It was on June 2 that Maggie Toulouse Oliver won the Democratic Party nomination to be New Mexico’s next Lieutenant Governor in a landslide primary election victory over her opponent State Senator Harold Pope. Toulouse Oliver garnered 80% of the vote (168,109) to  Pope’s 20% (42,127). On June 18  Maggie Toulouse Oliver announced she was suspending her campaign and dropping out of the race due to health concerns.

On June 25, Maggie Toulouse Oliver officially withdrew as the Democratic Party nominee for  Lt. Governor. On the same day the Democratic Party of New Mexico sent out the official call to the Democratic Party State Central Committee to fill the Lieutenant Governor ballot position. Both State Senator Harold Pope and Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard announced almost immediately that they would seek the Democratic Party’s nomination from the Democratic Party State Central Committee.

PROCESS USED TO FILL VACANCY

Under New Mexico primary election laws enacted by the New Mexico legislature, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run independently in the primary. The winners of these races who share the same party affiliation are then paired on a ticket for the general election. Under the state’s election code, when a candidate is elected in by a political party, Democratic or Republican, and then drops out, there is no special election to fill the vacancy.  It is the political party that has the exclusive authority to nominate and select candidates to fill the vacancy.

Within the State Democratic Party, it is the State Central Committee (SCC) that fills the vacancy. SCC membership are elected every two years by individual County Democratic Party Organizations. Registered voters and members of the county party can attend to elect the SCC membership. Any New Mexico Democrat in good standing is a member of their local county party organization and can run or vote for SCC. Currently, there are 480 SCC members statewide.  The 480  SCC members hail from every county in the state and include elected officials, as well as party officials. Approximately 40% of SCC membership are  from Bernalillo County.

ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL GUEST OPINON COLUMNS

The Albuquerque Journal Editorial Opinion pages feature 5 types of opinion columns submitted for publication with a 600 word policy limitation: those by the paper’s Editorial Board, those by the paper’s Community Council, those by Syndicated Columnists, those by Local Columnists and those by Local Voices. According to Journal editors:

“Local Columnists are tasked with carrying a heavy load of responsibility to help readers scrutinize issues impacting them, their community and their country. It is the Journal’s goal to publish columnists from all walks of life and varying political viewpoints to give readers exposure to all sides of local issues.”

NM REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR DAVID GALLEGOS

David Gallegos is the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor of New Mexico. David Gallegos, R-Eunice, represents District 41 in the New Mexico Senate.  On Sunday, July 26, the  Albuquerque Journal published on its editorial Opinion pages the following Local Columnist article by NM State Senator David Gallegos:

OPINION: “New Mexicans deserve better than a backroom deal for lieutenant governor” By DAVID GALLEGOS

“New Mexicans don’t get a vote on who becomes the other lieutenant governor candidate, one of two people who will compete for election in November. Only about 500 people do.

That’s the reality Democrats are living with this week, as roughly 500 members of the state Democratic Party’s State Central Committee prepare to cast votes between July 25-29 to pick a replacement nominee. Maggie Toulouse Oliver, who won the Democratic primary, dropped out last month. Now, instead of returning to voters, the party is settling the matter internally, and even Democrats are admitting how ugly that process has become.

State Sen. Antonio “Moe” Maestas, a Democrat from Albuquerque, didn’t mince words this week describing his own party’s process. He called it a “power grab by the ultra-left” — his words, not mine — and said it “does not serve the party or the state.” A sitting Democratic state senator, on the record, calling his own party’s selection a power grab.

He’s not wrong.

The two contenders are state Sen. Harold Pope, who lost the Democratic primary to Toulouse Oliver by 60 points last month, and Public Lands Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard, endorsed by gubernatorial nominee Deb Haaland. Pope is backed by the Albuquerque and Santa Fe chapters of the Democratic Socialists of America. Garcia Richard just picked up an endorsement from Jane Fonda, who told supporters it’s time for two women to lead New Mexico.

A candidate who lost his own primary by 60 points. A socialist organization’s hand-picked favorite. A celebrity commie from California. None of that is New Mexico voters deciding who should be one heartbeat away from the Governor’s Office. It’s insiders and activists deciding for them.

Maestas also raised a substantive question: While Pope has been positioning himself, in Maestas’s words, as a “progressive deity,” he hasn’t distributed any of the roughly $4 million a year in discretionary capital outlay funding available to him for his own district’s schools.

I don’t have a preference for which Democrat wins this selection process. I plan to run the best race I can against any of them. But either way, my message is the same: This is what one-party rule looks like up close. No primary voters weighing in. No public debate. A closed vote among 500 insiders, while socialists and Hollywood celebrities fight over who gets to claim the mantle of “grassroots.”

New Mexico’s real economy runs on oil and gas production in the Permian Basin, on ranching families who’ve worked this land for generations, on the law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe, and on innocent and vulnerable people we have a responsibility to protect. It doesn’t run on which candidate the DSA prefers or who gets Jane Fonda’s seal of approval.

I believe leaders should answer to the people who elected them — not to 500 party insiders in a room in Santa Fe. That’s the choice this November: leadership accountable to New Mexico voters, or leadership accountable to whoever wins this week’s backroom fight.

New Mexicans are watching. And they will remember in November who trusted them with a vote — and who didn’t.”

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

https://www.abqjournal.com/opinion/opinion-new-mexicans-deserve-better-than-a-backroom-deal-for-lieutenant-governor/3087919

REPUBLICAN PARTY GETS  INTO ACT OF BASHING DEMOCRATIC PARTY’S PROCESS FOR FILLING VACANCY

As if not to be outdone by their Lt. Governor nominee Senator David Gallegos, Republican Interim Party Chairman Mike Nelson just had to get into the act of  bashing the Democrat Party’s process used for selecting Stephanie Garcia Richard as their nominee for Lt. Governor by issuing the following press release after she was elected by the State Democratic Pary State Central Committee:

“IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2026

Albuquerque, NM — The Democratic Party of New Mexico finally selects Stephanie Garcia Richard as their nominee for Lieutenant Governor. The Republican Party of New Mexico releases the following statement:

“With the selection of Stephanie Garcia Richard as the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor, I am even more confident in our ability to flip New Mexico red in 96 days,” said Interim Chairman Mike Nelson. “Our slate of Republican candidates, led by Gregg Hull and David Gallegos, brings more experience than any other Republican ticket in years. Unlike any of the Democratic candidates on the ballot, Gregg Hull and David Gallegos are ready to change the direction of our state on day one.

“As for the selection process by the Democratic Party of New Mexico, this was a complete sham from the beginning. Their ranked-choice voting process ignored more than 42,000 voters who voted for Harold Pope in the primary election and conveniently erased all the work Pope did to obtain enough signatures to file on March 10. Never again can New Mexico Democrats call themselves the party of ‘democracy.’”

https://newmexico.gop/2026/07/30/after-using-ranked-choice-voting-nm-democrats-make-the-selection-for-their-nominee-for-lt-governor/

The New Mexico Republican Party should start calling itself  the “Trump Fascist Party” in that its is in no way the “party of democracy.”

Senator Harold Pope should seriously think about thanking the Republican Party for going to his defense in their press release seeing as no Republican would ever vote for him.

NM SENATOR ANTONIO “MOE” MAESTAS  

Senator  Ant­o­nio “Moe” Maes­tas, D-Albuquerque, rep­res­ents Dis­trict 26 in the New Mex­ico Sen­ate. On Sunday August 2 , the  Albuquerque Journal published on its editorial Opinion page C1  the below  600 word “Local Columnist” opinion column by New Mexico State Senator Antonio “Moe” Maestas:

OPINION: Setting the record straight on NM’s Democratic process

BY  ANTONIO “MOE” MAESTAS

 

State Sen. David Gal­le­gos, R-Eunice, argues that the Demo­cratic Party sub­ver­ted demo­cracy. The facts tell a dif­fer­ent story. His column (July 26 Sunday Journal) asks read­ers to over­look New Mex­ico law, estab­lished pre­ced­ent and the full con­text sur­round­ing the Demo­cratic Party’s law­ful selec­tion of Stephanie Gar­cia Richard for lieu­ten­ant gov­ernor.

It’s rare but not unpre­ced­en­ted for a primary-win­ning can­did­ate to with­draw from the gen­eral elec­tion bal­lot. When that occurs, New Mex­ico law provides a clear pro­cess: The appro­pri­ate party gov­ern­ing body selects a replace­ment nom­inee.

In 2012, Daniel Ivey-Soto defeated Vanessa Alarid by one vote to replace Demo­crat Tim Eichen­berg in Sen­ate Dis­trict 15. In 2024, Demo­crats in House Dis­trict 53 selec­ted Sarah Silva to replace their nom­inee. The last time the full Demo­cratic State Cent­ral Com­mit­tee (SCC) met for this pur­pose was in 2006, when it selec­ted then-state Rep. Hec­tor Bal­deras as the Demo­cratic nom­inee for state aud­itor.

Last week, Demo­cratic Party Chair Sara Attleson con­vened a meet­ing of the SCC, and the pro­ceed­ings fol­lowed the law in an open and trans­par­ent man­ner. Describ­ing that meet­ing as a “back­room deal” dis­torts the facts. The SCC is com­posed of Demo­crats elec­ted by fel­low Demo­crats, and its votes were cast pub­licly and trans­par­ently — the exact oppos­ite of a back­room deal.

Gal­le­gos also mis­char­ac­ter­ized my com­ments by remov­ing them from their con­text. He wrote that I “didn’t mince words this week describ­ing his own party’s pro­cess,” quot­ing my state­ment that there was a “power grab by the ultra-left” that “does not serve the party or the state.”

As Source NM repor­ted, my com­plete state­ment was:

“It’s just indic­at­ive of the con­tra­dic­tion that sur­rounds his (Albuquerque state Sen. Har­old Pope’s) can­did­acy. When you com­pare their accom­plish­ments, there’s no com­par­ison. So instead of Deb Haa­land and Stephanie Gar­cia Richard barn­storm­ing the state this past month, there’s this power grab by the ultra-left, which does not serve the party or the state.”

The full con­text makes it clear that I was dis­cuss­ing Pope’s can­did­acy and the polit­ical dynam­ics sur­round­ing it — not ques­tion­ing the Demo­cratic Party or the leg­al­ity or legit­im­acy of the nom­in­a­tion pro­cess.

Polit­ical debate should be groun­ded in an accur­ate descrip­tion of the facts. Claims that a law­ful pro­cess was some­how ille­git­im­ate under­mine con­fid­ence in demo­cratic insti­tu­tions.

The Demo­cratic SCC is com­posed of grass­roots Demo­crats from every corner of New Mex­ico who volun­teer their time to organ­ize local activ­it­ies, recruit can­did­ates and ful­fill respons­ib­il­it­ies assigned by state law and party rules. Sug­gest­ing these mem­bers acted improp­erly simply because they car­ried out those respons­ib­il­it­ies mis­rep­res­ents both the pro­cess and the people involved.

The party made the right choice. It chose proven, pro­gress­ive lead­er­ship over a can­did­ate whose appeal res­ted largely on ideo­lo­gical pur­ity rather than a record of res­ults. Too often, pur­ity tests reward ideo­lo­gical con­form­ity over demon­strated lead­er­ship, leav­ing long-stand­ing Demo­crats with proven records of deliv­er­ing res­ults labeled as insuf­fi­ciently pro­gress­ive and sent to the pro­ver­bial guil­lot­ine.

Stephanie Gar­cia Richard has spent years serving New Mex­ic­ans in elec­ted office. As a legis­lator and com­mis­sioner of pub­lic lands, she has demon­strated an abil­ity to gov­ern, build con­sensus and achieve mean­ing­ful res­ults. The SCC recog­nized that exper­i­ence and selec­ted a nom­inee with a proven record of lead­er­ship and the skills to lead on day one.

Adding Stephanie Gar­cia Richard to the Demo­cratic ticket gives voters a clear choice. Ulti­mately, New Mex­ic­ans — not party lead­ers or polit­ical com­ment­at­ors — will decide who is best pre­pared to serve as lieu­ten­ant gov­ernor. They deserve to make that decision based on accur­ate inform­a­tion, not mis­lead­ing char­ac­ter­iz­a­tions of a law­ful and trans­par­ent pro­cess.

The rule of law — not polit­ical rhet­oric — is what pro­tects demo­cracy. The voters deserve an hon­est debate about the future of New Mex­ico.

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

https://www.pressreader.com/usa/albuquerque-journal/20260802/281951729620170

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Republican State Senator David Gallegos’ opinion column is a disingenuous as it gets. It  is  downright hypocritical, especially coming from and elected official who should know  better and who likely knows the law because he is a legislator, especially when he essentially claims the Democratic Party has engaged in “back room” politics and says in part:

“New Mexicans don’t get a vote on who becomes the other lieutenant governor candidate, one of two people who will compete for election in November. Only about 500 people do. …  I believe leaders should answer to the people who elected them — not to 500 party insiders in a room in Santa Fe.”

Simply put, Republican State Senator David Gallegos and the NM Republican Party are hypocrites condemning the Democratic Party’s process for filling the Lt. Governor candidate vacancy when the Republican Party has relied upon and used the identical process to fill candidate vacancies in the past. In fact, the Republicans  will be using the same process to fill a vacancy for a State Representative position in Albuquerque caused by the Republican candidate dropping out  of the race after being nominated.

STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARD BEST CANDIDATE FOR LT. GOVERNOR

The 2026 Democratic Party ticket for Governor and Lt. Governor is now set. Deb Haaland is the party nominee for Governor and Stephanie Garcia Richard is the party’s nominee for Lt. Governor. Both have made history with their nominations by being  the very first time that two women have been nominated by the Democratic Party for Governor and Lt. Governor.

When Senator Pope ran against Maggie Toulous Oliver he  lost to her in a landslide 80% to 20% in the primary. The race between Stephanie Garcia Richard and Harold Pope with the State Central committee was  nothing short of a “slugfest” between Garcia Richard and Pope. Senator Harold Pope did far better than he was expected with the State Central Committee coming in a close second securing 46% of the 477 State Central Committee Members who voted.

Deb Haaland’s endorsement of Garcia Richard contributed to the slugfest. Many Democratic Party State Central Party members strenuously objected to the Haaland endorsement saying Haaland should have stayed out of the race and said that Harold Pope deserved to be nominated simply because he ran in the primary. They ignored the fact that Garcia Richard also ran in the primary, raised over $171,000, more than what Pope raised, but dropped out of the race because of her husband’s cancer battle and her need to assist him with his cancer treatment. Pope ran on a highly populous agenda calling it “Pope for the People”. The Pope platform was more of a platform for Governor and not Lt. Governor. Pope relished embracing the far more progressive, some would say socialist, wing of the Democratic Party.

The Pope-Garcia Richard slugfest revealed a nasty, divisive conflict between party regulars and the highly progressive, some would say socialists, wing of the Democratic Party. Pope’s progressive supporters went after Deb Haaland with a vengeance labeling her a “corporate Democrat” to damage her and her endorsement of Garcia Richard. The attacks on Haaland were an embarrassing turn of events given that Haaland was elected to the ABQ congressional seat and in 2018 immediately caucused with the progressive “Squad” in the United State House of Representative.

Pope’s supporters ignored the fact that Haaland herself was elected in the primary in a landslide victory garnering  72.3% (156,861 votes) of the votes to Sam Bregman’s 27.7% (60,189) cast around New Mexico. Deb Haaland had every right to endorse a candidate given that she is the Democratic Party’s nominee for Governor and the two candidates must run as a ticket. Deb Haaland needed to make her thoughts known as to who she wanted as her running mate for Lt. Governor and especially who she feels she can trust. She needs a team player, something Harold Pope is not known to be in the New Mexico Senate because of his independence. With her endorsement of Stephanie Garcia Richard, Deb Haaland made her feelings known as to who she believes is the most compatible with her, who she feels she can trust and who she will be able to work with once they are elected as a ticket.

Stephanie Garcia Richard is clearly the most qualified candidate to be Lt. Governor, including being far more qualified than Republican David Gallego.  She will bring a sense of stability and full cooperation and communication with Deb Haaland to the table that will ensure the election of the Democratic Party ticket for Governor and Lt. Governor come November 4. Stephanie Garcia Richard is more than capable and will perform the duties and responsibilities of Lt. Governor. More importantly, she is far more qualified than Harold Pope and she can assume the office of Governor should Haaland for some reason leave office before her term ends.

A difficult question that must be answered is given the slugfest between Stephanie Garcia Richard and Harold Pope and the divide it created, will Pope supporters and the extreme progressives within the Democratic Party simply decide not to vote at all in the general election and abandon the Democratic Party? This would be reminiscent of what happened to Hillary Clinton when Bernie Sanders supporters refused to support Clinton for President after Sanders lost to her and they simply stayed home.

At this point, both Deb Haaland and Stephanie Garcia Richard running as a team, need to immediately reach out to all factions of the Democratic Party, especially the most progressive Democrats. They need to reunite the party once again and make assurances they will work with them on Democratic core values and on hot topic areas such as Universal Child Care, reforming the Children’s Youth and Family Department, dealing with solutions for the unhouse crisis, addressing affordability issue and housing shortages and  addressing health care and opposing Trump and all of his policies.

On July 30, the Democratic Party of New Mexico announced that Stephanie Garcia Richard won the State Central Committee (SCC) election to fill the Democratic Party’s Lieutenant Governor candidate vacancy.

Democratic Party of New Mexico Chair Sara Attleson released the following statement:

“Our State Central Committee of Democrats from across New Mexico spoke, and they chose Stephanie. New Mexico Democrats could not be more excited to be campaigning for the Deb and Stephanie ticket across New Mexico. With valuable experience In the State Land Office, State Legislature, and the classroom, Stephanie Garcia Richard will bring a highly capable and qualified voice to the Roundhouse alongside our next governor, Deb Haaland.   

We thank our State Central Committee members for their participation in this process, and of course, the other three candidates for running and their thoughtful and spirited campaigns. We look forward to Senator Harold Pope Jr.’s, Toni Pinedo’s, and Geoffrey Luehring’s continued involvement in the Democratic Party. 

Up and down the ticket, Democrats have a dynamic slate of candidates who are already working to win votes in every New Mexican community and are ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work to create the most prosperous future for New Mexicans that we can. Now DPNM implores all Democrats in the state to do whatever you can, whether it’s knocking on doors or talking to your neighbors, to help us win over votes and get our Democrats elected in November!”

Voting was conducted by electronic ballot upon adjournment of the July 25th State Central Committee meeting. Voting closed at 5:00pm on July 29th. The roughly 500 members of DPNM’s State Central Committee, the majority of whom are volunteers selected at the county level, were eligible to vote in this election. Ninety-seven percent of eligible SCC members voted.

Stephanie Garcia Richard received a majority of first place votes. Per DPNM Rules, a candidate who receives a majority of first place votes wins automatically without the election utilizing a ranked-choice tally.

The final vote of 2026 Democratic Party Of New Mexico State Central Committee Committee Election to fill Lieutenant Governor vacancy is as follows:

• Stephanie Garcia Richard: 255 votes (53%)
• Harold Pope Jr.: 218 votes (46%)
• Toni Pinedo: 3 votes
• Geoffrey Luehring: 1 vote

Links to relied upon or related news sources are here:

https://www.koat.com/article/stephanie-garcia-richard-new-mexico-lieutenant-governor-nominee/73307239

https://www.kob.com/news/top-news/stephanie-garcia-richard-wins-democratic-lieutenant-governor-nomination/

https://www.krqe.com/news/new-mexico/new-mexico-democratic-party-chooses-stephanie-garcia-richard-as-lt-governor-nominee/

PROCESS USED TO FILL VACANCY

Under New Mexico primary election laws, candidate for governor and lieutenant governor run independently in the primary. The winners of these races who share the same party affiliation are then paired on a ticket for the general election. Under the state’s election code, when a candidate is elected in a Democratic Party primary election, and then drops out, it is the Democratic Party State Central Committee that has the exclusive authority to nominate and select candidates to fill the vacancy. The State Central Committee (SCC) membership are elected every two years by individual County Democratic Party Organizations. Registered voters and members of the county party can attend to elect the SCC membership. Any New Mexico Democrat in good standing is a member of their local county party organization and can run or vote for SCC. Currently, there are 480 SCC members statewide.  The 480  SCC members hail from every county in the state and include elected officials, as well as party officials. Approximately 40% of SCC membership are  from Bernalillo County.

STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARDS REACTS

A Tucumcari native raised in Silver City, Garcia Richard was the first woman elected as the state’s commissioner of public lands, winning two terms. Prior to that, she served three terms representing District 43 in the state House after her election in 2012.

When contacted by the Albquerquerqu Journal on her election,  Garcia Richard said this:

“It’s kind of been a bit of a whirlwind process, but you know I’m feeling very exhilarated and hopeful and looking forward to November.”

If elected, Garcia Richard said her experience leading the State Land Office and working in the Legislature will be of great benefit in tackling issues such as affordability and healthcare, the latter hitting close to home. Garcia Richard said this:

“I’ve just been through a whole healthcare experience with my husband who was diagnosed with cancer. …It just opened up my eyes, firsthand, to what New Mexicans are facing in their struggle to access quality healthcare — for rural and urban New Mexicans.”

Garcia Richard, a former teacher, said education is also top of mind and said this:

“I’m very passionate about ensuring that we are bringing quality education to New Mexico as well in terms of supporting students and teachers in the classroom.”

DEB HAALAND REACTS

In a statement, Democratic Party nominee for Governor Deb Haaland, who endorsed Stepahnie Garcia Richard, congratulated her and said this:

“Throughout Stephanie’s years of public service, she has brought billions of dollars to our public schools, increased renewable energy production, and safeguarded our public lands. … Together, we will bring decades of combined state and federal experience to win the general election in November.”

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

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/democrats-select-garcia-richard-as-lieutenant-governor-candidate/3092043

POPE CONGRATULATES GARCIA RICHARD, FAILS TO ENDORSE HAALAND/GARCIA TICKET FOR GOVERNOR AND LT. GOVERNOR

On July 30, Senator Harold  Pope issued the following statement:

“While the outcome of this race wasn’t what we hoped for, I want to begin by congratulating Stephanie Garcia Richard on her victory. Running for public office is never easy, and I wish her success as she moves forward in this campaign and in serving the people of New Mexico.

As Democrats, we share a single responsibility that extends beyond any single primary. I want to thank the members of DPNM’s State Central Committee for their thoughtful engagement over the past 6 weeks. The stakes for New Mexico are high, and I hope everyone who supported this campaign will stay engaged in the work ahead. While our ideas may differ, our common purpose remains protecting the values we believe in and ensuring New Mexico continues moving forward.

I also want to express my gratitude for the diverse communities across the state that showed up to support my campaign, including volunteers, endorsers, and anyone who shared our vision for a people-powered movement.

As I continue my work in the Senate, I will continue to encourage and challenge all of our leaders to do what is right for New Mexico and to always put the interests of our people ahead of corporations, billionaires, and special interests. The people of New Mexico are tired of the status quo. They want leaders who stand for something, who are willing to take difficult positions, who will show up in every community, and who will fight for working people even when it’s not politically convenient.

The election might be over, but my commitment to serving our community will not change any time soon. I will keep fighting for affordability, quality education, healthcare, workers’ rights, environmental justice, and a government that answers to the people, not corporations or special interests.

Thank you for standing with me.”

It is noteworthy that in his July 20 statement, Senator Harold Pope congratulated Stephanie Garcia Richard for her win. It is glaring that he did not formally endorse the Haaland/Garcia Richard ticket for Governor and Lt. Governor. His  endorsement would have gone along way to promote unity within the Democratic Party party.  It would have helped heal the divisions he caused within the party with his candidacy.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The 2026 Democratic Party ticket for Governor and Lt. Governor is now complete. Deb Haaland is the party nominee for Governor and Stephanie Garcia Richard is the party’s nominee for Lt. Governor. Both have made history with their nominations by being  the very first time that two women have been nominated by the Democratic Party for Governor and Lt. Governor.

It was on June 2 that Maggie Toulouse Oliver won the Democratic Party nomination to be New Mexico’s next Lieutenant Governor in a landslide primary election victory over her opponent State Senator Harold Pope. Toulouse Oliver garnered 80% of the vote (168,109) to  Pope’s 20% (42,127). On June 18  Maggie Toulouse Oliver announced she was suspending her campaign and dropping out of the race due to health concerns.

On June 25, Maggie Toulouse Oliver officially withdrew as the Democratic Party nominee for  Lt. Governor. On the same day the Democratic Party of New Mexico sent out the official call to the Democratic Party State Central Committee to fill the Lieutenant Governor ballot position. Both State Senator Harold Pope and Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard announced almost immediately that they would seek the Democratic Party’s nomination from the Democratic Party State Central Committee.

Senator Harold Pope did far better than he was expected with the State Central Committee coming in a close second securing 46% of the 477 State Central Committee Members who voted. When he ran against Maggie Toulous Oliver he  lost to her in a landslide 80% to 20% in the primary. The race between Stephanie Garcia Richard and Harold Pope was  nothing short of a “slugfest” between Garcia Richard and Pope.

Deb Haaland’s endorsement of Garcia Richard contributed to the slugfest. Many Democratic Party State Central Party members strenuously objected to the Haaland endorsement saying Haaland should have stayed out of the race and said that Harold Pope deserved to be nominated simply because he ran in the primary. They ignored the fact that Garcia Richard also ran in the primary, raised over $171,000, more than what Pope raised, but dropped out of the race because of her husband’s cancer battle and her need to assist him with his cancer treatment. Pope ran on a highly populous agenda calling it “Pope for the People”. The Pope platform was more of a platform for Governor and not Lt. Governor. Pope relished embracing the far more progressive, some would say socialist, wing of the Democratic Party.

The Pope-Garcia Richard slugfest revealed a nasty, divisive conflict between party regulars and the highly progressive, some would say socialists, wing of the Democratic Party. Pope’s progressive supporters went after Deb Haaland with a vengeance labeling her a “corporate Democrat” to damage her and her endorsement of Garcia Richard. The attacks on Haaland were an embarrassing turn of events given that Haaland was elected to the ABQ congressional seat and in 2018 immediately caucused with the progressive “Squad” in the United State House of Representative.

Pope’s supporters ignored the fact that Haaland herself was elected in the primary in a landslide victory garnering  72.3% (156,861 votes) of the votes to Sam Bregman’s 27.7% (60,189) cast around New Mexico. Deb Haaland had every right to endorse a candidate given that she is the Democratic Party’s nominee for Governor and the two candidates must run as a ticket. Deb Haaland needed to make her thoughts known as to who she wanted as her running mate for Lt. Governor and especially who she feels she can trust. She needs a team player, something Harold Pope is not known to be in the New Mexico Senate because of his independence. With her endorsement of Stephanie Garcia Richard, Deb Haaland made her feelings known as to who she believes is the most compatible with her, who she feels she can trust and who she will be able to work with once they are elected as a ticket.

Stephanie Garcia Richard is clearly the most qualified candidate to be Lt. Governor.  She will bring a sense of stability and full cooperation and communication with Deb Haaland to the table that will ensure the election of the Democratic Party ticket for Governor and Lt. Governor come November 4. Stephanie Garcia Richard is more than capable and will perform the duties and responsibilities of Lt. Governor. More importantly, she is far more qualified than Harold Pope and she can assume the office of Governor should Haaland for some reason leave office before her term ends.

FINAL COMMENTARY

A difficult question that must be answered is given the slugfest between Stephanie Garcia Richard and Harold Pope and the divide it created, will Pope supporters and the extreme progressives within the Democratic Party simply decide not to vote at all in the general election and abandon the Democratic Party? This would be reminiscent of what happened to Hillary Clinton when Bernie Sanders supporters refused to support Clinton for President after Sanders lost to her and they simply stayed home.

At this point, both Deb Haaland and Stephanie Garcia Richard running as a team, need to immediately reach out to all factions of the Democratic Party, especially the most progressive Democrats. They need to reunite the party once again and make assurances they will work with them on Democratic core values and on hot topic areas such as Universal Child Care, reforming the Children’s Youth and Family Department, dealing with solutions for the unhouse crisis, addressing affordability issue and housing shortages and  addressing health care and opposing Trump and all of his policies.

Best wishes to both Deb Haaland and Stephanie Garcia Richard as they go forward together.

The link to a related article is here:

Democratic Party State Central Committee To Convene On July 25 To Nominate Candidate For Lieutenant Governor; Final Analysis Of Four Candidates Seeking Democratic Party State Central Committee Nomination; ENDORSEMENT: State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard Most Qualified And Best Suited To Be Deb Haaland’s Running Mate

 

On July 22, the New Mexico Supreme Court, in a  brief two page order, unanimously denied and emergency request challenging New Mexico’s first-of-its-kind in the nation universal childcare program. It was on June 12, that State District Court Judge Elaine Lujan in Albuquerque dismissed the lawsuit, prompting a direct emergency appeal to the New Mexico Supreme Court for a “writ of mandamus” or “writ of  superintendent control” to order District Judge Lujan to reinstate the lawsuit.

FAILED REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FILE LAWSUITE

It was on April 16, 2026 Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez along with fellow plaintiffs Steve Lanier and Zachary Anaya, filed a law suit in New Mexico’s Second Judicial District Court against Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham over the rollout of New Mexico’s “universal child care program”. (See suite number D-202-CV-2026-03721) The suit became a political flash point of contention between Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and the Republican candidates for office who filed it. In addition to Rodriguez, the two others who filed the suit were fellow onetime Republican gubernatorial hopeful state Senator Steve Lanier and Rio Rancho businessman Zachary Anaya who lost his GOP primary bid for to a state House seat in June.

Rodriguez, Lanier, and Anaya argue in their civil suit against Governor  Lujan Grisham that she created a “universal child care program” unilaterally, without a legislatively enacted statute, without a legislative appropriation of state money, and without following proper regulatory procedures. The suit asked the District Court to prohibit Lujan Grisham from further enforcement of regulations tied to the program.  Attorneys representing Lujan Grisham and the state’s childcare agency responded that the New Mexico legislature during the 2026 legislature authorized and funded the program’s expansion, rendering the legal challenge moot.

On June 12, District Court Judge Elaine Lujan agreed that the legislature’s actions rendered the plaintiff  lawsuit moot and dismissed the lawsuit. The dismissal allowed the state to continue footing the daycare bill for families regardless of income. Lujan Grisham applauded Judge Lujan’s ruling and said this at the time:

“Second Judicial District Judge Elaine Lujan dismissed a frivolous challenge to New Mexico’s universal childcare program. This program is lawful, and it will continue to serve New Mexico families. … New Mexicans deserved better than a lawsuit that put them through weeks of unnecessary anxiety over a program they count on. The judge’s ruling makes it clear: New Mexicans can plan their families, finances and careers with the confidence that universal childcare is here to stay.”

Judge Lujan found that Rodriguez and his co-plaintiffs lacked standing to bring the lawsuit. The three Plaintiff’s immediately appealed the dismissal directly  to the New Mexico Supreme Court asking for a “writ of mandamus” or “writ of  superintendent control” to order District Judge Lujan to reinstate the lawsuit. On July 22 the New Mexico  Supreme Court unanimously dismissed the emergency request thereby affirming the District Court’s dismissal of the case.

REACTION TO SUPREME COURT DISMISSAL

On July 23, Governor Lujan Grisham wrote this in a statement posted to social media:

“This candidate lost in state district court, lost in the Supreme Court, and lost his bid to become the next governor of our state. … This means universal childcare in New Mexico is here to stay, and families have no more reason to fear that this life-changing program will be stripped away from them.”

Governor Lujan Grisham’s spokesman Michael Coleman said this about the  Supreme Court’s ruling validating the  administration’s handling of the initiative’s rollout:

“The governor appreciates the Supreme Court’s ruling on this lawsuit filed by a candidate trying to drum up free publicity for his losing campaign for governor.  With this final court ruling, New Mexico families who were needlessly threatened by a mean-spirited and frivolous lawsuit can now rest assured that universal childcare is the law of the land and here to stay.”

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Deb Haaland celebrated the ruling and restated her commitment to furthering Lujan Grisham’s universal childcare program. Haaland said this in a statement:

“New Mexico Republicans and their candidates are not serious about lowering costs for families — and instead are trying to take opportunities away from them.  We should be focused on strengthening and expanding cost-saving opportunities.”

Failed Republican candidate Duke Rodriguez criticized the ruling, arguing the state’s highest court disregarded the idea of having separate branches of government and allowed the executive branch to circumvent the Legislature.  Rodriguez said this:

“Why have a Legislature at all? Why elect representatives? Why hold hearings? Why even debate legislation? Heck, why require votes?” he asked in an interview. “Why pretend there are separate branches of government? … Five Democrat justices can simply allow a governor to act first, bypass the Legislature, and then never explain the legal basis for permitting it?”

Former state senator Jacob Candelaria, the attorney representing Rodriguez and the two other plaintiffs in the case, expressed frustration at the Supreme Court for dismissing the appeal without a full written opinion. Although the Supreme Court justices did not publish a full written  opinion in the case, all five concurred in the ruling.  Candelaria said this:

“It’s a very unfortunate and undemocratic way of resolving these disputes. … The Supreme Court should do some soul-searching about how it negatively impacts views of the judiciary by acting in such a summary fashion.”

Candelaria also criticized many of his former legislature colleagues for approving the Lujan Grisham administration’s childcare initiative, despite concerns about its long-term price tag.  He  predicted future governors would use the Supreme Court decision to exercise broad executive powers without legislative approval and said “That should terrify everybody.”

Candelaria also said plaintiffs in the case will  continue with their appeal of the initial lower court ruling to the state Court of Appeals.

Links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.kob.com/news/top-news/new-mexico-supreme-court-denies-challenge-to-universal-child-care-law/

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/new-mexico-supreme-court-denies-petition-challenging-states-universal-childcare-program/3088145

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/new-mexico-supreme-court-tosses-lawsuit-challenging-universal-childcare/article_36326745-7311-41cc-b407-e22b34f11f54.html

https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/candidate-rodriguez-lawsuit-against-governor-151000195.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/sparks-fly-after-judge-issues-order-in-lawsuit-targeting-universal-child-care-program/3032119

https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-universal-childcare-lawsuit-dismissed/71571575

ENACTMENT OF UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE

It was in the fall of 2925 that Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the Universal Childcare program making New Mexico the first state to offer no-cost childcare to all working families, regardless of their income levels. Before the initiative took effect in November, the state had offered childcare assistance to families making up to 400% of the federal poverty level or $132,000 per year for a family of four.

New Mexico’s program, which is financed in large part with revenue from oil and gas production in the state, was among the nation’s most generous before November’s expansion, waiving costs for families making up to 400% of the federal poverty rate or roughly $132,000 per year for a family of four. Legislative analysts raised questions about the sustainability of New Mexico’s expanded program, noting the state’s Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD)  started overspending just weeks into the November launch of the program.

On March 10, 2026, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law the Universal Child Care Act making New Mexico the first state in the nation to guarantee no-cost child care that sets young children up for success and helps make life more affordable for families. The governor also signed legislation removing local zoning and homeowner association barriers to child care expansion in the state. The two new laws taken together  mark the culmination of a “cradle to career” education plan Lujan Grisham launched during her first year in office. New Mexico is the only state in the nation to offer its residents tuition-free college and no-cost universal child care.

SENATE BILL 241 (THE UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE ACT) 

Senate Bill 241 known as the Universal Child Care Act guarantees that families across New Mexico can access affordable care regardless of income.

Since the program’s launch on November 1, 2025, an additional 12,666 families and 16,706 children have enrolled statewide with  63 new childcare providers registering to do business in New Mexico. More than half of new enrollees were already income-eligible under prior assistance programs. About 30,000 families and 44,000 children are on track to receive free childcare this year. According to Early Childhood Education and Care Department  Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky more than 60 new childcare providers around the state have had their applications approved.

The Universal Child Care Act  (SB 241)  establishes the statutory foundation for universal childcare in New Mexico, allowing the legislature to appropriate up to $700 million between 2026 and 2031 from the Early Childhood Education and Care Fund provided that the fund remains above $10 billion. New Mexico’s FY 2027 budget includes a $160 million increase for childcare assistance for a total childcare budget of $606 million, plus an additional $30 million, over three years, to support the early childhood wage scale and career ladder.

The legislation also provides for “fiscal safeguards.” Specifically, if inflation spikes or oil revenues decline, the program can adjust co-pay structures to ensure sustainability of the program. As for the guardrails built into the bill, they include potential co-pays for higher-income families and child care waitlists. Those steps would be triggered under certain economic situations, such as elevated inflation rates and a downturn in oil prices.

Senate Bill 241 contains certain “triggers” that  would allow co-pays to be charged to higher-income families and childcare wait lists to be implemented. Those steps would be triggered under certain economic situations, such as elevated inflation rates and a downturn in oil prices. The co-pays would only apply to working families, making more than 600% of the federal poverty level. That amount is currently $198,000 per year for a family of four.

The  built-in “triggers” to Senate Bill 241 are as follows:

• Allowing co-pays for higher-income families and child care wait lists.
• A state early childhood agency would be required to take certain steps if any of four different conditions occur.
• Those conditions are higher-than-expected child care enrollment, less than $50 per barrel oil prices, higher than 3% inflation and state revenue growth lagging behind inflation.
• Under any of those scenarios, the agency would either have to enact a waiting list or charge co-pays for working families making more than 600% of the federal poverty level. That amount is currently $198,000 per year for a family of four.

Childcare costs rank among the largest household expenses for working families nationally, averaging more than $13,000 per child per year in many states. New Mexico is making child care free for families who need it, backed by a statutory framework that other states can model as affordability remains a pressing national challenge.

Lawmakers initially expressed skepticism about the governor’s request for additional dollars to pay for the initiative in the run-up to this year’s 30-day session, but ultimately provided at least a temporary funding stream.

Lujan Grisham expressed confidence the program would remain sustainable even after she leaves office at the end of the year.

Senate Bill 241 was sponsored by Senators Michael Padilla, George Muñoz, Linda Trujillo and Bobby Gonzales. House sponsors include Rep. Doreen Gallegos.  The only Democrat in either legislative chamber to vote against the bill was Rep. Joseph Sanchez of Alcalde. Four House Republicans and only one Senate Republican supported the legislation.

SENATE BILL 96   (THE REGULATED CHILD CARE ZONING REQUIREMENTS ACT)

SB 96  clears the path for more childcare providers by prohibiting local governments and homeowners associations (HOA’s)  from imposing restrictions on childcare homes and centers.  The bill is intended to ensure home-based daycares are not blocked from opening by local zoning requirements. SB 96 will ease zoning restrictions on regulated childcare homes in residential areas. The Governor said she hoped to knock down barriers to where childcare facilities can go.

GOVERNOR’S STATEMENT

During the bill signing, and in a statement issued, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham described the Universal Childcare act  as a “monumental” and said this:

“I really wanted something that would create a sea change for families and children in New Mexico.  … New Mexico is [now] the first state in the nation to offer universal, no-cost child care. … [My]  hope is that we won’t be the last.  I encourage other states to consider our model, and New Mexico is ready to assist in helping others turn the vision into reality for families across the nation. … All parents who need child care can now get it. … When parents are guaranteed no-cost child care, they can improve their family’s quality of life, fully engage in the workforce and contribute to our state’s economy. Families shouldn’t have to choose between paying rent or paying for child care, and as of today, they no longer will. …  I thank every legislator who sponsored these bills or voted to move them across the finish line to my desk. … Their support and hard work will make a profound difference in the lives of New Mexico families.”

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE DEPARTMENT REPORT

On December 9, 2025, the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) released its  “Child Care Assistance” report that analyzed data prepared by Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) staff for the 2025 Early Childhood Accountability Report.   The report   incorporated data trends observed since the announcement of universal childcare.

In the review, ECECD’s analysis confirmed that childcare supply and workforce are growing, especially for infant and toddlers, enrollment increases are sustainable, and the quality of care will continue to increase as it has throughout the history of the child care assistance program.

The  Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD)  “Child Care Assistance  Report” made the following key findings:

• RAPID EXPANSION HAS ALREADY OCCURRED. Significantly more children were made eligible in 2022 when the eligibility cap was raised to 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL) than in the launch of universal child care on November 1, 2025. The true accounting of children likely to participate in UCC is substantially less than projected by LFC staff. 
•  LOW-INCOME FAMILIES ARE ACCESSING CARE. New Mexico’s investments in the child care system benefit families across the income spectrum, including the lowest income families. Fifty-four percent of the families who have enrolled in child care assistance since November 1 have incomes below the previous eligibility cap.
•  INCREASING NUMBER OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS BEING SERVED. Before Universal Child Care, infants and toddlers made up 29 percent of the caseload; under Universal eligibility, they account for 39 percent of new enrollments since November 1.
•  CHILDCARE CAPACITY IS GROWING. Licensed childcare capacity has grown nearly 20% since 2019 and continues to increase. New capacity is in the pipeline through a variety of supply building strategies, including improved rates for child care providers and deployment of the Child Care Revolving Loan Fund.
• WORKFORCE CAPACITY IS GROWING. From 2019 to 2024, New Mexico’s child care workforce grew by 64 percent, even as the national child care workforce declined by 7.4 percent, according to the Cradle to Career Policy Institute (CCPI). New Mexico’s relative growth was the fourth highest in the nation.

QUALITY IS A KEY ELEMENT OF UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE

“Quality is a key element of Universal Child Care. Approximately 64% of children under age five who received child care assistance were served in 5-star licensed programs in fall 2025. This percentage has trended up over time. It averaged 62%  in Fiscal Year 2025 Universal Child Care Brief Updated April 15, 2026. This version supersedes all prior versions. Universal Child Care Brief – April 15, 2026 2 (FY25), which is up from 58% in FY24 and 53 percent in FY23.”

SERVING LOW-INCOME FAMILIES REMAINS A CORE PRIORITY

“Serving Low-Income Families Remains a Core Priority Serving low-income and at-risk families is a priority of ECECD’s child care assistance program. From inception, the program has prioritized low-income families, children with disabilities, and teen parents. Recent changes to the child care assistance regulations removed barriers for additional at-risk populations to receive assistance …  [including] grandparents raising grandchildren, families experiencing homelessness or Child Protective Services involvement, and families with babies born substance exposed are no longer required to meet activity requirements to receive assistance.”

 INCOME DISTRIBUTION FOR THE NEWLY ENROLLED

“Since Universal Child Care regulations have been in place, 9,390 new families have applied for assistance and been determined eligible. Of those families, 44.8 percent had incomes under 400% FPL and therefore were already eligible for child care assistance. This suggests that the framing of child care assistance as a universal program and the publicity surrounding the announcement may have helped boost awareness across the income spectrum and reduced stigma that may have been associated with the program. Of the 4,206 previously eligible families who have joined the program since November 1, 2,506 had incomes below 200% FPL, and more than half of those (1,316) had incomes below 100% FPL.”

INCREASING NUMBER OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS BEING SERVED

 “Increasing the number of infants and toddlers being served in infant and toddler care has been an ongoing critical priority. This age group requires more intensive and expensive caregiving than older children, which puts it in shorter supply and higher demand for working families who need quality, safe, and reliable care for their very young children. ECECD estimates that following the launch of the Universal Child Care program on November 1, the number of infants and toddlers eligible for child care assistance increased by 4,863, to a total of 38,966.”

The link to review the entire and unedited  ECECD  “Child Care Assistance”  Report is here:

Click to access Universal-Child-Care-Brief_41526.pdf

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The New Mexico Supreme Court’s denial  of the relief sought by the Plaintiff’s challenging the State’s  Universal Child Care  makes it more likely than not that the  New Mexico Court of Appeals will also sustain District Court Judge Elaine Lujan’s decision to throw it out and dismiss the Plaintiff’s case.  Simply put, District Judge Lujan’s dismissal of the case was correct and there was no abuse of discretion. Her decision was on sound legal ground when she found that the actions of the New Legislature and the enactment of the Universal Child Care Act and the funding of the program provided rendered the Plaintiff’s lawsuit “moot”.  There was no abuse of discretion by Judge Lujan that required the New Mexico Supreme Court to reinstate the case thereby affirming the lower court.

It is extremely  disappointing that Plaintiff’s attorney, and  former State Senator Jacob Candelaria, would say this:

“It’s a very unfortunate and undemocratic way of resolving these disputes. … The Supreme Court should do some soul-searching about how it negatively impacts views of the judiciary by acting in such a summary fashion.”

Candelaria, as an experience trial attorney and former New Mexico legislator, knows better. Simply put, the Supreme Court did its job. The Court’s are not a “democratic way of resolving disputes”, but rather are responsible for reviewing the merits and facts of cases and applying the law in a fair and impartial manner. There was no abuse of discretion by District Court Judge Elaine Lujan with her dismissal of the case that required the extraordinarily remedy of asking the Supreme Court  for a “writ of mandamus” or “writ of  superintendent control” to order District Judge Lujan to reinstate the lawsuit.

TWO MAJOR CRITICISMS OF NEW MEXICO’S  UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE 

The two major criticisms of New Mexico’s  universal childcare is that it is  not sustainable because of the sure cost of the program and that free childcare should not be offered to families that can easily afford to pay those expenses themselves. The Universal Child Care Act address both concerns.

The sustainability issue was resolved, at least for now, with the Universal Child Care Act establishing  the statutory foundation for universal childcare in New Mexico. The legislature appropriated up to $700 million between 2026 and 2031 from the Early Childhood Education and Care Fund provided that the fund remains above $10 billion. New Mexico’s FY 2027 budget includes a $160 million increase for childcare assistance for a total childcare budget of $606 million, plus an additional $30 million, over three years, to support the early childhood wage scale and career ladder.

The Universal Child Care Act has built in triggers requiring  co-pays for higher-income families. Specifically, if inflation spikes or oil revenues decline, the program can adjust co-pay structures to ensure sustainability of the program. As for the guardrails built into the bill, they include childcare waitlists.

UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE BECOMES ISSUE IN GOVERNOR’S RACE

The universal childcare initiative is already emerging  as an issue in this year’s race for governor, as Lujan Grisham is term-limited and will step down at the end of the year.

Democratic nominee Deb Haaland has embraced the program, saying it provides cost savings for New Mexico parents. Haaland said this in a statement after the Supreme Court ruling:

“As governor, I’ll continue to protect universal childcare and keep building an economy where working families can succeed because when we invest in our kids, we invest in the future of New Mexico. ”

Republican  candidate for Governor Gregg Hull described the program as “great in concept” but raised questions about its long-term sustainability and potential for fraud. Hull has yet to elaborate in any detail his plans for the program and if he intends to scrap it in whole or in part  and simply presumes fraud will occur without elaborating on what safeguards can be put in place to prevent fraud.

There is no doubt that free universal childcare for all  New Mexico families is the defining accomplishment  for Governor Michell Lujan Grisham. There is little doubt that the program will give an economic boost to all New Mexico working families and their children. All too often, New Mexico families must decide if both parents need to go to work simply to make ends meet and be  forced to pay for childcare in order to get ahead. The question is if universal childcare will endure or if a Republican Governor Gregg Hull will simply decide to scrap the program out of fear of fraud and distain for  social programs that help working families make ends meet and get ahead.

POSTSCRIPT

 The link to a related Dinelli News and Commentary article is here:

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham Signs Into Law Universal Child Care Making New Mexico Only State To Offer No-Cost Universal Child Care Becoming Part Of Governor’s Enduring Legacy

 

The Albuquerque Journal Editorial Opinion pages feature 5 types of opinion columns submitted for publication with a 600 word policy limitation: those by the paper’s Editorial Board, those by the paper’s Community Council, those by Syndicated Columnists, those by Local Columnists and those by Local Voices. According to Journal editors:

“Local Columnists are tasked with carrying a heavy load of responsibility to help readers scrutinize issues impacting them, their community and their country. It is the Journal’s goal to publish columnists from all walks of life and varying political viewpoints to give readers exposure to all sides of local issues.”

On Sunday July 26, the  Albuquerque Journal published on its editorial opinion page C2  the below  600 word “Local Columnist” opinion column by Pete Dinelli:

OPINION: Albuquerque needs a stronger response to unhoused people on the streets

The most recent Point-In-Time Survey of Albuquerque’s unhoused people found an 8% increase in the city’s homeless population, going from 2,740 to 2,960. Service providers estimate the actual number of unhoused people approaches 5,000. A 2025 report by the city found 30% of individuals experiencing homelessness self-report having a serious mental illness, 25% self-report having a substance use disorder and 66% experience some form of mental health condition. The New Mexico Justice Reinvestment Working Group found 65% of all individuals who enter the state’s criminal justice system have a behavioral health need.

Mayor Tim Keller has spent $300 million over the last four years to build five shelters known as the Gateway System. Keller is spending $85,283,471 in the 2027 fiscal year on 122 service contracts for unhoused services and shelter, while about 75% of chronically unhoused people refuse city shelter and services.

There are three recent major initiatives by Keller and the City Council directed at reducing the unhoused population on the streets of Albuquerque:

• In May, the City Council passed the “Enhanced Service and Safety Zone Ordinance” that makes it unlawful to sit, sleep, lie or camp on public sidewalks, streets, bike paths or alleys inside designated zones intended for commercial areas with high crime rates and recurring public safety concerns, including sidewalk obstructions and encampments. There are eight other state laws and city ordinances enacted to arrest for vagrancy, trespassing and illegal camping that apply to the homeless. The number of people booked into Bernalillo County’s jail who are classified as homeless or transient has skyrocketed from 3,670 in 2022 to nearly 12,000 in 2025.

 

• Fifty safe outdoor spaces will be offered to unhoused people at the Gateway West Shelter to provide showers, electricity and a place for an estimated number of between 15 to 50 people to set up tents and camp. Keller has advocated for 100 smaller safe outdoor spaces scattered all over the city to accommodate 10 people each for 1,000 unhoused people to camp.

 

• Keller’s new diversion initiative is led by the City Attorney’s Office with a $200,000 allocation. The approach shifts the city’s response from a system that cycles individuals through “arrest and release” to one that uses intervention as a pathway into services, while maintaining accountability for participation.

Simply put, all three initiatives fall pathetically short of what is needed to remove unhoused people from the streets in a humane manner. Homeless people are not above the law. They cannot be allowed to just ignore the law, illegally camp wherever they want for as long as they want when they reject all government housing or shelter assistance.

On Jan. 6, the Metropolitan Court Diversion Court was launched. The court redirects people with serious mental illness into voluntary treatment as an alternative to criminal prosecution for minor and nonviolent crimes. The court deals with people who previously have had criminal charges dismissed because they were found incompetent to stand trial. Eligible defendants are assessed by a social worker or case manager at the point of prosecution and offered on a voluntary basis a structured diversion option, including shelter intake, case management, substance use or mental health treatment, or other supportive services.

More must and can be done by the courts mandating unhoused people off the streets and ordering them into the mental health or drug addiction treatment programs they desperately need. The city attorney and the district attorney should form a specialized unit to initiate civil mental health commitments in Metro Court to secure court orders to get chronically mentally ill and drug-addicted people off city streets.

Pete Dinelli is a former Albuquerque city councilor, former chief public safety officer and former chief deputy district attorney. You can read his daily news and commentary blog at www.PeteDinelli.com.

POSTSCRIPT

The link to the related Dinelli News and Commentary article providing the research the foregoing Albuquerque Journal guest column column is based on is here:

City Council Passes Ban On Sitting, Sleeping On Sidewalks To Deal With Unhoused; Safe Outdoor Spaces To Be Offered At Gateway West Shelter; City Announces New Diversion Program; COMMENTARY: New Diversion Program Needs To Include Civil Mental Health Commitments Of Unhoused Who Are Danger To Selves And Others Or In  Need Of Addiction Medical Treatment

On July 25th, 2026 the New Mexico Democratic Party State Central Committee (SCC) will convene and hold a special election to fill the vacancy for Lieutenant Governor caused by the withdrawal of Maggie Toulouse Oliver as the Democratic Party nominee. The Spring 2026 SCC Meeting will be held as a virtual meeting with the vote to be taken online over a period of days with a rank choice voting system.

The list of Democratic candidates who have applied with the party and who are seeking the State Central Committee nomination for Lieutenant Governor are:

1. State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard
2. NM State Senator Harold Pope, District 23
3. Toni Pinedo
4. Geoffrey P. Luehring

Following are each of the candidate’s statements which include biographical information and other information provided by the candidates themselves to the Democratic Party State Central Committee:

1. STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARD

Stephanie Garcia Richard submitted the following is the application statement to the State Democratic party:

“In March of 2025, I launched my campaign for Lieutenant Governor — filled with excitement and ready, with a dedicated team beside me, to engage voters across our great state.

Then, life intervened. My husband, Eric, received a cancer diagnosis, and it quickly became clear his treatment would be more intensive than we ever imagined. So I made the only choice that mattered: I stepped back to give Eric my full, undivided attention, and last fall I suspended my campaign. It was the hardest decision of my career — and the right one for my family.

Seven months later, I’m sharing wonderful news: Eric has completed his treatment and received a clean bill of health. He’s growing stronger every day.

So when I heard that Maggie Toulouse Oliver had suspended her campaign to care for her own health, my heart broke for her. I know what that moment feels like — the fear, the uncertainty, the way everything else in the world goes quiet. Maggie has given so much of herself to New Mexico, and stepping back to focus on her health takes real courage. She and her family are in my heart, and I hope every New Mexican will hold them there too. Health and family come first. Always.

It was in the days that followed that something I never expected began to happen. My phone started ringing — supporters from every corner of New Mexico, urging me to reconsider my candidacy. I’ll be honest: it’s been a whirlwind. But I’ve come to see it as a rare gift, and a call I can’t ignore.

The chance to serve New Mexico is a privilege I would never take for granted — and I’m ready to serve again if called upon.

Having run statewide twice before, I know what it takes to win and to govern. Before I suspended my campaign last fall, we’d already raised more than $165,000 — a testament to the belief so many of you share in what we can build together.

That foundation is still here. So am I.

It’s critical that the next Lieutenant Governor be a true partner to Deb Haaland — working in lockstep to deliver real results for New Mexico families. That decision now rests with Deb and our Democratic State Central Committee. I trust the process, and I also believe the people of New Mexico should be heard in it.

I’m ready to serve. Let’s get back to work — together.”

Even though Stephanie Garcia Richard dropped out of the race for Lieutenant Governor on October 16, 2026, she was still required by law file with the Secretary of State campaign finance reports on donations raised and expenses during her brief campaign. According to the latest campaign finance reports filed on July 2, 2026 with the Secretary of State, contributions and expenditures by the Stephanie Garcia Richard campaign for Lt. Governor were as follows:

• Total Contributions:       $171,921.52
• Total Expenditures:        $147,396.98
• In-Kind Contributions:           $60.00
• Current Debt Balance       -$2,500.00
• Current Cash Balance:     $66,553.17

The link to review fiancé reports for Stephanie Garcia Richard is here:

https://login.cfis.sos.state.nm.us/index.html#/exploreDetails/VFSuNI9cIqiamRBaE6MUrn1lK5MpzTLbNw12UnzEQ-I1/6/0/125/2026

2. HAROLD POPE

Harold Pope submitted the following  application statement to the State Democratic Party:

“I have been vigorously running for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico since July of last year, and I am proud to once again officially declare my candidacy.

When I originally announced that I would run for this important office, I did so because I believe we deserve leaders who will show up, listen to, and fight for the people they serve. Every. Single. Day. That is the kind of leader I have always tried to be.

Today, as the Trump Administration systematically dismantles democracy and the inclusive American way of life, we need persistent, focused, energetic leadership more than ever. New Mexico must remain a shining beacon of resistance to Trump and his Republican enablers. This fall, we can loudly, proudly demonstrate our values by beating Republicans up and down the ballot.

My campaign slogan, “Pope for the People,” defines my vision of elected office: public officials work FOR the people. It’s not about a title, or just one person. It’s about all of us, together, making sure that every New Mexican has a fair shot at a good, safe, and happy life. I’m enormously proud that my work in the State Legislature has been grounded in what I have heard directly from people across our great state.

After flipping a Republican-held district in 2020, I became a State Senator. During my tenure in the Senate, including as the Majority Caucus Chair, I collaborated with other state leaders to pass bills that help offset the rising costs of housing, healthcare, and childcare. I’ve introduced and passed bills to battle institutional racism, support a variety of educational programs, and bring transparency into government processes. My work has supported the preservation of culture and heritage in education. I have championed water and environmental protections. Not all of these bills have been popular. But I’ve never been guided by what’s popular; I’ve been guided by what’s right and worked incredibly hard to get important things done for New Mexicans.

As I traveled all over our state for the last year, what I already knew and loved about New Mexicans was reinforced time and time again: our resilience and spirit push us onward, but it’s our hope in a better future that fortifies us.

My own history of growing up in a working-class family also informs the decisions I’ve made as a state Senator. The twenty years I spent serving our nation in the Air Force remind me that when we put people before politics, we all win. Also, being a demographic “first” to occupy spaces that were never meant for people like me is the reason I persevere. I want to give others hope that doors are open, seats at important tables are available, and exclusionary glass ceilings can and must be broken.

I saw evidence that these hopes can come true earlier this year when I was collecting nominating petition signatures. I saw other candidates struggling to meet the qualifying numbers, and I was enormously proud to have collected enough signatures to FAR exceed the requirement. As we spoke, voters from every corner of the state repeatedly shared that they supported me because they see themselves in me, they see that I represent their desire to break free of the institutions that have bound us, and they see I lead with the courage, integrity, and values that they share. The momentum we’ve built from those early campaign days to now has been phenomenal.

In the Democratic Primary election, over 42,000 New Mexicans joined our movement, and in the weeks since the vacancy in this nomination occurred, I have been so overwhelmed with support from leadership and community that my team and I (happily) have worked overtime to keep up!

We, the people, are ready to create a New Mexico that thrives, not just survives.

As your next Lieutenant Governor, I will continue to lead from the front and govern with transparency and accountability.

As your next Lieutenant Governor, I will open the doors of government to the people of New Mexico to ensure that their voices are heard in the halls of power.

As your next Lieutenant Governor, I will work tirelessly with our Governor to build a state that’s more affordable, where water and environmental protections secure our future, and public education systems are strong.

Together, we will build a New Mexico that expands access to healthcare, a future where working families can afford to stay in the communities they love, and a future where veterans are honored with action, not just words. A New Mexico that puts people first.

As a member of the State Central Committee, I thank you for your own work in your community, and I ask you to join our movement of courage, strength, and hope and cast your vote for me.”

In Solidarity,

Sen. Harold Pope Jr.

According to the latest campaign finance reports filed on July 2, 2026 with the New Mexico  Secretary of State office, the  contributions and expenditures by the Harold Pope campaign for Lt. Governor were as follows:

• Total Contributions:     $81,691.06
• Total Expenditures:      $80,775.82
• In-Kind Contributions:     $4,294.32
• Current Debt Balance:            $0.00
• Current Cash Balance:   $11,026.76

The link to review fiancé reports for Senator Pope is here:

https://login.cfis.sos.state.nm.us/index.html#/exploreDetails/wFnBA0EwrGh9g-C1DBB8vH1lK5MpzTLbNw12UnzEQ-I1/6/0/125/2026

3. TONI PINEDO

Toni Pinedo submitted the following is the application statement to the State Democratic party:

“I am declaring myself to run for Lt. Governor of New Mexico. Thank you.”

During the July 18 State Central Committee candidate forum, Toni Pinedo disclosed  that she grew up in Gallup, NM, that she has been a registered nurse for 33 years. She stated she has been very active advocating for indigenous people and the rights of woman and  that her platform is about helping youth.

4. GEOFFREY LUEHRING 

Geoffry Luehring submitted the following application statement to the State Democratic party:

​“I am writing to formally request an interview for the Lieutenant Governor selection. I believe my ideas and my dedication to continuous improvements can help build on Deb’s platform and address critical gaps that voters care about deeply. Specifically, I have proposals for expanding the Rail Runner, establishing permanent housing solutions for the homeless, and developing state-built, mixed-income, rent-capped housing. I also have a actionable plan to reform CYFD to ensure no child is left sleeping on an office floor, alongside the smarter law enforcement strategies Deb is seeking.”

During the July 18 State Central Committee candidate forum, Geoffry Luehring stated he grew up in Albuquerque, that he is a pharmacist and a health care executive and he emphasized that is not a politician and that affordable health care is part of his platform.

DEB HAALAND’S ENDORSES  STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARD

On Friday, June 25, Democratic Party nominee for Governor Deb Haaland endorsed Stephanie Garcia Richard For Lt. Governor.  Deb Haaland said this in part in her endorsement:

“I am proud to endorse Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard. I’ve made the decision based on a thorough process and who I believe will be the best running mate and leader to lower costs, increase access to healthcare, build safe communities, and improve our schools. Stephanie brings the energy, compassion, leadership, and proven ability to bring people together that I believe will strengthen our campaign and our ability to deliver for New Mexicans. I respect the role the SCC plays in this selection and I hope I can count on the support of Committee members for Stephanie.

…

Stephanie Garcia Richard’s  roots stretch across New Mexico, from growing up in Southern New Mexico to raising her family in Northern New Mexico, giving her a deep understanding of the people, communities, and diversity that define our state. Like me, she’ll always stand with our rural communities, from Silver City to Jal to Las Vegas and everywhere in between, because she knows that our people make New Mexico strong.

…

Stephanie has won two statewide elections, even when the odds were stacked against her. She is a proven leader – in the classroom as a teacher, as a member of the New Mexico House helping carve the path for universal childcare, and now as the Land Commissioner she has delivered real results for working families. While I was advancing our clean energy economy across the country, Stephanie was leading the same fight here at home. She has grown critical state funding for education, overseen job creation in our energy economy, and implemented policies that protect our air, land, and water. 

New Mexicans deserve a government that works just as hard as they do. They deserve leaders who will stop at nothing to fight for lower costs, provide a quality public education, expand access to healthcare, and make our communities safer. Stephanie is that leader and is the best prepared to serve.

I know she’ll be an engaged, collaborative partner from day one, and that’s why I am endorsing her as my running mate.”

Deb Haaland had every right to endorse a candidate given that she is now the Democratic Party’s nominee for Governor and the two candidates must run as a ticket. Deb Haaland needed to make her thoughts known as to who she wanted as her running mate for Lt. Governor and especially who she feels she can trust. She needs a team player

With her endorsement of Stephanie Garcia Richard, Deb Haaland has made her feelings known as to who she believes  is the most compatible with her, who she feels she can trust and who she will be able to work with once they are elected as a ticket.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

It is commendable and the Democratic Party must express appreciation to both Toni Pinedo and Geoffrey Luehring for applying and asking the State Democratic Party State Central Committee to nominate them for Lt. Governor to replace Maggie Toulouse Oliver. However, neither of the two ran in the Democratic primary, they are considered virtual unknows by Democratic Pary regulars, both have never run for statewide office and both fall short of having the necessary skills and qualification to be Lt. Governor.

State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard and NM State Senator Harold Pope are the two leading candidates actively contacting State Central Committee members and campaigning for the Democratic Party State Central Committee nomination for Lt. Governor. Stephanie Garcia Richard is an elected two-term State Land Commissioner and Harold Pope is a second term NM State Senator.

STATE SENATOR HAROLD POPE 

Senator Harold Pope Jr., age 53, was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. Pope was commissioned in the US Air Force and eventually became a Captain specializing in satellite programs, weapon systems, and nuclear deterrence. In 2018, Pope retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Captain. Harold Pope retired to  Albuquerque and it is believed he has resided in New Mexico since 2010 after retiring from military service. After his retirement, Pope was appointed as a “facilities transition advisor” in the administration of Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller.

Pope has three master’s degrees. Senator Pope is a graduate of  of UNM  having attended UNM from 1998 to 2002. He has a Business Administration Masters degree  from the University of New Mexico, an operational leadership degree from the Air Force Air Command and Staff College and a Pharmaceutical Chemistry Degree from the University of Florida. In January, 2025, Pope announced that  he is  seeking a doctorate in education at Vanderbilt University.

SENATOR POPE’S LANSLIDE DEFEAT

Just because Senator Harold Pope ran for Lt. Governor does not mean he should automatically be the replacement for Maggie Toulouse Oliver as many of his supporters and some Democrats have suggested. That is not what the state election code mandates. It mandates that the Democratic Party State Central Committee make the final selection.

Democratic Party voters have already said NO to nominating Senator Pope for Lt. Governor.  Maggie Toulouse Oliver was elected in  a landslide victory over state Sen. Harold Pope Jr., securing  80% (168,109) of the votes to Pope’s 20% (42,127) cast around New Mexico. Replacing Maggie Toulouse Oliver with her primary opponent Harold Pope she defeated in a landslide would be an insult to her legacy.

SENATOR POPE’S REPUTATION AMONGST SENATE COLLEAGUES

In the event Senator Pope becomes Lt. Governor, he will become President of the New Mexico State Senate. Discussion of Senator Pope’s reputation amongst his senate colleagues is therefor in order.  Pope has served  as  a State Senator for almost six years with two years remaining on his current Senate term. Confidential N.M. Senate sources have said that Senator Pope is viewed by more than a few of  his Senate colleagues as independent and uncompromising  and that he is a “loner”  and an “ideological purist” who has  a sense entitlement causing resentment.

Senator Pope has been described by Senate colleagues as a “political opportunist” with a  “holier than thou” and “self-righteous” attitude.

Simply put, Senator Pope is viewed as not a “team player.” Legislators get uncomfortable each year when Pope proposes a measure that would ban lawmakers from drinking alcohol before or during any floor session or committee meeting. It routinely fails to pass the Senate, but Pope sends the message that he believes business is being conducted during legislative sessions while elected officials are under the influence of alcohol.

You can read more on Senator Pope’s reputation amongst his senate colleagues in the News and Commentary article “State Senator Antonio “Moe” Maestas’ Guest Opinion Column: Comparing The Records Of Stephanie Garcia Richard and Harold Pope As Democratic Candidates For Lt. Governor” with the link provided in the postscript below.

 “THE POPE PLAN”

Senator Pope is acting and offering a politcal platform and agenda as if he is running for Governor and not Lt. Governor. Ostensibly, Senator Pope developed his “Pope Plan” on his own and without conferring or getting the approval of Deb Haaland nor her campaign.

On July 17, Senator Pope  posted on his FACEBOOK page Harold Pope Jr. For New Mexico an elaborate platform entitled “ THE POPE PLAN – A VISION FOR NEW MEXICO” with the following introduction and seven topic pages you can tap to review his platform:

“Every big change starts with a clear vision. The Pope Plan is our roadmap for a stronger New Mexico. Swipe through to see the priorities that will guide our work and the future we’re fighting to build.”

• Affordability
• Economic Opportunity
• Education
• Environment & Water
• Health Care
• Housing
• Public Safety

The link to review the “Pope Plan” on his FACEBOOK page is here:

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1404631554817433&set=pcb.1404631891484066

“POPE FOR THE PEOPLE” PERSONAL POPULIST AGENDA

According to  his words and actions, Senator Pope is  advocating  for his personal “Pope for the People” political populism agenda. Senator Pope has said this about his candidacy:

“My campaign slogan, “Pope for the People,” defines my vision of elected office: public officials work FOR the people. It’s not about a title, or just one person. It’s about all of us, together, making sure that every New Mexican has a fair shot at a good, safe, and happy life. … As your next Lieutenant Governor, I will open the doors of government to the people of New Mexico to ensure that their voices are heard in the halls of power.”

With these words, Senator Pope essentially declares a political populist agenda that reflects his own personal vision and priorities. Senator Pope has said this from the get-go:

“I just feel like I can do more in the executive position of lieutenant governor working for the governor full time.  I think, more importantly, it’s having someone at the table on the fourth floor being a voice for New Mexicans, and that’s really what I want to be.”

A Lieutenant Governor does not work full time for the governor. The Lieutenant Governor is the President of the Senate and that is the primary job duty and function of the office. It is the Governor “on the fourth floor” of the capital who is the voice for all New Mexicans. It is the Governor, not the Lieutenant Governor who leads State Government and sets policy and appoints a cabinet.

Senator Pope has said this in social media postings:

“I believe leadership means leading from the front. It means being willing to have difficult conversations, standing up to powerful interests, and fighting for the people who too often feel ignored by those in power. … The people of New Mexico do not need political establishment deciding their future for them. They need leaders who will show up, listen, and fight alongside them. That is the leader I have always been, and it is the leader I will continue to be as Lieutenant Governor.”

When Senator Pope says “leading from the front”, “willing to have difficult discussions” and “standing up to powerful interests”,  he is sending a clear message to all, especially Deb Haaland, that if he  is elected Lt. Governor with her,  he intends to stand up and advocate for his own populist agenda. It is a clear message of confrontation and advocating his own political populist agenda. It is a clear message that he intends to call out  Deb Haaland on any actions and policies when he disagrees with her.

When Pope says “The people of New Mexico do not need political establishment deciding their future for them” he is denying that as a State Senator and as a Lt. Governor, he is and will be  part of the very political establishment he condemns making decisions that affect the future of his constituents.

All of Senator Pope’s  comments taken together with his “POPE PLAN”  reflect that he does not understand that a Lieutenant Governor’s primary role is strictly that as a “support role”, to be a team player to the Governor who sets all the priorities and legislative agenda for the Governor’s administration.

STATE LAND COMMISSIONER STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARD 

Stephanie Garcia Richard, age 52, was born in Tucumcari, New Mexico and raised in Silver City, New Mexico. Garcia Richard grew up in a family that operated ranches on the eastern plans and northern mountains of New Mexico, sparking the strong connection to our land that she holds today. Garcia Richard says she learned at a young age from her parents the importance of serving others. Her father, a WWII veteran, was a teacher and her mother was active in their church and community. After graduating from Silver High School, Garcia Richard went on to earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Barnard College at Columbia University in New York, and her teaching certificate from UCLA. She is married to Eric Vasquez and the couple have two adult children.

STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARD’S RECORD AS STATE REPRENTATIVE

Stephanie Garcia Richard understands fully the state’s legislative process in that she was elected three times to the New Mexico House by comfortable margins. She served in the House for a full six years. As a State Representative she championed laws to increase access to quality education, transparency, and investments in renewable energy, job training, and economic development.

While serving in the New Mexico House of Representatives, she served on the Education and Labor & Economic Development committee and served as chair for the House Education Committee. During her tenure in the House of Representatives, Garcia Richard sponsored 105 bills and acted as a co-sponsor for 115 bills. Garcia Richard served all six years when Republican Governor Susana Martinez was in office and 2 years in the minority, when the Republicans took over the House.  She was part of the House leadership team that battled Governor Martinez every step of the way and was instrumental in helping the Democrats take back the house in 2016.

STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARD RECORD AS LAND COMMISSIONER

In 2018, Stephanie Garcia Richard was elected the New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands to serve  a four-year term  and began serving on January 1, 2019. In 2022, Garcia Richard  was elected to a second four year term as Commissioner of Public Lands. Stephanie Garcia Richard is the first woman, the first Latina, and the first educator to serve in the position as New Mexico’s Commissioner of Public Lands.

As Land Commissioner, Garcia Richard has been focused on raising state funding by  administering public lands while always keeping an eye toward stewardship and preserving the land for generations to come. She believes that the state can diversify the revenue that comes into the Land Office by tripling the number of renewable energy projects, promoting outdoor recreation, and encouraging new and innovative commercial development on state trust land.

With the largest continuous oil and gas resources potential ever assessed in the world sitting in Southeast New Mexico, and land that is prime for wind and solar development, Commissioner Garcia Richard has been  committed to working to increase funding for the state while protecting the health of our public lands.

Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard has overseen the New Mexico State Land Office since 2019. Over 13 million acres of state trust land are leased for a variety of uses, including ranching and farming, renewable energy, business development, mineral development, and outdoor recreation. The State Land Office has a dual mandate to use state trust land to financially support vital public institutions, while simultaneously working to protect the land for future generations.

During Stephanie Garcia Richard’s 8 years in office, the Land office has generated more than $15 billion for New Mexico public schools, hospitals, universities and other beneficiaries because of her effective management of our public lands. She has  expanded renewable energy on state trust lands by nearly sevenfold and launched New Mexico’s first community solar projects on state trust lands.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA RICHARD DENIES FOR A SECOND TIME PROJECT JUPITER NATURAL GAS PIPELINE LEASE

On July 14,  Commissioner Garcia Richard denied for a second time the  request to grant rights-of-way and a lease to build a natural gas pipeline through state trust land to service Project Jupiter. In her letter denying the appeal, Commissioner Garcia Richard said this in part:

“The burden that the project will impose on New Mexico’s water and other natural resources, and on the surrounding community, is extreme. … This includes the negative impact that greenhouse gas emissions play in driving climate change, which effects  the health and productivity of state trust lands throughout New Mexico.”

“The Commissioner … is under no obligation to issue any lease, right-of-way, or permit to any party, and properly does so only upon determining that a given lease, right-of-way, or other authorization is in the best interests of the state land trust which the Commissioner serves as a fiduciary.”

In her letter denying to reconsider her denial, Garcia Richard  argued that the pipeline would generate “minimal revenue” for the state including  nearly $32,000 in one-time payments for the rights-of-way plus approximately $217,000 over five years earned from the business lease. She stated that  while Project Jupiter “undoubtedly will enrich” the project’s backers, the benefits to the land trust were unclear.

Commissioner Garcia Richard wrote this:

“In New Mexico, we truly mean it when we say ‘water is life.’ We can’t live without it and we know how precious and rare it is in our dry climate. Massive AI data centers like Project Jupiter can rapidly deplete critical natural resources like water and threaten ecosystems by generating shocking levels of emissions to power their operations. … I am once again rejecting Energy Transfer’s request because the proposed natural gas pipeline appears to offer very little benefit to the State Land Office’s beneficiary institutions, the local community, or New Mexico as a whole.”

You can read a copy of the Commissioner’s letter here.

The decisions and actions of Land Commissioner Stephane Garcia Richard regarding Project Jupiter makes it very clear that Garcia Richard is indeed acting in the very best interest of the citizens of New Mexico and New Mexico’s public lands.

STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARD AS A STATEWIDE CANDIDATE

Stephanie Garcia Richard has run successfully twice for Statewide office and won by very comfortable margins. She has the ability to raising an impressive amount campaign donations. Before dropping out of the race initially, she was considered the clear front runner having raised $171,921.52. On the other hand, Senator Pope was never considered the front runner for Lt. Governor and he raised only $81,691.06.  Senator Pope did not carry his own Senate District when he ran and lost to  Maggie Toulouse Oliver by a whopping 60% of the vote or by 80% to 20%

Stephanie Garcia Richard has a much larger following and base of support within the Democratic Party statewide than Harold Pope. She will be able to tap into her statewide organization to run a statewide campaign in conjunction with Deb Haaland. State Senator Harold Pope’s base of support is primarily the Albuquerque area where his Senate District is located.

The selection of Stephanie Garcia Richard as the Democratic Party Lt. Governor replacement nominee for Maggie Toulouse Oliver will preserve the historical significance of the Democratic party voting for the first time, in an overwhelming landslide, to nominate two women for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

FINAL COMMENTARY

Stephanie Garcia Richard has made it more than clear that she will be a team player as Lt. Governor when she said this:

“It’s critical that the next Lieutenant Governor be a true partner to Deb Haaland — working in lockstep to deliver real results for New Mexico families.”

Stephanie Garcia Richard is clearly  the most qualified candidate to be Lt. Governor.  She will bring a sense of stability and full cooperation and communication with Deb Haaland to the table that will ensure the election of the Democratic Party ticket for Governor and Lt. Governor. Stephanie Garcia Richard is more than capable and will perform the duties and responsibilities of Lt. Governor. More importantly, she  is qualified and can assume the office of Governor should Haaland for some reason leave office before her term ends.

The Democratic Party State Central Committee should  vote Stephanie Garcia Richard as the party’s nominee for Lieutenant Governor.

_________________

POSTSCRIPT

The links to related articles are here:

State Senator Antonio “Moe” Maestas’ Guest Opinion Column: Comparing The Records Of Stephanie Garcia Richard and Harold Pope As Democratic Candidates For Lt. Governor

Land Commissioner Garcia Richard Rejects For A Second Time Project Jupiter Request For Natural Gas Pipeline; Environment Department Schedules Hearing On Air Quality Permit Application; Commentary: Garcia Richard’s Denial In Best Interest Of New Mexico; Still Time For Project Jupiter To Apply Again  

On July 25th, 2026 the New Mexico Democratic Party State Central Committee (SCC) will convene and hold a special election to fill the vacancy for Lieutenant Governor caused by the withdrawal of Maggie Toulouse Oliver as the Democratic Party nominee. The Spring 2026 SCC Meeting will be held as a virtual meeting with the vote to be taken online.

The list of Democratic candidates who have applied with the party and who are seeking the State Central Committee nomination for Lieutenant Governor are:

1. State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard
2. NM State Senator Harold Pope, District 7
3. Toni Pinedo
4. Geoffrey P. Luehring

State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard and NM State Senator Harold Pope are considered the two leading candidates actively contacting State Central Committee members and campaigning for the Democratic Party State Central Committee nomination for Lt. Governor. Stephanie Garcia Richard is an elected two-term State Land Commissioner and Harold Pope is a second term NM State Senator. Toni Pinedo and  Geoffrey P. Luehring hold no public office and offered little information on their qualifications to be Lt. Governor when they applied with the State Democratic Party.

STATE SENATOR ANOTNIO “MOE”  MAESTAS  GUEST OPINION COLUMN

On July 20, New Mexico State Senator Antonio “Moe” Maestas submitted the following guest opinion column to be published free of charge and with no compensation on www.PeteDinelli.com:   

COMPARING THE RECORDS OF STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARD AND HAROLD POPE AS DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR LT. GOVERNOR

Imagine if Deb Haaland and Stephanie Garcia Richard had barnstormed the state this past month? They could’ve had dozens of public events and raised over a million dollars, shutting the door on Republican candidate Greg Hull and possibly inspired a nation as New Mexico begins this new era of progressive politics. 

That scenario is not possible  because the State Central Committee must now choose between Sen. Harold Pope Jr. and State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard to replace Maggie Toulouse Oliver on the Democratic ticket. Allow me to compare the two candidates based on several different factors, then add my opinion at the end. My hope this article will  start a dialogue about the direction of our state and our party.

PERSONAL BACKGROUND PERSPECTIVE 

For an 11th generation New Mexican with deep ties to northern New Mexico, I was not groomed in New Mexico politics. Like many readers I find local politics quite peculiar and sometimes very difficult to navigate. After graduating from Valley high and dropping out of UNM I moved to Seattle, Washington to join the civil rights movement. I worked full time as a community organizer at El Centro de la Raza. El Centro was founded by uncle, Roberto Maestas, in 1972 after an illegal occupation of an abandoned school building. El Centro is one of the best examples in the nation of sustained community organizing. It is now one of the most prominent community based, civil rights organizations on the west coast. I was a community organizer, party activist and student of the movement for social justice in a city that was struggling to become one of the most progressive cities in the nation. I was incredibly lucky to be a part of that struggle and even luckier to receive the personal mentorship of my Tío, a civil-rights icon.

I eventually returned home and have used that knowledge and experience to contribute as best I can to my beloved homeland, New Mexico. After law school I joined the DAs office and prosecuted domestic violence offenders for 5 years. As a young party activist and neighborhood organizer and got elected to the House of Representatives after winning an open seat in 2006. I served for 16 years in the New Mexico House of Representative, leading on criminal justice reform, fought successfully for a progressive tax structure and, along with Speaker Javier Martinez, was the prime sponsor of the constitutional amendment guaranteeing early childhood education to every New Mexico child. Most recently I have served 4 years in the Senate which brings us back to the special election for Lt. Governor. I served with Garcia Richard for six years in the House and with Sen. Pope in the Senate for four of his six years in the Senate.

Let’s compare the candidacies of  Stephanie Garcia Richard and Harold Pope in several categories.

CAREER PATHS 

Pope is a retired Air Force veteran and Garcia Richard is a retired teacher. Both are highly prized professions within the party. Pope is the first African American ever elected to the New Mexico State Senate. Garcia Richard was elected as the first woman and first Latina Land Commissioner in our state’s history and  has helped raise over $15 billion for public education.

LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARD AND HAROLD POPE 

Garcia Richard passed 15 bills in 6 years as the prime sponsor. Garcia Richard’s entire legislative career was with a republican governor, Susana Martinez. Progressive leaders in the House were not passing national model bills but rather trying our best to fund basic services and playing defense against an onslaught of anti-immigrant bills, anti-teacher rhetoric and other right wing initiatives. Yet under those conditions, Rep. Garcia Richard managed to pass 7 bills during the 2 years she served as a member of the House minority (2015 & 2016). 

Pope has passed 6 bills in 6 years as the prime sponsor. He signed onto 4 other Senate bills and  6 House Bills  that passed (1 vetoed) and contributed to the language in another Senate bill that also passed. Pope rode into the Senate with the wind at his back along with the class of 2021, maybe the first progressive state Senate in our state’s history. Despite having a progressive Legislature and Democratic Governor, Pope did not receive a single message from the Governor for bill introduction in 2026. In his 6th as a lawmaker, Pope did not work with the Governor’s office on any mutual initiatives. 

Pope has generally positioned himself on the progressive wing of the Democratic  Party, particularly on criminal justice, voting rights, and equity issues. Garcia Richard has also consistently identified as a progressive Democrat while emphasizing public education, natural resources, and public lands. Nobody can deny they are both strong progressives. Voters may differ in how they evaluate each candidate’s ideological profile. In the end, what matters most? Ideological purity or actual accomplishments that change people’s lives for the better?

RISE TO ELECTED OFFICE AND CONTRIBUTING TO MAKING OUR STATE BLUE

You be the judge. It’s one thing to benefit from living in a blue state. It’s a whole other thing to actually make it blue.

Pope flipped a Senate seat in Albuquerque’s west side. The NW corner of Albuquerque had been written off by many Dems throughout Bernalillo County  after a city council defeat in 2009, which made the entire area Republican. Great organizers like Flora Lucero, Cheryl Harris, Emma Fitzpatrick, Ellen Coplen to name a few, and great candidates like Cynthia Borrego, Daymon Ely and Joy Garratt battled back to turn it blue. Joy Garratt almost took the Senate Seat in  2016 before winning her House seat in 2018. By the 2020 cycle, it was clear Albuquerque was a blue city. Still, Pope’s 2020 electoral victory was significant as he is a historical figure of being our state’s first black Senator, which is deserving of respect and makes us all proud.

Does anyone remember Rep. Garcia Richard’s losing her first race? During the 2010 Republican landslide, the Democrats in the House lost 8 house seats that year, shrinking our majority from 45-25 to 37-33. In a political anomaly, Garcia Richard came within 200 votes of flipped a Republican seat held by longtime Republican incumbent Rep. Jeannette Wallace. Despite the loss, Garcia Richard continued to lead the charge in her community to turn conservative Los Alamos County democratic. She won her house seat the following cycle (2012) and it remains blue to this day. Six years later she gave up her house seat to become State Land Commissioner, becoming the first sitting House member to win a statewide primary and general election in several generations. 

QUASHING THE ENTITLEMENT ARGUMENT

Before we get any further an argument needs to be quashed. When Maggie Toulouse Oliver withdrew her candidacy, the messaging began immediately for Pope’s candidacy. It went something like this:  Pope is the only one who should be considered to replace Maggie Toulouse Oliver because he is the only one, besides Toulouse Oliver, who received votes from democrats for  Lt. Governor during the primary election. 

The loser of an election replacing the winner on the ballot is not realistic particularly when Pope received approximately 20% of the vote in the Democratic lieutenant governor primary, while Toulouse Oliver received approximately 80%. A 10 point win in electoral politics is a solid victory. A 16 or 20 percentage point win is a shellacking. A 80% to 20% defeat is practically unheard of.

The argument that Pope should replace Maggie Toulouse Oliver on the ballot after garnering only 20% of the primary vote makes no sense to any logical person. Nonetheless, similar to the “big lie” of say it, say it,  say it, repeat it, repeat it, repeat it, believe it,  believe it believe it, this argument gained a lot of traction. If Ben Ray Lujan needed to be replaced on the ballot for US Senator, nobody would ever suggest that his democratic opponent, who got 16% of the vote, should be our next US Senator.

POPE WAS NEVER FRONT RUNNER

Garcia Richard was the first to announce a run for Lt. Governor but dropped out on October 16, 2025 for personal reasons. Pope had entered the race July 14, 2025. Maggie Toulouse Oliver then entered on October 23, 2025. From the moment Maggie Toulouse Oliver jumped in, the outcome of the Lt. Governor’s race was a foregone conclusion. 

There’s no way that Pope expected to win the primary. Politicians enter races despite long odds for a variety of reasons, including advancing particular issues. Examples include Ross Perot in 1992 or Ralph  Nadar in 2000 or representing a political movement like Jesse Jackson in 1988 or to build name recognition, or simply offering voters an alternative. Everyone is entitled to run, but losing candidates are not entitled to the seat when the winner steps down. 

MORE TO THE JOB THAN JUST SHOWING UP

One thing Pope has going for him is that he shows up. You can’t go to a democratic event or public protest without seeing him there. Not to take anything away from his activism but he’s retired and has no immediate family living in New Mexico. My point is he has the time. He is a great supporter and showing up matters. 

How many of the events has the Pope actually organized? What coalitions has he built? What struggles has he been the actual leader on? You have to weigh “showing up” to be seen with other types of activism and accomplishment. Being a legislator is voluntary. Still my colleagues manage to use their elected office the best they can to improve their communities. Some examples are a Job Fair sponsored by Senator Michael Padilla, an Energy Symposium sponsored by Representative Lujan, an ICE Reporting website sponsored by Representative Anaya, fundraising for a homeless shelter sponsored by Senator Hamblen, volunteering with Meals on Wheels regularly like Sen. Figueroa or sitting on a non-profit board such as Representative  Herndon and  Representative Abeyta or bringing the community together with “Heights Night” sponsored by Rep. Herndon or “West Side Day” sponsored by myself. 

Pope is highly visible at Democratic Party events, public demonstrations, and community gatherings. Garcia Richard’s public profile has centered more on her executive responsibilities as Land Commissioner and statewide fundraising for public schools. The two have emphasized different forms of public engagement.

Garcia Richards’ record as Land Commissioner is off the charts. Garcia Richard was elected as the first woman and first Latina Land Commissioner in our state’s history and  has helped raise over $15 billion for public education. She has won two statewide races and captured an agency that been known as the easiest for Republicans to capture.  Stephanie Garcia Richard’s record and Land Commisioner includes the following:

• Record revenues for the state as well as permanent funds for trust beneficiaries including early childhood education
• Created the Office of Renewable Energy within the State Land Office and growing renewable power generation from roughly 400 megawatts in 2019 to more than 3,000 megawatts by 2026;
• Established an Environmental Compliance Office and pressuring companies to plug more than 850 orphaned or abandoned wells;
• Adopting the Cultural Properties Protection Rule which protects archaeological and historic sites such as Chaco Canyon.

Under Garcia Richards’s leadership the land Office will forever balance its constitutional obligation to maximize revenue with increased conservation, renewable energy development, and environmental oversight.

CONCLUSION

It has been the consistent and relentless work of all of us that has brought our state this moment in history. We must judge real accomplishment seperated from the politcal rhetoric that is not governing. We must distinguish between principled leadership and opportunism.

We all enjoy it when MAGAs get interviewed. They espouse deep admiration and support for Trump and then they get stumped when asked what has Trump accomplished to make their lives better. I ask the same thing of Pope supporters and to examine how effective Pope has been. These are not unfair questions:

• What bills of any real consequence has Pope passed?
• Has Pope passed any bills to support the poorest, most disenfranchised people in our state and to close the gap between rich and poor?
• What has Pope done to help New Mexicans overcome generational poverty?
• What has Pope done to dismantle institutional racism, systemic inequality, lower incarceration rates, increase life expectancy, and increase educational levels for all New Mexicans? 

In Garcia Richard we have one of the strongest democratic leaders in our state that has raised billions of dollars for education and created institutional change in one of our State’s most important institutions. Garcia Richard’s legacy of contributing to generations into the future must continue as our Lt. Governor.  Let’s move forward immediately and have the Haaland / Garcia Richard ticket barnstorm the state to victory in November and beyond.

I look forward to hearing from you and continuing this dialogue about our state and our party. I can be reached at antonio.maestas@nmlegis.gov and 505-304-7497.

POSTSCRIPT

The link to a related Dinelli Blog article is here:

Four Candidates Seeking Democratic Party State Central Committee Nomination For Lieutenant Governor; Comparing Records Of The Two Leading Candidates; Commentary: Stephanie Garcia Richard Will Be “Team Player” Lt. Governor With Deb Haaland; Harold Pope Will Promote “Pope For The People” Political Populist Agenda As Lt. Governor