With just 90 days until primary election day, eight candidates for New Mexico governor took their message directly to voters in Albuquerque, highlighting their experience and vision for the state.More than a hundred people attended the event, hosted by the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, to hear from the candidates vying for the state’s top job. Independent candidate Ken Miyagishima was out of state but sent a surrogate who highlighted his record serving as Las Cruces Mayor for the last 16 years, saying, “He knows how to run a city. If he knows how to run a city, he knows how to run a state.”Democratic candidates Sam Bregman and Deb Haaland clashed over debates. Bregman said, “We’ve known each other for a long time. She’s a lovely person. But the fact of the matter is, voters deserve to know where we stand on the issues. So I’m going to keep ringing that bell every chance I get.” Haaland responded, “He can stop saying that because I have agreed to a debate. We’re having a debate in May.” She emphasized her experience, saying, “I’ve managed one of the largest federal departments in our federal government, 70,000 employees.”Gregg Hull made a similar pitch, pointing to his record in city hall, saying, “The main pitch I’m going to have is really my resume: former small business owner, become mayor of Rio Rancho, now the longest serving mayor of Rio Rancho.” Republican James Ellison says he thinks he can do a good job in the role, adding, “I think people are attracted to less politics and more results, more focus on pragmatic solutions.”On the Republican side, a packed field with at least six candidates is fighting for a spot on the November ballot. One candidate, Doug Turner, remarked, “Well, I think the fact that it is a crowded race means that there is a desire, certainly in the Republican Party, to win.”The lineup also includes State Senator Steve Lanier, a retired school teacher, who said, “I’ve got a lot of things to bring to the table, and we just need a different energy in this campaign and in this state.”Duke Rodriguez is now expected to stay on the ballot after a judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging his residency. He said, “You need to choose someone that can meet the needs of the state today and the future. And it has to look like someone who’s lived the real New Mexico experience.”Independent candidate Tristan Kumar said he’s running to make a change, adding: “I want to stop losing our youth. I want them to stop going to different states. I want people to say, ‘let’s go to New Mexico.'” Kumar told KOAT he was not invited to speak at the podium as the other eight candidates were, but attended on his own to take his message to voters directly. Primary election day is Tuesday, June 2.
With just 90 days until primary election day, eight candidates for New Mexico governor took their message directly to voters in Albuquerque, highlighting their experience and vision for the state.
More than a hundred people attended the event, hosted by the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, to hear from the candidates vying for the state’s top job.
Independent candidate Ken Miyagishima was out of state but sent a surrogate who highlighted his record serving as Las Cruces Mayor for the last 16 years, saying, “He knows how to run a city. If he knows how to run a city, he knows how to run a state.”
Democratic candidates Sam Bregman and Deb Haaland clashed over debates.
Bregman said, “We’ve known each other for a long time. She’s a lovely person. But the fact of the matter is, voters deserve to know where we stand on the issues. So I’m going to keep ringing that bell every chance I get.” Haaland responded, “He can stop saying that because I have agreed to a debate. We’re having a debate in May.”
She emphasized her experience, saying, “I’ve managed one of the largest federal departments in our federal government, 70,000 employees.”
Gregg Hull made a similar pitch, pointing to his record in city hall, saying, “The main pitch I’m going to have is really my resume: former small business owner, become mayor of Rio Rancho, now the longest serving mayor of Rio Rancho.”
Republican James Ellison says he thinks he can do a good job in the role, adding, “I think people are attracted to less politics and more results, more focus on pragmatic solutions.”
On the Republican side, a packed field with at least six candidates is fighting for a spot on the November ballot.
One candidate, Doug Turner, remarked, “Well, I think the fact that it is a crowded race means that there is a desire, certainly in the Republican Party, to win.”
The lineup also includes State Senator Steve Lanier, a retired school teacher, who said, “I’ve got a lot of things to bring to the table, and we just need a different energy in this campaign and in this state.”
Duke Rodriguez is now expected to stay on the ballot after a judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging his residency. He said, “You need to choose someone that can meet the needs of the state today and the future. And it has to look like someone who’s lived the real New Mexico experience.”
Independent candidate Tristan Kumar said he’s running to make a change, adding: “I want to stop losing our youth. I want them to stop going to different states. I want people to say, ‘let’s go to New Mexico.'” Kumar told KOAT he was not invited to speak at the podium as the other eight candidates were, but attended on his own to take his message to voters directly.
Primary election day is Tuesday, June 2.
