Damon Martinez announces bid for district attorney

Damon Martinez, former U.S. attorney for New Mexico, has said he plans to challenge 2nd Judicial District Attorney Sam Bregman in the Democratic primary next year.

Bregman announced in June that he plans to run next year to retain the post he first occupied in January to fill out the remaining term of his predecessor, Raúl Torrez, who took office that month as the state’s attorney general.

Martinez served as New Mexico’s U.S. attorney from May 2014 until his resignation in March 2017. He was one of 46 U.S. attorneys asked to resign by then-President Donald Trump’s administration.

“I am entering this race because this office and this moment demand leadership, experience, and integrity,” Martinez said in a written statement announcing his candidacy. “We are losing children and innocent bystanders to violent crimes and our small businesses are struggling to overcome theft and vandalism. The fentanyl epidemic is out of control and Bernalillo County families are looking for real solutions.”

Martinez was one of 14 attorneys who applied for the district attorney’s post last year after Torrez won office as attorney general. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham ultimately selected Bregman to serve as Bernalillo County’s district attorney.

Martinez ran unsuccessfully in 2018 for the Democratic nomination for U.S. House, District 1. Deb Haaland won the nomination with 41% of the primary vote and ultimately won the post. Martinez came in second with 26%, and former University of New Mexico law professor Antoinette Sedillo Lopez came in third with 21%.

After his primary campaign, Martinez accepted a position with Albuquerque Police Department as a senior policy advisor — a post he held until August.

Martinez formerly worked in Congress for former-Sen. Jeff Bingaman and former-Rep. Tom Udall, serving as Bingaman’s legislative assistant and later as Udall’s legislative director.