time a governor was elected to replace an outgoing governor of the same political party was in 1982, when Toney Anaya was elected to succeed fellow Democrat Bruce King.

In the last 30 years, New Mexicans have only elected Republicans Gary Johnson and Susana Martinez to the Governor’s Office each serving two four year terms for a total of 16 years. However, no Republican has won a statewide race in New Mexico since former Supreme Court justice Judith Nakamura did so in 2016. Today, New Mexico is considered “solid blue” Democratic state.

Democrats currently hold virtually all statewide offices and a majority in both legislative chambers. Democrats have large majorities in both the New Mexico State Senate and House of Representatives and that will not change. There are  26 Democrats, 16 Republicans in the NM Senate.  In the NM House of Representative there are 44 Democrats and 26 Republicans.

All 5 of New Mexico’s federal congressional delegation of 2 United States Senators and 3 Representatives are Democrats. In the last 3 Presidential elections, Donald Trump lost New Mexico to Democrats. In  2016 Donald Trump lost to Hillary Clinton, in 2020  Trump lost to Joe Biden and in 2024 Trump lost to Kamala Harris.

It’s more likely than not that Deb Haaland will use the identical strategy to run for Governor in the general election and she did in the primary. She will raise millions, outspend her Republican opponent and ignore and simply refuse to debate and rely on paid media to get elected.

Links to review all election results state wide is here:

https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-statewide-office-election-results-primary-2026/71284570

https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-primary-election-results-june-2026/71272976

The links to  relied upon or quoted  news sources are here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/the-race-is-set-deb-haaland-to-face-off-against-gregg-hull-in-new-mexicos-open-contest-for-governor/3055524

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/maggie-toulouse-oliver-wins-democratic-primary-for-lieutenant-governor/3055532

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/elections/krqe-news-13-projects-deb-haaland-as-winner-of-democratic-nomination-for-governor/

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/elections/gregg-hull-winner-of-republican-nomination-for-new-mexico-governor/

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/deb-haaland-leading-in-democratic-race-for-governor/

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/gregg-hull-leading-in-republican-race-for-governor/

Links to related Dinelli articles are here:

Profiles, Platforms And Positions Of  Democrats For Governor Sam Bregman And Debra Haaland; The Most Expensive Race In Primary Election History; Primary Election June 2; Please Vote!

Profiles, Platforms And Positions Of The Three Republican Candidates Running For New Mexico Governor; The Most Expensive Race In Primary Election History; Primary Election June 2; Please Vote!

On Monday, June 1, after a heated meeting, the Albuquerque City Council passed a heavily amended and scaled down ordinance that raises the city’s minimum wage from $12 to $15 over three years with future annual adjustments tied to inflation. The amended ordinance cut tipped workers’ percentage of the minimum from 60% to 50% and gave city workers, making less than $80,000 a year, the same percentage wage increase as the minimum in annual adjustments. City Councilors voted to approve the amended ordinance on a 5-4 vote which will raise the minimum wage to $13 in 2027 and thereafter an additional dollar every year until reaching $15 in 2029. Annual adjustments tied to inflation will  begin in 2030.

The vote to approve the amended ordinance was strictly along party lines. Democrats City Council President Klarissa Peña and  City Councilors Tammy Fiebelkorn, Joaquín Baca, Nichole Rogers and Stephanie Telles voted “YES” to adopt the amended ordinance. Voting “NO” were Republicans City Council Vice President Dan Champine, Brook Bassan, Dan Lewis and Renée Grout.

ORIGINAL ORDINANCE

The original ordinance as sponsored by Democrats Councilors Tammy Fiebelkorn, Joaquin Baca, Nichole Rogers and Stephanie Telles, would have raised the minimum wage to $15 an hour and $14 for employees who receive at least $2,500 in healthcare and/or childcare benefits. The original ordinance would have raised the pay of tipped employees to $9 an hour.

The original bill, like the one recently passed in Santa Fe, would implement annual cost of living adjustments tied to the Consumer Price Index and Fair Market Rent measured by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, for a two-bedroom home in Albuquerque.

The original ordinance states that the Fair Market Rate for a two-bedroom unit in Albuquerque increased 56% between 2021 and 2026, but the minimum wage has increased 26% in that same timeframe. Meanwhile, the 2024 Albuquerque Region Housing Needs Assessment found that 52% of all renters in Albuquerque are cost burdened  paying more than 30% of their income on housing.

Had the original bill passed, both the wage increase and the cost of living adjustments would follow Santa Fe’s timeline on its $17 minimum wage, with the former starting in January and the latter in January 2028.

ECONOMIST CLAIMS INCREASES NOT EXESSIVE

Local economist Kelly O’Donnell said the increases were not excessive, but the annual adjustments could create uncertainty for businesses. O’Donnell, an economic consultant, said the proposed wage increases are reasonable and in line with the higher costs of goods and services.  Kelly O’Donnell said this:

“It’s a meaningful increase that will make a very meaningful difference in the budgets of low-wage workers … but it’s not so high that it will have a really negative impact on employment.”

O’Donnell said recent large-scale studies, including one in the past few years, have found that “modest to moderate” wage increases do not kill jobs the way the business world sometimes suggests. She said while wage increases can lead to slightly slower job growth in certain sectors they often have “an immediate positive stimulus” on the local economy that benefits businesses and workers.  O’Donnell said this:

“I think it will reduce turnover and will encourage folks to enter the workforce, so those are two big positives for business. The other thing is, it puts money in the pockets of workers who go out and spend their money at those businesses  so that money will flow back to many of these businesses.”

O’Donnell said tying an annual cost of living increase to Fair Market Rent  (FMR) is more unique and she could see how businesses would have mixed feelings about that aspect.  She said the FMR’s “tend to be a little bit more volatile” than inflation, despite the former having gone up much faster than the latter in recent years.

O’Donnell  said that  while inflation is more steady and predictable in its movements,  housing costs take “bigger swings” in some years and don’t change much at all in others. She said such a dynamic could lead to uncertainty for businesses, which often pay more attention to inflation. O’Donnell said this:

“I understand the motivation [for including Fair Market Rent], and it makes sense to me. On the other hand, I also understand why the business community might be a little uncomfortable with it. If you inject this higher, more volatile measure into how you’re calculating growth for your minimum wage, you inject a little bit more uncertainty, and I think that, if anything, one of the important roles of government is to help provide a level of certainty and continuity for the economy.”

MINIMUM WAGES ACROSS THE STATE

The most notable minimum wages across the state are:

• Statewide: $12  (Enacted by legislature, took effect 2023.)
• Santa Fe: $17.50 (Takes effect 2027.)
• Las Cruces: $13.01 (Took effect 2026.)

CITY COUNCILORS REACT

It was Progressive Democrat Tammy Fiebelkorn who drafted the original ordinance over several months with the assistance of  Mayor Tim Keller’s administration. Fiebelkorn called it a “middle ground” as she wanted to raise the minimum wage to $20 an hour or more. She said, with the compromise, “we’re not too dramatically impacting businesses, but we’re also getting people the relief they need, and we’re getting relief for taxpayers too.”

Fiebelkorn said the income for minimum wage workers in Albuquerque is 20% less than the national average, while rents in the city are 25% more than the national average.

Republican City Councilor Renée Grout said this in a statement about the original proposed ordinance:

“[The minimum wage increase] won’t raise anyone’s standard of living, but it will kill the small businesses that offer entry-level jobs. …  The real path to financial stability is upward mobility, and small local businesses offer those opportunities. If Albuquerque adopts a $15 per hour minimum wage, it will still take almost $20 per hour for a single person to afford a market rate studio apartment. Upward mobility gets people there; raising the minimum wage doesn’t even come close.”

Republican City Councilor Dan Lewis this in a statement about the original ordinance:

“[The increase is] another misguided policy that ignores economic reality and threatens the small businesses that power Albuquerque’s economy. … [The] strong opposition to the proposal from the Hispano Chamber, Albuquerque Chamber and New Mexico Restaurant Association says it all. …  Thousands of local employers and workers are warning that this proposal will hurt Albuquerque’s economy. We should listen to the people creating jobs, not politicians pushing policies that risk destroying them.”

AMENDMENTS SPONSORED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT KLARISSA PEÑA PASS

The original bill was co-sponsored by Democrats City Councilors Tammy Fiebelkorn, Joaquín Baca, Nichole Rogers and Stephanie Telles. The original ordinance increasing the minimum wage  would have raised the minimum wage from  $15 an hour in 2027 and also 2028 with annual living adjustments tied to the Consumer Price Index and Fair Market Rent (FMR),  measured by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,  for a two-bedroom home in Albuquerque.

Four amendments sponsored by Democrat City Council President Klarissa Peña passed with Democrats Tammy Fiebelkorn, Joaquín Baca, Nichole Rogers and Stephanie Telles voting YES. The four amendments passed were:

1. Mandating city workers be included in annual increases
2. Spread minimum wage rais increases across three years
3. Removal of the Fair Market Rent provision from consideration in annual adjustments and
4. Reduced the percentage of the minimum paid to tipped workers.

PUBLIC INPUT  

On June 1, during public comments, things became very heated to the point that two people had to be removed for disruptive conduct.

Supporters expressed a struggle to afford basic supplies amid rising costs of rent and other goods and services. A supporter scrolled a Zillow map showing dozens of Albuquerque rentals on a $15 an hour budget. On a $12 an hour budget, it appeared the closest available rental was in Portales.

Those opposing the bill asked councilors to take their time and spoke of the ordinance leading to layoffs and businesses shutting down.

One woman said the ordinance seemed “inflationary,” saying costs would be passed on to consumers, including minimum-wage workers. She added, “These entry level jobs are fine, they are not designed to support a family.”

A  man said minimum wage should not  be a career or a living wage, but a “starter job.” He said the ordinance would raise the standards of entry-level jobs, affecting availability for those living on the streets and others getting on their feet.

A small business owner said the ordinance “deserves serious discussion” and asked councilors to study how it will affect businesses and workers before implementing it.

In a statement read aloud to the Council, the owner of Taqueria Mexico said he supported the ordinance and said when workers struggle to cover basic needs they also suffer stress, which can lead to less productivity and morale.

Another employer said she was paying $15 already but was concerned on tying annual adjustments to housing costs. She asked for something more staggered and easier to sustain saying this:

“We can’t have these increases be unknown, we have to plan.”

Camp Dozier, who is a co-owner of  Happy Hiker in Old Town, said the change wouldn’t impact him because he already pays his employees more than Albuquerque’s minimum wage. Dozier said this:

“Things have gotten more expensive, but we’re still surviving, so we’re not worried about it for now. … It’s always been my opinion, minimum wage means that’s the lowest a company can pay an employee. That doesn’t seem right, so we always want to go above that. … Every salary should be able to support the cost of living.”

Paul Gessing, president of the taxpayer watch group Rio Grande Foundation, expressed concerns about the impact on small businesses and said this:

“It’s a very troubling and significant increase in the minimum wage at a time when, yeah, affordability is an issue, but we could be doing other things in this state and in the city to improve affordability. Do you believe small businesses are going to suffer as a result of this? Yes, absolutely.”

While the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce supports the intent of the ordinance, they’re also concerned the increase will fall on small businesses who they said are already facing inflation and supply cost pressures. Vice President of Government Relations for the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce Matthew Stackpole said this:

“The employers most impacted will be local restaurants, retailers, childcare providers and family-owned businesses. Not large national corporations.”

In a letter to the City Council, Ernie C’deBaca, president and CEO of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, asked members of the body to take their time. He said the chamber “supports fair wages and a thriving workforce,” but the group also has to consider the challenges faced by small businesses.

C’deBaca said “fast-tracking a 25% increase” to the minimum wage was a concern and the proposed ordinance needed input from small businesses as they cannot absorb such increases like larger ones. C’deBaca  said this:

“These businesses are not large corporations with deep reserves. … They are the most vulnerable when costs rise faster than revenue.”

C’deBaca said tying annual adjustments to the Consumer Price Index and Fair Market Rate a major concern. Should recent trends continue, he said, minimum wage would reach $26 an hour by 2037, adding that “policies that increase costs too quickly put their progress at risk.”

“A 25% wage increase may sound simple on paper, but for many small and Hispanic-owned businesses, it could mean reduced hours, fewer jobs, higher prices, and in the worst cases, closure. … Let’s make the right decision, not just a quick decision.”

CITY COUNCLORS REACT TO PASSAGE

Republican City Councilors Dan Champine and Renée Grout spoke in opposition to the increase in the minimum wage. Both cast minimum wage jobs as a  necessary place for someone to begin their working career and before they build their talents and move onto a career path.

After all four amendment passed and before the final vote, Republican City Councilor Dan Lewis said this:

“The fact is this will have a negative effect on job creation in the city, this will have a negative effect on the economy to our city.”

Progressive Democrat Joaquín Baca  pointed out there’s always a reason not to change things but said the only thing he had seen change recently were the costs of gas and other crucial commodities.

Progressive Democrat Tammy Fiebelkorn said this:

“I will just remind us all that minimum wage is literally the floor, it is the least you can pay someone and it costs a certain amount to live in our community. And we are not covering those costs with our minimum wage now. … People in our community cannot make their way on $12… this is a step in the right direction.”

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Moderate Democrat Klarissa Peña was elected City Council President in January by Republicans Dan Champine, Brook Bassan, Dan Lewis and Renée Grout to the complete chagrin of highly Progressive Democrats Tammy Fiebelkorn, Joaquín Baca, Nichole Rogers and Stephanie Telles who wanted to elect one of their own.

Moderate Democrat  Klarissa Peña was elected to a fourth four year term in November, 2026 after a highly contested and negative race where she was opposed by a highly Progressive Democrat. Klarissa Peña is now the onlymoderate Democrat on the City Council capable of bridging the gap  in the middle with 4 highly progressive Democrats to her left and 4 highly conservative Republicans to her right.

With the enactment of minimum wage ordinance after adoption of the four amendments to the minimum wage ordinance sponsored by Democrat City Council President Klarissa Peña, she has emerged to be  one of the most single, influential and effective City Council Presidents in some time. Peña’s influence equals or even exceeds that of Progressive Democrat Mayor Tim Keller as she exerts tremendous influence over his programs, policies and funding.

Peña’s minimum wage vote was not the first time she has exerted her authority to reign in ill advised and poorly drafted legislation by progressives on the city council. She did so by voting to defeat the “upzoning” amendments to the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) advocated  by Mayor Keller and supported by Progressive Democrats Tammy Fiebelkorn, Joaquín Baca, Nichole Rogers and Stephanie Telles. The up zoning  was an aggressive effort to double or triple density in all residential areas of the city  to increase affordable housing arguing it would increase affordable housing. It would not have.  Upzoning of  virtually 100% all residential properties in the city would have allowed unrestricted development by developers and investors and  would have destroyed established neighborhood.  Upzoning would have resulted in gentrification, especially in historical neighborhoods.

As is the case with most if not all legislation proposed and  sponsored by highly progressive Democrat City Councilor Tammy Feiblekorn, the original minimum wage ordinance she sponsored went way too far and was clearly detrimental to the business community.  As usual, Feibelkorn simply advocated her own private agenda and ignored those who opposed her efforts who tried to reason with her.

Simply put, the amended minimum wage bill enacted by the city council is reasonable and well measured, especially with the elimination of the Fair Market Rent provision.

The enacted increase in the  minimum wage ordinance now goes to Mayor Tim Keller where he is expected to sign it  into law.

Links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/city-council-passes-minimum-wage-bill-with-some-tweaks/3054465

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/albuquerque-city-council-passes-minimum-wage-increase/

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/albuquerque-city-council-approves-minimum-wage-increase-during-heated-meeting/

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/councilors-propose-raising-minimum-wage-to-15-an-hour/3053508

https://www.koat.com/article/albuquerque-city-council-to-vote-on-3-minimum-wage-increase/71457554

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/proposal-in-city-council-would-raise-minimum-in-albuquerque/

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/albuquerque-city-councilors-propose-raising-minimum-wage-to-15-an-hour/

Below are the links to two separate News And Commentary  articles on the Democratic Party and Republican Party candidates running for Governor.

Independent Ken Miyagisham will not be on the June 2 primary ballot and therefore there is no profile for him.

Please click on the below  link to read the article “Profiles, Platforms And Positions Of  Democrats For Governor Sam Bregman And Debra Haaland; The Most Expensive Race In Primary Election History; Primary Election June 2; Please Vote!”

Profiles, Platforms And Positions Of  Democrats For Governor Sam Bregman And Debra Haaland; The Most Expensive Race In Primary Election History; Primary Election June 2; Please Vote!

Please click on the “https” link to read the article “Profiles, Platforms And Positions Of The Three Republican Candidates Running For New Mexico Governor; The Most Expensive Race In Primary Election History; Please Vote!”

Profiles, Platforms And Positions Of The Three Republican Candidates Running For New Mexico Governor; The Most Expensive Race In Primary Election History; Primary Election June 2; Please Vote!

On Tuesday, June 2, 2026,  the  semi open primary election will take place in New Mexico.  This is the first semi-open primary in New Mexico history, meaning that independents can choose either the Republican or Democratic primary to vote in, without having to register with that party. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, the general election will take place, and voters will decide the winners of all the races on the ballot including who will become governor.

There are two Democrats, three  Republicans and one Independent  running to be New Mexico’s  33rd governor.   The Democrats running are former President Joe Biden’s Interior Sectary Deb Haaland and Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman. The Republicans running for Governor are former Rio Rancho Mayor Greg Hull, public affairs and strategic communications executive Doug Turner and Duke Rodriguez, the CEO of Ultra Health, one of the largest marijuana companies in New Mexico. The one Independent running for Governor is former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima but he will not appear on the June 2  primary ballot and only on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot.

On May 28, www.PeteDinelli.com published an article on the two Democratic candidates for Governor Deb Haaland and Sam Bregman with a link to that article in the postscript below. This article is on the 3 Republican candidates for Governor.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR AND POSITIONS ON ISSUES

Following are the profiles of three Republican candidates running for Governor and their positions on the issues:

1. GREG HULL

Republican  Gregg Hull, age 59, is the former Mayor of Rio Rancho, a position he  held from  2014 to 2026 and from which he stepped down to run for Governor. Hull is considered the front runner for the Republican nomination by many within the Republican Party. Hull is the longest-serving mayor in Rio Rancho’s history. Throughout the years, Hull has held many leadership roles, many of which he is still active in, such as chairman of the Mid-Region Council of Governments, president of the New Mexico Municipal League, and board member/chief elected official of the New Mexico Workforce Connection. Hull also previously served as president and CEO of Certified Packing and Crating Inc., a shipping company in Albuquerque.

Hull was born in Oklahoma but his family bounced around the west while he was growing up due to his father’s job in the hotel industry. He spent time in Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Pagosa Springs, Colorado, where he finished high school, before Hull settled in the Rio Rancho area in the mid-1990s. After a first marriage with two children ended in a divorce in his mid-20s, Hull eventually got married to his current wife Carrie, who had three children from a previous marriage that he helped raise. A self-described entrepreneur who did not graduate from college, Hull made a name for himself in the business industry, running his own packing and crating business for 12 years before being elected Rio Rancho’s mayor in 2014.

GREG HULL ON THE ISSUES

If elected governor, Hull said he would push for more funding to help cities and counties around New Mexico recruit and retain law enforcement officers.

Along with the two other GOP governor candidates, Hull has called for cutting state taxes as a way of providing financial relief to New Mexico residents. Hull  said he would push to eliminate or reduce New Mexico’s personal income tax code, as other tax cuts could negatively impact the budgets of local governments around the state. Cutting taxes will no doubt be a tough sell to the New Mexico Legislature in that a 2025 Republican-backed bill to eliminate the personal income tax stalled in its first assigned House committee.

Former Mayor Hull has taken a cautious approach to the universal child care initiative launched by the Lujan Grisham administration that is the target of a lawsuit filed by Republican Candidate Duke  Rodriguez along  with  two other Republicans. Describing the program as “great in concept” but potentially ripe for fraud, Hull said he would not completely scrap it if elected governor. Rather, he said he would consider scaling back the initiative to ensure the state can safely meet statewide demand for child care assistance.

Hull’s campaign website is here:  https://gregghull.com/

CLICK HERE FOR ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL GREG HULL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

https://www.abqjournal.com/election/governor-gregg-hull-r/3034038

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

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/rio-ranchos-longest-serving-mayor-eyes-governors-office/3038764

2. DOUG TURNER

Doug Turner, age 57,  is a lifelong Republican who lists his primary  residence as Albuquerque.  Ostensibly, he is also  a resident of the Taos Ski Valley Village where in 2024 he was elected to the Village Council.  Turner was raised in Old Town Albuquerque and attended Albuquerque public schools, including Jefferson Middle School and Albuquerque High School. Turner completed high school at the United World College USA near Las Vegas, NM. He earned a bachelor’s degree from American University in Washington, DC, and a master’s degree from the Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium.

As the  founder of Agenda Global, he built a successful New Mexico based public affairs and strategic communications firm serving clients at every level. For nearly fifteen years as Board Chairman of Public Charter Schools of New Mexico, he fought for parental choice, higher standards, and accountability because success should be measured by student outcomes. He is the father of three children between the ages of 12 and 19. His late wife, University of New Mexico political science professor Mala Htun, died last year after a six-year struggle with breast cancer.

Doug Turner is  seasoned campaign strategist and communications professional.  In 1994, Doug Turner was the campaign manager for former Governor Gary Johnson’s successful  1994 run for governor against incumbent Democrat  Governor Bruce King and again in 1998 for Johnson’s successful run against Democratic Party nominee former Mayor Marty Chavez.  Doug Turner first ran for governor in 2010 and he came in third place behind future-Gov. Susana Martinez in the Republican primary drawing more than 11% of the vote with a platform calling for lower taxes and public education reform, including parity for charter schools and workforce preparation.

DOUG TURNER ON THE ISSUES

On May 15, the Albuquerque Journal published a guest opinion column written by Doug Turner entitled “Doug Turner vows to be independent, pragmatic governor: We all have the same end game”. The column provides a succinct summation of Turner’s platform and his positions on the three  major issues he is running on: jobs, education and public safety. Following is the unedited Turner guest column:

“I’m running for governor for one reason: I believe that with dynamic leadership and the right policies, New Mexico’s best days are ahead of us. But to realize that future, we must stop treating our biggest challenges in isolation. Jobs, education and public safety are deeply connected, and for too long, our leadership has failed to understand and act on those connections.

 When families have access to quality schools and good-paying jobs, our communities are stronger, crime is lower and prosperity is a real possibility for everyone. New Mexico deserves a vision that tackles these three priorities together.

 My experience as a successful New Mexico entrepreneur working with clients like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, University of New Mexico Hospital and the Navajo Nation has taught me an essential truth: lasting results come from addressing root causes, not just reacting to symptoms.

 To begin, despite the news of large data centers coming to our state, let’s remember that our small businesses are the true backbone of our economy. They stabilize neighborhoods and provide the jobs that support our families. Yet, New Mexico ranks poorly — 44th out of 50 in CNBC’s “Top States for Business”— due to barriers like business unfriendliness, high taxes and a lack of access to capital. This must change.

I will champion common-sense, pro-growth policies by cutting unnecessary red tape, expanding access to capital, and actively encouraging entrepreneurs to start, grow and stay here.

 I will advance policies that expand career pathways in growing sectors like energy, technology, defense and innovation. It’s essential that our leadership champions new opportunities that will lift communities and ensure that incomes finally rise faster than the cost of living. Moreover, when people can find good jobs close to home thanks to a growing economy, it reduces desperation and makes our communities safer than ever. That’s why I believe job creation is not just an economic policy; it is a public safety policy too.

At the same time, fixing our failing education system must be given equal attention.

Under my leadership, we will ensure high-quality schools focus both on fundamental skills like literacy and math, but also the real-world skills necessary for tomorrow’s workforce. We will implement meaningful parental choice so every parent can find the right educational fit for their child. And we will install accountability for outcomes, ensuring our schools are delivering on measurable results for students that aligns with taxpayer spending.

Our schools must equip young people with skills, confidence and a sense of purpose. When students see a path to a bright future, they are far less likely to fall into cycles of crime and dependency. A strong K–12 system is the most effective long-term strategy we have for workforce readiness and crime prevention.

 In short, our state must inspire students to succeed and then ensure economic opportunity is available to them when they are ready. While both education and job growth have the benefit of yielding stronger and safer communities, we also need a public safety system that emphasizes prevention and enforcement. Students and business cannot thrive unless they are also given the best environment to do so. By connecting this strategy to our economic and educational reforms, we can reduce the conditions that contribute to crime and substance abuse.

 New Mexico does not need small ambitions. We need big results for our kids, our workers and our communities. By embracing accountability, opportunity and effective governance, and by seriously connecting education, jobs and public safety, we can build a future where every New Mexican has a real chance to succeed. This is not a partisan vision; it’s a common sense New Mexico vision.”

 The link to the Doug Turner Journal guest column with photo is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/opinion/opinion-our-connected-future-jobs-education-and-safety-in-new-mexico/2993556

CLICK HERE FOR ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL DOUG TURNER QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

 https://www.abqjournal.com/election/governor-doug-turner-r/3032954

The link to Doug Turners  campaign website is here: https://www.turnerfornm.com/

The links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/elections/here-are-the-candidates-running-for-new-mexico-governor/

https://www.abqjournal.com/election/new-mexico-gubernatorial-candidate-profiles/3040338

3. DUKE RODRIGUEZ

Republican Duke Rodriguez, age 68, is currently the CEO of Ultra Health, one of the largest marijuana companies in New Mexico. He previously served as New Mexico Human Services Department Secretary under former New Mexico Republican Governor Gary Johnson and was also Chief Operations Officer of Lovelace Health System.

Reuben M. “Duke” Rodriguez grew up in Imperial, California and he is the second of five boys born to migrant field workers.  At age 14, Rodriguez, his mother and brothers moved to Silver City at the recommendation of neighbors . His father did not follow and fell out of the family’s lives.

Rodriguez attended junior high school in Silver City and high schools in Silver City and Alamogordo while his mother worked as a maid in local hotels. In his early 20s and with an accounting degree from New Mexico State University, Rodriguez landed a job at Lovelace Health System in 1980. He was named chief financial officer in 1988, then chief operating officer in 1989 before leaving the company in 1993 at age 35.

In July 1996, then Governor Gary Johnson appointed Rodriguez as his Human Services Cabinet Secretary, a post he held until October 1997. During his tenure, Rodriguez led the effort to convert the state’s Medicaid program from a “fee -for- service” model to managed health care. Rodriguez’s tenure as Cabinet secretary was controversial. Rodriguez came under fire after the state Supreme Court ordered a halt to the Johnson administration’s welfare reform program, which included work requirements that significantly reduced welfare roles in New Mexico.

Rodriguez is president and CEO of Ultra Health LLC, with 25 cannabis dispensaries statewide and the state’s largest growing facility which is  an 11.3-acre property in Bernalillo County  that Rodriguez purchased for $2.75 million in August 2014 on behalf of Zoned Properties Inc., an Arizona company in which he was a minority owner. Rodriguez became sole owner of the property because of a legal settlement with Zoned Properties, according to the public company’s financial disclosures.  Rodriguez describes himself as a “figurehead” for Ultra Health, which is largely operated by others.

Rodriguez’s residency is an issue in the campaign to be New Mexico Governor. He owns houses in both Albuquerque and Scottsdale, Arizona, where he first registered to vote in 2001 and cast votes in the 2022 and 2024 general elections, according to Maricopa County records.  He voted last year in Albuquerque’s local election and runoff and was certified as a candidate by Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver’s office after filing the necessary paperwork. He has fended off two court cases challenging his eligibility for office based on residency and contends he has lived continuously in New Mexico for more than 50 years.

The primary source of Duke Rodriguez’s campaign funding is his persona wealth saying he is willing to spend $1 Million and has donated $500,000 to his campaign.

DUKE RODRIGUEZ ON THE ISSUES

Duke Rodriguez has said he wants to “eliminate” taxes in three categories: the state personal income tax, gross-receipt taxes on retail sales and the state’s share of property taxes. He says the tax cuts will save the average New Mexico family $2,000 a year. He estimates that the elimination of state taxes would result in the elimination  of state revenue of between $1.5 billion to $2 billion which the state could absorb from the state’s surplus.

The Legislative Finance Committee estimated the state’s revenues at $13.9 billion for fiscal year 2027. Lawmakers this year approved an $11.1 billion budget. Rodriguez proclaims the state can make better use of its sovereign wealth fund, which holds more than $70 billion, which the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute ranks as the 29th largest in the world, and third in the U.S. behind the University of Texas and Alaska Permanent Fund. Rodriguez has said this:

“New Mexico is not a poor state, we are absolutely a poorly run state.”

Rodriguez says  New Mexico can  do a better job of enhancing the value of its sovereign wealth fund by building oil refineries within the state. He predicts the fund’s value will soar due to the recent spike in oil prices.

Rodriguez filed a lawsuit  in April challenging state-subsidized childcare for all New Mexico families. His lawsuit has drew a sharp response from Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who has championed the program. A judge on April 29 gave Early Childhood Education and Care Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky a 30-day deadline to show why rules governing the program should not be struck down. Governor Lujan Grisham called the lawsuit “frivolous” and responded by calling Rodriguez “a third-tier Republican candidate for governor — who lives in Arizona.”

The link to the Duke Rodriguez’s Campaign Website is here: runwithduke.com

CLICK HERE FOR ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL DUKE RODRIGUEZ QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

https://www.abqjournal.com/election/governor-duke-rodriguez-r/3032944

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

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/duke-rodriguezs-journey-from-field-worker-to-gubernatorial-candidate/3038444

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES  FUNDRAISING

All three Republican gubernatorial candidates have lagged behind their Democratic counterparts when it comes to campaign fundraising. The three Republican  candidates combined have raised  a total of $2,755,857.40 which is a mere fraction of the nearly $11 million raised by Democratic frontrunner Deb Haaland and the $3.7 million raised by Sam Bregman. Review of campaign finance reports filed with the Secretary of State for the time period of April 7 to May 4 reveals the following:

GREGG HULL

 Gregg Hull received the most support from state Republican Party delegates at the GOP’s pre-primary convention held in Ruidoso in March and he  reported getting nearly $145,000 in contributions. According to campaign finance reports filed with the Secretary of State for the time period of April 7 to May 4, Greg Hull raised $71,000 and goes into the final days of the race with a $227,234.56 in cash on hand. Among his major campaign expenditures, Hull reported paying  Peakland Strategies of Lynchburg, VA, $47,000 for campaign consulting. Total Contributions raised by Hull is $544,920.24. Total Expenditures were $317,685.68. In-Kind Contributions is $32,808.62. Hull’s Current Debt Balance is $0.00.  Hull’s Current Cash Balance is $227,234.56

https://login.cfis.sos.state.nm.us/#/exploreDetails/Pkx7Mm96qwMaziCWRW0IhJP4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/5/null/125/2026

DOUG TURNER 

Doug Turner announced his candidacy for Governor in February and  raised more than $500,000 in two months, ending that reporting period with far more cash on hand than his opponents Gregg  Hull or Duke  Rodriquez before the primary. For the most recent campaign finance reporting period of  April 7 to May 4, Turner reported he has $281,000 cash on hand. That amount  does not appear to include whatever Turner brought in from the May 6 Donald Trump’s Palm Beach Mar-a-Lago Club fundraiser.  Turner’s Total Campaign Contributions are reported as $703,189.16.  Total Expenditures were $422,102.13. In-Kind Contributions were are reported as $6,871.58. Turner’s Current Debt Balance is $0.00

https://login.cfis.sos.state.nm.us/#/exploreDetails/svP7eG15ADBjP493Lp5HBpP4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/5/null/125/2026

Turner’s major contributions include contributions from major oil and gas interests. Turner’s largest donors included former state GOP chairwoman Debbie Maestas and several oil industry officials, including state Rep. Mark Murphy of Roswell and the Jalapeno Corp. that is owned by former party chairman Harvey Yates Jr.

https://login.cfis.sos.state.nm.us//ReportsOutput//103/735dc20d-c8ef-4229-90be-813ab53290dd.pdf

DUKE RODRIGUEZ 

Among the three Republicans running for governor, cannabis entrepreneur Duke Rodriguez is self-financing his campaign.   He reports he has donated $1.5 million of personal money to his campaign.  Rodriquez reports Total Contributions of $1,507,748.00, Expenditures of $994,355.15, In-Kind Contributions of $0.00, Current Debt Balance of $0.00 and a Current Cash Balance $513,392.85. He has spent $351,000 on TV airtime and production in the recent period and $168,000 on digital ads.

https://login.cfis.sos.state.nm.us/#/exploreDetails/tzSHZ5b9Asahxpz8hmCHAZP4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/5/null/125/2026

The links to related  news sources are here:

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/deb-haaland-leads-sam-bregman-in-new-mexico-governor-race-fundraising/

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/nm-governor-candidates-have-already-spent-10-million-on-race-with-haaland-still-outraising-rivals/3021934

MOST EXPENSIVE PRIMARY RACE IN STATE HISTORY

On May 29, fundraising reports filed with the Secretary of State covering the time period of  May 5 through May 26, show candidate spending on New Mexico’s open race for governor has surged past $17 million as the June 2  primary approaches making it the most expensive primary race in state history.

Deb Haaland and Sam Bregman have combined to spend more than $13 million on TV ads, mailers and campaign staffers in a contentious showdown for the party’s nomination.

Haaland reported on Thursday May 28 having spent more than $2 million during the May 5 through May 26 three-week period. In all, she has now raised about $12.8 million in contributions and spent more than $10.8 million since launching her campaign in February 2025. Haaland has slightly more than $1.9 million left unspent in her campaign account.

Sam Bregman for his part reported spending nearly $250,000 during the May 5 through May 26  period. He has received more than $4 million in donations and spent about $3.8 million since launching his campaign last April, leaving him with roughly $295,000 of unspent campaign funds.

Haaland’s and Bregman’s eye-opening fundraising hauls and spending levels do not include spending by outside groups in this year’s election cycle. Several independent expenditure groups, or Super PACs, have also spent large amounts on largely negative TV ads and mailers in the run-up to Election Day.

In contrast, eight years ago  the three Democrats running for governor in 2018  e had spent about $6.9 million at a similar point in that year’s election cycle or slightly more than half the amount of this year’s race featuring two candidates.

Campaign spending has been significantly less among the three Republicans vying for their party’s nomination on June 2.

Cannabis entrepreneur Duke Rodriguez has spent the most of the three GOP candidates, with roughly $1.2 million in total campaign spending to date. His campaign has been largely self-funded, as Rodriguez has pumped $1.5 million of his own money into the race to pay for billboards, radio ads and other expenses.

The two other Republicans running for governor,  small-business owner Doug Turner and former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull,  have trailed Rodriguez in campaign spending. Turner has spent nearly $835,000 since entering the race this year, while Hull has reported spending about $520,000 on his campaign since last year.

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

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/candidate-spending-surges-past-17-million-in-race-for-governor-as-new-mexicos-primary-election-nears/3052827

NEW MEXICO OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY PRESIDENT THROWS IN THE TOWEL

It’s common knowledge that the New Mexico Oil and Gas Industry is a major player and financial supporter of Republican causes and candidates statewide. On May 20, 2026, Missi Currier, the president of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association urged attendees of the  Williston Basin Petroleum Conference in Bismarck, North Dakota to oppose former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s Democratic campaign to become New Mexico’s next governor.  At the same time, she said a Republican will not be able to win in the current political climate. Missi Currier said a Republican cannot win in November essentially throwing in the towel.

At the North Dakota conference, Currier did not endorse Democrat Sam Bregman by name, but she stressed that she believed opposing Deb Haaland in the primary was critical and the focus should switch to defeating Deb Haaland in the primary.

“If you know anybody that can vote in New Mexico, please encourage them to get to the polls. I hate to be the bearer of potentially bad news, but we don’t think a Republican will be able to win in our current  political climate, especially in a Trump midterm. So, the primary is incredibly important to us. I would like to protest [Deb Haalannd] being governor. . .I’m sure she has a good heart, but she does not have a heart for oil and gas. She is threatening over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs in the state, and knowing that she did not want drilling on public lands, she said in a recent interview that she would keep that same mentality when she came into office.”

Currier also criticized New Mexico for not supporting the oil and gas industry more while relying on the tax revenues from the industry that fund a significant portion of the state’s budget. She said the only reason New Mexico officials have been unsuccessful in implementing stricter regulations on the level of Colorado or California is the state’s economy isn’t as diversified.

Currier said this:

“They may not like us operating, but they sure do love to spend the money that we generate. … A lot of that money is good, and a lot of that money does really great things, but in order to have that money to support everyday New Mexicans, production has to keep going.”

https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/nm-oil-and-gas-association-president-tells-conference-crowd-oppose-deb-haalands-bid

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The remarks made by Missi Currier, the president of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, at the North Dakota conference, make it abundantly clear very clear  it will be a steep climb for any one of  the three Republicans running to win the general election in November. The two biggest problems for any one of the 3 Republicans who is nominated to run in the November 4 general election for Governor against either Deb Haaland or Sam Bregman are history and lack of campaign fundraising.

In the last 30 years, New Mexicans have only elected Republicans Gary Johnson and Susana Martinez to the Governor’s Office each serving two four year terms for a total of 16 years. Today, New Mexico is considered “solid blue” Democratic state.

Currently,  Democrats have large majorities in both the New Mexico State Senate and House of Representatives. There are  26 Democrats, 16 Republicans in the NM Senate.  In the NM House of Representative there are 44 Democrats and 26 Republicans. All 5 of New Mexico’s federal congressional delegation of 2 United States Senators and 3 Representatives are Democrats.  In the last 3 Presidential elections, Donald Trump lost New Mexico to Democrats.  In  2016 Donald  Trump lost to Hillary Clinton, in 2020  Trump lost to Joe Biden and in 2024 Trump lost to Kamala Harris.

Please ignore the polls and vote your conscience for the candidate you believe is best for New Mexico. The only poll that really matters will be taken on June 2. Please vote!

POSTSCRIPT

The links to related News and Commentary on the Democratic candidates for Governor is here:

Profiles, Platforms And Positions Of  Democrats For Governor Sam Bregman And Debra Haaland; The Most Expensive Race In Primary Election History; Primary Election June 2; Please Vote!