Latest news with #SamBregman
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
OPINION: OPINION: Unleashed primary voters bode well for centrists, Bregman campaign
May 31—In a recent podcast of "No Doubt About It" with Mark and Krysty Ronchetti, the former Republican gubernatorial and U.S. Senate nominee asked my thoughts about the 2026 governor's race. Being a political commentator by trade, I wasn't hesitant, even a year ahead of the primaries. I told Mark I was leaning toward Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman in the Democratic primary, pointing out that crime is driving the politics across New Mexico. After all, Bregman has strong credentials as a courtroom prosecutor and a decades-long civil and criminal defense attorney who has litigated some of the state's highest-profile cases. Bregman is also chairman of the Governor's Organized Crime Commission, former chairman of the New Mexico Racing Commission, a former Albuquerque city councilor, a former chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, has been a frequent donor to Democratic candidates over the years and, most importantly, won his first election last year, defeating former U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico Damon Martinez in the Democratic primary by 12.5 percentage points to remain DA after being appointed to the position by the governor in January 2023. Mark wasn't buying it. He predicted former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland would be deified by progressive Democrats as potentially the nation's first Native American woman governor, and that Haaland would win the Democratic primary by 20 points while avoiding debates with Bregman. We both seemed to agree that Haaland is as uninspiring as a cloudy sunset, and that Bregman fills a room with his presence. But we're worlds apart on who will prevail in the primary. The environmental lobby will no doubt favor Haaland, but her platform of leaving everything alone and running in place hardly offers a vision of growth and prosperity for a state stuck in 50th in so many categories, not the least of which is crime, as we hold the spot as the most dangerous state in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. Mark Ronchetti pointed out that Democratic candidates at the end of the political spectrum tend to defeat moderates in primaries. But in the last good statewide Democratic primary in 2022, then-Bernalillo County District Attorney Raùl Torrez repeatedly hammered then-State Auditor Brian Colón in TV ads about remarks Colón had made in one of his podcasts about defunding the police. Colón lost the Democratic primary to Torrez by almost 10,000 votes, or 7 percentage points, as Torrez claimed and held the middle ground. On the Republican side, Ronchetti won the 2022 gubernatorial GOP primary by a landslide when he faced several more traditional Republicans, and Ronchetti racked up a 30-point win in the 2020 U.S. Senate GOP primary running against more conservative Republicans. That said, I missed a key point in the podcast: Independents will be far more likely to vote in New Mexico's primaries next year, and both sides of the political aisle acknowledge they are the X factor. New Mexico has long-maintained a sizable portion of stubborn voters who do not want to be affiliated with either major political party. Of the more than 1.3 million registered voters in New Mexico as of April 30, 310,828 of them were registered no party/independent/declined to state, equating to 23.2% of the electorate. Los Alamos and Doña Ana counties had the highest percentages of independents, topping 28% in both counties. According to the Secretary of State's Office, the majority of new voters in 2018 registered as independent. From 1990 to 2000, independent voters in New Mexico increased by nearly three times, growing from 6.5% to 17%. With the passage and enactment of Senate Bill 16 earlier this year, that growing bloc of independent voters will be able to choose a major party's primary ballot in 2026 and vote for candidates within that primary, without having to drop their party affiliation. Previously, independents could vote in primary elections, but only if they first changed their party affiliation to Democratic or Republican. Not many voters went through the hassle. Fewer than 1% of independent voters cast ballots in the state's 2022 primaries. The landscape will be much different in 2026, with 23.2% of the electorate up for grabs by the two major party primaries. That bodes well for candidates like Bregman, and presents problems for partisans like Haaland. A third Democrat, former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima, announced his gubernatorial campaign on Tuesday. But as political pollster Brian Sanderoff has noted, Las Cruces is in the El Paso media market and few outside that market know of the former four-term mayor. If anything, Miyagishima could pull votes from Haaland in southern New Mexico, as could Lt. Gov. Howie Morales of Silver City, who is also mulling a run for chief executive. The Republican gubernatorial field at this point is lackluster. Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull is set to launch his campaign next month. Retired state Supreme Court Justice Judith Nakamura, who in 2016 was the last Republican to win a statewide election, and cannabis entrepreneur and former state Cabinet secretary Duke Rodriguez are also considering GOP runs. Ronchetti told me he's not ruling out a run for governor in 2026, but he has other things going on now, including twice-weekly podcasts. As the Journal reported recently, the money race is already in full swing. Bregman has announced raising more than $1 million in campaign contributions since launching his campaign in April, while Haaland has received nearly $3.7 million in donations since announcing her campaign in mid-February. To put that in perspective, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham spent roughly $13 million on her successful reelection campaign in 2022, while Ronchetti spent more than $9 million. There's an old saying in tennis doubles: "The middle solves the riddle." With the potential influx of 310,000 independent voters, the Democratic and Republican candidates who find that middle court will be in good stead in 2026. And I remain unconvinced a Biden administration Cabinet secretary who was not forthcoming about the former president's mental and physical health decline can find that sweet spot.
Associated Press
29-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Four-time mayor from border region joins race for governor of New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Competition for the Democratic nomination for governor in New Mexico is heating up as former four-term Las Cruces mayor Ken Miyagishima launched a campaign with a centrist focus on public safety, affordable housing and efforts to shore up the state's health care workforce. Miyagishima hopes to succeed Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham as she terms out of office at the end of 2026 amid public frustration with crime, homelessness and public education. The Democratic nomination also is being sought by former congresswoman and U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, a tribal member of Laguna Pueblo, as well as Albuquerque-based District Attorney Sam Bregman, the father of Major League Baseball star Alex Bregman of the Boston Red Sox. Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull says he will begin campaigning for governor next month. The primary election takes place in June 2026. Miyagishima won four consecutive elections as 'Mayor Ken' in a fast-growing state university town, set on the Upper Rio Grande amid chili farms and pecan orchards, 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of El Paso, Texas, and the southern U.S. border. 'Sure, my last name, it sounds like an obstacle course,' said Miyagishima, who is of Japanese and Mexican heritage. 'But ... trust me to make our community safer, make housing more attainable and bring the best doctors back to New Mexico.' The mayor of the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juárez attended Tuesday's campaign announcement, as Miyagishima emphasizes orderly border enforcement and economic cooperation. At the same time, Miyagishima has voiced qualified support for invoking the Alien Enemies Act to address criminal activity — without unjustly targeting people based on heritage or national background. His U.S.-born father was detained as a child at a World War II incarceration camp for Japanese Americans — and went on to serve in the U.S. Army. Trump has used the 18th century wartime law to swiftly deport Venezuelans accused of being gang members to a prison in El Salvador, amid court challenges. 'I support protecting the border. I think it's important to have an orderly way to come into the U.S.,' he told The Associated Press. 'To make it a military zone? I don't know.' Miyagishima, a district manager for a major insurance company, is touting his know-how in government finances and the private sector. If elected governor, Miyagishima said he hopes to make housing more affordable through state-backed loans and an expansion of the construction workforce, including vocational training for people convicted of nonviolent crimes. He opposed the state's decision in 2021 to legalize recreational cannabis, and now is proposing creation of a state 'metro' police force to augment the capabilities of local law enforcement in crime-torn cities including Albuquerque.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Law enforcement provide update on Operation Route 66 in Albuquerque
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – While the Albuquerque Police Department and the New Mexico National Guard will ramp up their crime-fighting mission on Central Ave. next week, the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office and Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office, along with New Mexico State Police, said they won't stop their three-month operation on the same stretch. Story continues below Crime: Juveniles wanted for armed robbery arrested after incident at an ABQ high school Digital Show: High-Speed RV chase ends in deadly crash – New Mexico Crime Files Development: Latest step forward for East Mountain's Campbell Ranch Operation Route 66 has led to at least 700 arrests since February on Central Ave. east of San Mateo Blvd. While they consider it a success, the agencies behind this said they're not going away, even with the National Guard's APD operation expected to hit full force by the end of the month. 'I want to deliver a direct message to the criminals that think they have managed to slip through the cracks thus far your time is running out your days of terrorizing this community are coming to an end when your luck runs out and it will you will meet the consequences the age of lawlessness is over,' said Chief Troy Weisler, New Mexico State Police. 'We're a fairly nimble group, so we will be out and about, and we will go where the crime is happening,' said Sam Bregman. The agencies behind the operation also said Monday that they're looking to expand beyond their work on Central Ave., but they didn't identify a specific location. District Attorney Sam Bregman said about 100 deputies, officers, and agents are working in the east central corridor weekly as part of Operation Route 66. Since February, they've cleared over 500 outstanding warrants. Seven homicide suspects have also been arrested. So far, the group said there is no end date for the operation. 'Look, there's different arms of the government in the criminal justice system. It's time for them to do their jobs because I know we are doing ours, so it's time for them to step up to keep people in jail or whatever they are going to do,' said Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen. Other stats from the operation include more than 60 stolen cars recovered and more than 50 guns taken off the street that were either in the hands of felons or marked stolen. The operation is being partly funded by warrant enforcement money from the state legislature. APD's operation Zia Shield is expected to add up to 71 National Guard members helping officers along east Central Ave. by May 31. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
'Operation Route 66' nets 700 arrests; no timetable given for end of operation
May 19—A multi-agency operation dedicated to cracking down on crime in the International District led to 700 arrests in three months, including a man who was arrested five times. In February, the 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office, New Mexico State Police, Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office and New Mexico Corrections Department's Probation and Parole Division partnered up for "Operation Route 66" to arrest and prosecute people committing crime in the International District. As of Monday, the operation has netted 700 arrests over 12 weeks, recovering dozens of guns and stolen vehicles. About 100 law enforcement officers have been working weekly during the operation, according to the 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office. "(The 700) is a staggering number and it shows how much this neighborhood deserved this operation," Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman said during a news conference Monday. "It's unfair to the people that live here (...) to put up with this crap out on the streets. And what we're trying all to do in law enforcement is bring back not only a sense of safety, but actual safety for the neighborhood." Of the 700 arrests, Michael Farfan was arrested five times on warrants and new crimes related to vehicle theft, burglary and criminal damage to property, 2nd Judicial District Court spokesperson Nancy Laflin said. "This operation continues to highlight a deeper issue facing communities across New Mexico: high rates of recidivism," BCSO spokesperson Deanna Aragon said in a news release. "A significant number of those arrested during Operation Route 66 are repeat offenders who continue to cycle through the criminal justice system." Of the hundreds of people arrested, 505 had warrants, including seven homicide suspects like Deomtray Davis, who was wanted for an open count of murder, Bregman said. The operation is three months old, but it will continue for the foreseeable future. Officials did not give a timeline. The strategy includes moving to other parts of the city to track people down. "We also are following every single one of those cases and doing everything we can to hold those people accountable and get justice," Bregman said. NMCD Cabinet Corrections Secretary Alisha Tafoya Lucero said probation and parole officers are working with law enforcement and prosecutors to target the most dangerous offenders and connect people who are struggling with addiction to get the services they need the most. Along with reducing crime in the International District, a goal of "Operation 66" is to give people a chance to get help. State of the Heart Recovery Center, a nonprofit treatment center for substance abuse, is assisting law enforcement to make sure people have access treatment. "Operation Route 66" has cost about $500,000 and there is enough funding to keep it going through June, Laflin said. She said the district attorney's office plans to request additional funding. "We're only at halftime, folks," Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen said. "We're not here to just do 60 or 90 days. We're looking to do more and stay here in this community." New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler issued a warning for criminals who think they have managed to slip through the cracks so far. "Your days of terrorizing this community are coming to an end," he said. "When your luck runs out, and it will, you will meet the consequences. The age of lawlessness is over."
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
'Operation Route 66' nets 700 arrests; no timetable given for end of operation
May 19—A multi-agency operation dedicated to cracking down on crime in the International District led to 700 arrests in three months, including a man who was arrested five times. In February, the 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office, New Mexico State Police, Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office and New Mexico Corrections Department's Probation and Parole Division partnered up for "Operation Route 66" to arrest and prosecute people committing crime in the International District. As of Monday, the operation has netted 700 arrests over 12 weeks, recovering dozens of guns and stolen vehicles. About 100 law enforcement officers have been working weekly during the operation, according to the 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office. "(The 700) is a staggering number and it shows how much this neighborhood deserved this operation," Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman said during a news conference Monday. "It's unfair to the people that live here (...) to put up with this crap out on the streets. And what we're trying all to do in law enforcement is bring back not only a sense of safety, but actual safety for the neighborhood." Of the 700 arrests, Michael Farfan was arrested five times on warrants and new crimes related to vehicle theft, burglary and criminal damage to property, 2nd Judicial District Court spokesperson Nancy Laflin said. "This operation continues to highlight a deeper issue facing communities across New Mexico: high rates of recidivism," BCSO spokesperson Deanna Aragon said in a news release. "A significant number of those arrested during Operation Route 66 are repeat offenders who continue to cycle through the criminal justice system." Of the hundreds of people arrested, 505 had warrants, including seven homicide suspects like Deomtray Davis, who was wanted for an open count of murder, Bregman said. The operation is three months old, but it will continue for the foreseeable future. Officials did not give a timeline. The strategy includes moving to other parts of the city to track people down. "We also are following every single one of those cases and doing everything we can to hold those people accountable and get justice," Bregman said. NMCD Cabinet Corrections Secretary Alisha Tafoya Lucero said probation and parole officers are working with law enforcement and prosecutors to target the most dangerous offenders and connect people who are struggling with addiction to get the services they need the most. Along with reducing crime in the International District, a goal of "Operation 66" is to give people a chance to get help. State of the Heart Recovery Center, a nonprofit treatment center for substance abuse, is assisting law enforcement to make sure people have access treatment. "Operation Route 66" has cost about $500,000 and there is enough funding to keep it going through June, Laflin said. She said the district attorney's office plans to request additional funding. "We're only at halftime, folks," Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen said. "We're not here to just do 60 or 90 days. We're looking to do more and stay here in this community." New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler issued a warning for criminals who think they have managed to slip through the cracks so far. "Your days of terrorizing this community are coming to an end," he said. "When your luck runs out, and it will, you will meet the consequences. The age of lawlessness is over."
